Rapid_expert_consultation
Diagnostics are the first line of defense to infectious disease outbreaks. The rapid spread of Influenza A (H5N1) or "Bird Flu" into U.S. dairy cattle, poultry, and humans underscores the urgent need for stronger diagnostic readiness. While sustained human-to-human transmission has not yet occurred with H5N1, the risk is growing. Currently there are knowledge gaps around early case identification measures, clinical management, and coordinated public health efforts.
In response, the National Academies produced a rapid expert consultation providing a strategic and actionable analysis for strengthening domestic diagnostic capacity and infrastructure. This is the first publication of the institution's new Rapid Response to Emerging Science, Engineering, and Medicine Challenges initiative, which provides a formal platform for proactively building sustainable, crosscutting rapid response capabilities.
36 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-60052-9
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29273
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Diagnostic Tools, Gaps, and Collaborative Pathways in Human H5N1 Detection: Rapid Expert Consultation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop
Current policies on dual-use research of concern (DURC) and pathogens with enhanced pandemic potential (PEPP) typically focus on physical laboratory work. In light of the fast-evolving advances in artificial intelligence and computational modeling, these frameworks do not effectively inform risk and benefit evaluation and assessment related to the information and resources generated from computational studies.
To address these concerns, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop sponsored by the National Science Foundation on April 3-4, 2025, to explore the benefits and biosecurity risks of communicating and publishing biological research using in silico modeling and computational approaches. The workshop brought together multi-sectoral experts to discuss current policies and safeguards related to DURC and PEPP, as well as lessons learned, and considered the challenges and opportunities for promoting the benefits of computational and AI-driven approaches in biology while mitigating potential biosecurity risks. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussion of the workshop, including suggestions from participants on tiered oversight approaches, early-stage risk evaluations and assessment, and incentivizing norms through training and publication standards.
65 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-99433-0
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29174
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Disseminating In Silico and Computational Biological Research: Navigating Benefits and Risks: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The United States generated approximately 292 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually, most of which (about 68 percent) were not recycled or composted. Recycling programs face a multitude of challenges today that complicate their stability, efficacy, and economic efficiency. However, a well-designed and supported MSW recycling programs hold many economic and environmental benefits. This report, produced at the request of Congress, reviews available information on MSW recycling programs in municipal, county, state, and tribal governments and provides advice on potential policy options for more effective implementation.
Municipal Solid Waste Recycling in the United States explores the contemporary issues facing MSW recycling programs and lays out recommendations and policy options to chart a path forward. Using diverse case studies and publicly available data, this report includes an analysis of economic and programmatic costs of recycling programs and assessment of material-specific recycling approaches. Recommendations include policy options to support effective, economically viable, and environmentally sound recycling practices.
226 pages
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8.5 x 11
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72701-4
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72702-2
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27978
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Municipal Solid Waste Recycling in the United States: Analysis of Current and Alternative Approaches. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the life sciences have the potential to enable advances in biological discovery and design at a faster pace and efficiency than is possible with classical experimental approaches alone. At the same time, AI-enabled biological tools developed for beneficial applications could potentially be misused for harmful purposes. Although the creation of biological weapons is not a new concept or risk, the potential for AI-enabled biological tools to affect this risk has raised concerns during the past decade.
This report, as requested by the Department of Defense, assesses how AI-enabled biological tools could uniquely impact biosecurity risk, and how advancements in such tools could also be used to mitigate these risks. The Age of AI in the Life Sciences reviews the capabilities of AI-enabled biological tools and can be used in conjunction with the 2018 National Academies report, Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology, which sets out a framework for identifying the different risk factors associated with synthetic biology capabilities.
172 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-73335-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73336-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28868
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. The Age of AI in the Life Sciences: Benefits and Biosecurity Considerations. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Our planet is facing many complex environmental challenges, including the loss of biodiversity and rapidly changing climate conditions, driven by intensifying human-nature interactions worldwide. Dramatic advances in the biological sciences over recent years are made possible by new tools to study life at many scales, from identifying mutations in a single gene to monitoring changes in plants, animals, and microbes over an entire continent. These tools have the potential to usher in a new era of continental-scale biology (CSB) in which researchers can combine data from various realms across organizational, spatial, and temporal scales, addressing questions on biological processes and patterns that cannot be answered by observations at either small or large scales alone.
