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Critical Infrastructure and Technology

Critical infrastructure underpins energy, transportation, and communication systems. The National Academies assess vulnerabilities and technologies that protect these essential national assets.

What's happening

Conference Highlights Scientific Cooperation in the Americas

Feature Story

The Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) is a regional network of science academies. At a recent IANAS meeting held in Mexico, attendees discussed current initiatives and highlighted the importance of scientific cooperation among countries in the Americas.

Helping the Grid Keep Pace with a Power-Hungry Economy

Feature Story

Demand for electricity in the U.S. is growing, which means that the nation’s grid will need to move more power. A recent public symposium during the NAS Annual Meeting explored this challenge and how new technologies can help.

Engineer at work in electricity substation

New Report Provides Forecast for the Next Decade of Ocean Science

News Release

Investing in ocean research, infrastructure, and the ocean studies workforce is needed to understand how a changing ocean will affect national security, the health of fisheries, and extreme weather events over the next decade.

Featured Publications

Reimagining Supply Chains for National Resiliency: Proceedings of a Forum

2025

Advancing Understanding of Offshore Oil and Gas Systemic Risk in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Current State and Safety Reforms Since the Macondo Well–Deepwater Horizon Blowout

Consensus Study Report

2023

National Security Space Defense and Protection: Public Report

Consensus Study Report

2016

Featured work

Biotechnology Capabilities for National Security Needs--Leveraging Advances in Transdisciplinary Biotechnology

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Recently Completed

Science and Technology for Resilience

Initiative

Resilient-America-Roundtable.jpg | https://nasemoceprodcomm-nationalacademies.cec.ocp.oraclecloud.com/content/published/api/v1.1/assets/CONTF454229962B24AD69CCB0A37CBEF7BA8/native?cb=_cache_daba&format=webp&channelToken=d2dc71410b56f1d61406108f1738d0f4

Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL)

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Future of Battery Technology Options for Defense Applications

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Development of a Plan to Promote Defense Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Consensus/Advisory Activity

National Security Space Defense and Protection

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Airport Passenger Screening: Backscatter X-Ray Machines

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Expert Meeting on Structural Health Monitoring for Innovative Asset Management of Waterways Infrastructure

Meeting of Experts

Upcoming events

Units

Horizon Scanning and Emerging Technology for Department of War Standing Committee

Standing Committee

Science and Technology Policy and Law Program Area

Oversight Unit

The US Supreme Court and Capitol Building - Washington DC

Center for Advancing Science and Technology (CAST)

Oversight Unit

Biomedical and Health Sciences Program Area

Oversight Unit

Action Collaborative on Education and Workforce Trajectories in Tech

Action Collaborative

Recently Completed

Technical Activities Division

Oversight Unit

Government-University-Industry-Philanthropy Research Roundtable

Roundtable/Forum

Decorative Image.

Transportation Research Board (TRB)

Oversight Unit

Cargo train transportation - Freight railway. Used for TRB

Board on Human-Systems Integration

Standing Committee

Climate Crossroads

Oversight Unit

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