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Environment and Biology

Protecting Earth’s ecosystems and understanding the evolution of life are essential to our shared future. The National Academies study biodiversity, climate change, and the biological sciences to inform conservation and support environmental health. Explore research that helps communities adapt, protect nature, and build a more sustainable world. Learn more about our Climate Crossroads initiative.

What's happening

One Hazard After Another: Building Interdisciplinary Connections for Disaster Preparedness

Program News

A recent joint meeting of the National Academies’ Board on Earth Sciences and Resources and Water Science and Technology Board delved into how machine learning (ML) and AI-accessible data could help scientists understand these chains of events.

Oct 26, 2026

Virginia Crossroads: Advancing Flood Resilience Across the Commonwealth

Program News

At Virginia Crossroads: Flood Resilience across the Commonwealth, held March 27, 2026, in Charlottesville, researchers, local and state officials, practitioners, and community leaders came together to explore how actionable science can support more effective flood resilience strategies.

Aug 27, 2026

Flooding on Tangier Island, VA the morning after a thunderstorm. The low elevation island is vulnerable to flooding.

The Science of Extreme Event Attribution — Which Analyzes Climate Change’s Influence on Specific Weather Events — Has Advanced, But Challenges Remain

News Release

A new report from the National Academies provides a comprehensive assessment of the current capabilities of extreme event attribution (EEA) — a scientific field that analyzes whether and to what extent human-caused climate change influenced an individual extreme weather event, such as a heat wave or large-scale heavy rainfall.

Jul 15, 2026

Dry field stock photo cracked ground, small plants

Featured Publications

Effects of Human-Caused Greenhouse Gas Emissions on U.S. Climate, Health, and Welfare

Consensus Study Report

2025

Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence: Fourth Edition

2025

Forecasting the Ocean: The 2025–2035 Decade of Ocean Science

Consensus Study Report

2025

View All Publications

Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades: The Eleventh Biennial Review - 2026

Consensus Study Report

2026

Improving Future U.S. Drought Assessment

Consensus Study Report

2026

Accelerating Climate Progress with AI: From Science to Action: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2026

A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration

Consensus Study Report

2026

Roundtable on Genomics and Precision Health: 2024–2025 Combined Annual Report

Annual Report

2026

Forum on Regenerative Medicine: 2024–2025 Combined Annual Report

Annual Report

2026

Evaluation of the Planning and Environment Linkages Program

2026

Technologies and Practices for Plugging and Remediating Orphan Oil and Gas Wells

Consensus Study Report

2026

Future Pathways for the Biogeochemical (BGC) Argo Program: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief

Proceedings

2026

Attribution of Extreme Weather and Climate Events and Their Impacts

Consensus Study Report

2026

Mirror Image Biology: Pushing the Envelope in Designing Biological Systems: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2026

Managing Highway Stormwater Quality: Driving Progress

Consensus Study Report

2026

Clinical Follow-Up and Care for Those Impacted by the JP-5 Releases at Red Hill

Consensus Study Report

2026

A Synthesis Center for Paleoenvironmental Records of Extreme Events

Consensus Study Report

2026

Understanding the Transition to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline: A Primer

2026

Transitioning to Unleaded Aviation Gasoline: A Guide and Tools

2026

Exploring Key Research and Monitoring Topics for U.S. Engagement in the Fifth International Polar Year: Proceedings of a Workshop

Proceedings

2026

Review of the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project

Consensus Study Report

2026

State DOT Training Programs Used to Comply with NPDES Stormwater Permit Requirements

2026

Deterring Bats from Transportation Infrastructure: Methods and Results

2026

Climate Change

Environmental DNA

Evolution and Geologic History

Genetics

Glaciers, Ice Sheets, and Sea Levels

Hazards, Disasters, and Extreme Events

Microorganisms and Microbiomes

Pollinators and Insects

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Weather

Wildlife

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Environment and Biology

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Featured Publications

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Featured work

Review of the draft U.S. National Assessment by the Nature Record

Research at Multiple Scales: A Vision for Continental Scale Biology

Formalizing Best Practices for Data Governance of Life Science Data in Central Asia

Ocean Decade U.S.

Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space 2028-2037 (ESAS 2028): Panel on Polar Ice Sheets, Glaciers, and Sea Ice Dynamics (“Cryosphere”)

State of the Knowledge of Arctic Marine Use and Implications for Ecosystems and Society: An Issue Paper

Strengthening Southeast Asian Academia and Industry Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Safety and Security - A Workshop

Status of Insects in North America

Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space 2028-2037 (ESAS 2028): Panel on Carbon Cycles, Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems (“Biosphere”)

Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space 2028-2037 (ESAS 2028): Panel on Weather, Air Quality, and Global Dynamics (“Atmosphere”)

Adaptive Capacities for Transformation (ACT) Initiative

Review of Draft Chapters of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences

Research Agenda for Reducing the Climate Impact of Aviation-Induced Cloudiness and Persistent Contrails from Commercial Aviation

Owens Lake Scientific Advisory Panel: Off-Lake Sources of Airborne Dust in Owens Valley, California

Optimizing the USGS Mineral Resources Program Science Portfolio

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fourteenth Round

Heritable Genetic Modification in Food Animals

Review of Transmission and Geographic Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in U.S. Cervid Populations

Evaluation of Hydrodynamic Modeling and Implications for Offshore Wind Development: Nantucket Shoals

Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space 2028-2037 (ESAS 2028): Panel on Carbon Cycles, Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems (“Biosphere”)

Review of Draft Chapters of the Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment

Evaluation of Hydrodynamic Modeling and Implications for Offshore Wind Development: Nantucket Shoals

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress X

Data and Management Strategies for Recreational Fisheries with Annual Catch Limits

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress VIII

Improving the Next-Generation EPA Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial Stormwater Discharges

Effective Approaches for Monitoring and Assessing Gulf of Mexico Restoration Activities

Assessing Requirements for Sustained Ocean Color Research and Operations

River Science at the U.S. Geological Survey

Formalizing Best Practices for Data Governance of Life Science Data in Central Asia

Ocean Decade U.S.

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fourteenth Round

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Thirteenth Round

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Twelfth Round

DNA Forensic Science: An Update

Optimizing the USGS Mineral Resources Program Science Portfolio

Biological Collections: Ensuring Critical Research and Education for the 21st Century

Catalyzing Opportunities for Research in the Earth Sciences (CORES): A Decadal Survey for NSF’s Division of Earth Sciences

State of the Art and Practice in Earthquake Induced Soil Liquefaction Assessment

Subsurface Characterization, Modeling, Monitoring, and Remediation of Fractured Rocks

Underground Engineering for Sustainable Development

The Importance of Deep-Time Geologic Records for Understanding Climate Change Impacts

The Earth System Context for Hominin Evolution

Grand Research Questions in the Solid-Earth Sciences

Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space - Panel on Earth Surface and Interior: Dynamics and Hazards

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fourteenth Round

Heritable Genetic Modification in Food Animals

Toward Sequencing and Mapping of RNA Modifications

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Thirteenth Round

Engaging a Trusted Scientific Network in Southeast Asia to Counter Misleading Information about Biological Threats

Biological Collections: Ensuring Critical Research and Education for the 21st Century

Genetically Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects

Defining and Advancing the Conceptual Basis of Biological Science for the 21st Century

Proposal Evaluation for Allocation of Supercomputing Time for the Study of Molecular Dynamics, Fifteenth Round

Research at Multiple Scales: A Vision for Continental Scale Biology

Formalizing Best Practices for Data Governance of Life Science Data in Central Asia

Strengthening Southeast Asian Academia and Industry Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Safety and Security - A Workshop

Assessing and Navigating Biosecurity Concerns and Benefits of Artificial Intelligence Use in the Life Sciences

Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health

Engaging a Trusted Scientific Network in Southeast Asia to Counter Misleading Information about Biological Threats

Biotechnology Capabilities for National Security Needs

Addressing Inaccurate and Misleading Information about Biological Threats through Scientific Collaboration and Communication in Southeast Asia

Safeguarding the Bioeconomy: Finding Strategies for Understanding, Evaluating, and Protecting the Bioeconomy while Sustaining Innovation and Growth

Advancing Understanding of the Implications of Environmental-Chemical Interactions with the Human Microbiomes

Review of the draft U.S. National Assessment by the Nature Record

Status of Insects in North America

Status of Pollinators: Monitoring and Prevention of their Decline in North America

Strengthening the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Research & Technology Program

Review of the draft U.S. National Assessment by the Nature Record

Review of Transmission and Geographic Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in U.S. Cervid Populations

A Research Strategy to Examine the Taxonomy of the Red Wolf