This report, prepared at the request of the National Science Foundation, sets out a vision for the development of CSB and identifies the research areas that could most benefit from multi-scale approaches. Advancing the use of CSB to address a wide range of biological and societal challenges will require the development of integrated conceptual frameworks and theories to guide research, deployment of emerging technologies, and development of a skilled workforce to synthesize the vast amounts of data from various sources.
176 pages
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7 x 10
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-71135-5
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71136-3
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27285
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. A Vision for Continental-Scale Biology: Research Across Multiple Scales. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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At the request of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center and D.E. Shaw Research (DESRES), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine appointed a fifteenth committee of experts to review and evaluate submissions received in response to a Request for Proposals for biomolecular simulation time on Anton 3, a supercomputer specially designed and built by DESRES.
The proposals were evaluated based on their scientific merit, capabilities, past accomplishments, scientific promise of the applicant, suitability of the targeted biochemical system for simulation on Anton 3, overall feasibility of the proposed studies, and the likely scientific impact. This report summarizes the evaluations and identifies proposals that best meet the selection criteria for the project.
20 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73457-6
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/29047
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics: Fifteenth Round. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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At the request of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, Strategic Report on Research and Development in Biotechnology for Defense Innovation provides an overview of the current landscape of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)-enabled biotechnology, the opportunities it presents, and the challenges it poses. This report offers a strategic vision for connecting scientists and technologists to build on, leverage, and tailor advances at the intersection of AI/ML, automated experimentation, and biotechnology to drive innovation in defense-related biotechnologies. Strategic Report on Research and Development in Biotechnology for Defense Innovation makes recommendations to address long-standing challenges that have limited research, development, prototyping, testing and evaluation, and eventual use of biotechnologies. Addressing these challenges will help to advance U.S. national security and defense by improving the performance of existing capabilities, enabling the creation of domestic supply chains of valuable products, reducing reliance on processes and chemicals that are harmful to the environment, and/or adding new capabilities not currently possible with established technologies.
66 pages
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8.5 x 11
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-72673-5
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72674-3
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27971
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Strategic Report on Research and Development in Biotechnology for Defense Innovation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
Advancements in life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering have the potential to solve many pressing technical, medical, social, and environmental challenges. In recent years, rapid advances in the field of neuroscience and neurotechnology have led to unprecedented insights into the inner workings of the brain and potential cutting-edge therapeutics and technologies to improve human health. As this research and innovation moves forward in countries around the world, including in Southeast Asia, questions about ethics, safety, and security have also emerged as researchers, policymakers, and the public consider the potential for neuroscience data or technologies to be misused to cause harm or exploited in ways that exacerbate societal issues.
To foster exchange with scientists in Southeast Asia about opportunities to maximize the benefits of emerging neuroscience research and neurotechnologies while minimizing the risks, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a workshop series entitled Engaging Scientists in Shared Responsible Innovation in Neuroscience in Southeast Asia. The workshops brought together scientists, researchers, and other experts in academia, industry, and government from the United States, Southeast Asia, and other regions for a series of virtual presentations and discussions on February 20-21 and April 10, 2024. Participants shared examples of current research developments and applications in neuroscience, examined potential benefits and harms of emerging areas of science and technology, and discussed principles and practices for responsible innovation and advancing shared norms, ethics, safety, and security in different national, cultural, and institutional contexts. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief was prepared by rapporteurs as a high-level summary of what occurred at the workshop.
12 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72532-1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27931
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Engaging Scientists in Shared Responsible Innovation in Neuroscience in Southeast Asia: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
Avian Influenza A (H5) viruses have circulated globally for decades among migratory bird populations. The recent emergence of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in U.S. dairy cattle has led to challenges in managing and controlling the spread of H5 viruses between livestock, wildlife, and companion animals, as well as to humans from infected animals. The National Academies hosted a public workshop in October 2024 to explore potential research priorities that could inform readiness and response to the outbreak. Discussions followed an interdisciplinary One Health approach, bringing together experts from across human, veterinary, plant, and environmental health disciplines, and builds on published federal research priorities for H5N1 to include perspectives beyond basic translational clinical sciences, to social sciences, veterinary health, agricultural economics, and occupational health, among others.
