Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

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This report is a summary of the June 29, 2010, workshop on facilitating innovation in the federal statistical system. The workshop was convened by the Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE) of the National Research Council (NRC). Support for the workshop was provided by a consortium of federal agencies through a grant from the National Science Foundation.

As chair of the steering committee and rapporteur for the workshop summary, we wish to thank the members of the committee for their helpful guidance and leadership in planning the workshop and moderating the sessions.

We acknowledge with appreciation the many people who participated in the workshop and contributed to its success, particularly Katherine Wallman, chief statistician of the United States at the Office of Management and Budget, who helped us think through the logic of the sessions. We thank Robert Parker for preparing a background paper for the workshop and everyone who spoke for their stimulating and insightful comments and discussion.

We thank staff of CNSTAT and DBASSE, particularly Bridget Edmonds who was responsible for the administration of the workshop. This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the Report Review Committee of the NRC. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical

comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report: Emerson J. Elliott, Director, Special Projects, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; Brian Harris-Kojetin, Statistical and Science Policy Office, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget; Thomas B. Jabine, retired, Silver Spring, Maryland; J. Steven Landefeld, Director, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce; and Victoria Velkoff, Assistant Division Chief, Population Estimates and Projections, Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau.

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by John E. Rolph, Professor Emeritus of Statistics, Department of Industrial Operations and Management, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California. Appointed by the NRC’s Report Review Committee, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the rapporteur and the institution.

Thomas Louis, Chair

Hermann Habermann, Rapporteur

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