14 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-73112-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/28581
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Potential Research Priorities to Inform U.S. Readiness and Response to Avian Influenza A (H5N1): Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are increasingly being used to aid biological discovery and biotechnology development. Robotic and remotely controlled equipment is being used to accelerate research, while AI is opening new opportunities to explore the natural world and inform efforts to build biological entities with useful capabilities. Such technologies are poised to drive beneficial advances in health, biomaterials, environmental remediation, biomanufacturing, agriculture, and other areas. However, these developments also raise new questions and potential risks. Researchers, policymakers, and the public have sought to examine how applying AI and automation in biotechnology might lead to new challenges for biosecurity, health and safety, the environment, the integrity of scientific data, and economic development and national competitiveness.
To examine these issues, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a workshop titled Artificial Intelligence and Automated Laboratories for Biotechnology: Leveraging Opportunities and Mitigating Risks, on April 3-4, 2024. Participants from government, academia, nonprofit organizations, and private industry communities gathered virtually and in person to explore the use of AI and automation in biological research and development; discuss considerations relevant to national security; and share perspectives on potential future pathways for technology and policy development. This Proceedings of a Workshop-in Brief provides the rapporteurs' high-level overview of the event.
12 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71541-5
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27469
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Artificial Intelligence and Automated Laboratories for Biotechnology: Leveraging Opportunities and Mitigating Risks: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Concerted efforts to deepen understanding of RNA modifications and their role in living systems hold the potential to advance human health, improve crop yields, and address other pressing societal challenges. RNA, which carries the information encoded by DNA to the places where it is needed, is amazingly diverse and dynamic. RNA is processed and modified through natural biological pathways, giving rise to hundreds, in some cases thousands, of distinct RNA molecules for each gene, thereby diversifying genetic information. RNA modifications are known to be pivotal players in nearly all biological processes, and their dysregulation has been implicated in a wide range of human diseases and disorders. Yet, our knowledge of RNA modifications remains incomplete, hindered by current technological limitations. Existing methods cannot discover all RNA modifications, let alone comprehensively sequence them on every RNA molecule. Nonetheless, what is known about RNA modifications has already been leveraged in the development of vaccines that helped saved millions of lives worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. RNA modifications also have applications beyond health, for example, enhancing agricultural productivity.
Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: A New Era for Biology and Medicine calls for a focused, large-scale effort to accelerate technological innovation to harness the full potential of RNA modifications to address pressing societal challenges in health, agriculture, and beyond. This report assesses the scientific and technological breakthroughs, workforce, and infrastructure needs to sequence RNA and its modifications, and ultimately understand the roles RNA modifications play in biological processes and disease. It proposes a roadmap of innovation that will make it possible for any RNA from any biological system to be sequenced end-to-end with all of its modifications - a capability that could lead to more personalized and targeted treatments and instigate transformative changes across various sectors beyond health and medicine.
260 pages
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7 x 10
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-70695-5
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-70696-3
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27165
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Charting a Future for Sequencing RNA and Its Modifications: A New Era for Biology and Medicine. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of floods, posing serious threats to lives, livelihoods, and the future of affected communities. To explore opportunities to prevent and mitigate inequitable health impacts from flooding, the National Academies Environmental Health Matters Initiative (EHMI) organized a workshop on March 13 and 18, 2024, titled Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity: Exploring Flood Adaptation Strategies to Support Health Equity. The workshop was the fourth in a series of EHMI events exploring the state of knowledge on climate-related health disparities. Through presentations, shared stories, and interactive discussions, participants explored health risks posed by flooding events, effective adaptation strategies for community resilience and climate adaptation, and ways to foster partnerships among government, academia, and the private sector to implement these strategies both locally and regionally.
12 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71967-4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27791
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Exploring Community Flood Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation Strategies to Public Health Concerns: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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At the request of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the National Academies convened a committee to examine lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and mpox multi-country outbreak to inform an evaluation of the state of smallpox research, development, and stockpiling of medical countermeasures (MCM). In the resulting report, the committee presents findings and conclusions that may inform U.S. Government investment decisions in smallpox MCM readiness, as well as the official U.S. position on the disposition of live viral collections at future World Health Assembly meetings.
194 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-71737-X
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71738-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27652
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Future State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_series
To facilitate scientific progress and collaboration while also protecting personal privacy, the integrity of research investments, and national security, it is important for life science data to be collected, digitized, secured, and shared responsibly. To exchange experiences and collaboratively discuss best practices for protecting life science data and promoting responsible data sharing in Central Asia, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop series titled Engaging Scientists in Central Asia on Life Science Data Governance Principles, held virtually across six 2-hour sessions in May and June 2023. The workshop series brought together early-career and established scientists, along with experts in data science, cybersecurity, and law, from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the United States, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere to explore existing policies and practices, gaps and limitations, fundamental concepts relevant to data governance, and opportunities for improvement in data sharing practices and governance structures.
194 pages
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6 x 9
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-72118-0
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27433
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Engaging Scientists in Central Asia on Life Science Data Governance Principles: Russian Version: Proceedings of a Workshop Series. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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To facilitate scientific progress and collaboration while also protecting personal privacy, the integrity of research investments, and national security, it is important for life science data to be collected, digitized, secured, and shared responsibly. To exchange experiences and collaboratively discuss best practices for protecting life science data and promoting responsible data sharing in Central Asia, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop series titled Engaging Scientists in Central Asia on Life Science Data Governance Principles, held virtually across six 2-hour sessions in May and June 2023. The workshop series brought together early-career and established scientists, along with experts in data science, cybersecurity, and law, from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the United States, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere to explore existing policies and practices, gaps and limitations, fundamental concepts relevant to data governance, and opportunities for improvement in data sharing practices and governance structures.
120 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-70662-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-70663-7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27156
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Engaging Scientists in Central Asia on Life Science Data Governance Principles: Proceedings of a Workshop Series. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Across multiple domains of science, engineering, and medicine, excitement is growing about the potential of digital twins to transform scientific research, industrial practices, and many aspects of daily life. A digital twin couples computational models with a physical counterpart to create a system that is dynamically updated through bidirectional data flows as conditions change. Going beyond traditional simulation and modeling, digital twins could enable improved medical decision-making at the individual patient level, predictions of future weather and climate conditions over longer timescales, and safer, more efficient engineering processes. However, many challenges remain before these applications can be realized.
This report identifies the foundational research and resources needed to support the development of digital twin technologies. The report presents critical future research priorities and an interdisciplinary research agenda for the field, including how federal agencies and researchers across domains can best collaborate.
202 pages
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6 x 9
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paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-70042-6
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-70043-4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/26894
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Foundational Research Gaps and Future Directions for Digital Twins. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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The Committee on Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fourteenth Round evaluated submissions received in response to a Request for Proposals for Biomolecular Simulation Time on Anton 2, a supercomputer designed and built by D. E. Shaw Research (DESRES). Over the past 13 years, DESRES has made an Anton or Anton 2 system housed at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center available to the non-commercial research community, based on the advice of previous committees of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. As in those prior rounds, the goal of the fourteenth RFP for simulation time on Anton 2 is to continue to facilitate breakthrough research in the study of biomolecular systems by providing a massively parallel system specially designed for molecular dynamics simulations. The program seeks to continue to support research that addresses important and high impact questions demonstrating a clear need for Antons special capabilities. This document describes the work and transmits the decisions of the Committee.
20 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71242-4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27336
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics: Fourteenth Round. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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Workshop_in_brief
On November 29, 2022, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a classified workshop to explore the current policy landscape and outstanding needs for countering bioterrorism within the changing threat and risk contexts. This workshop – in brief summarizes the outcomes of the workshop discussion.
2 pages
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8.5 x 11
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ISBN Ebook: 0-309-71187-8
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17226/27246
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Addressing Bioterrorism in a Changing Scientific and Security Context: Abbreviated Version of a Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
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