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Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN): Facilitating Rapid and Actionable Responses to Social, Behavioral, and Economic-Related Questions

The Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN) was launched by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with support from the National Science Foundation to bring timely, actionable guidance to the critical and complex questions that decision-makers face. SEAN collates and contextualizes the latest research and perspectives to address pressing societal issues ranging from COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases to extreme weather events worsened by climate change. As the nation recovers from COVID-19, SEAN will continue to provide actionable, evidence-based guidance to policymakers at all levels on pressing societal issues.

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National Academies Offer Guidance on Student Behavior and COVID-19 Testing for College Administrators Ahead of 2021 Spring Semester

News Release

Two new rapid expert consultations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offer lessons learned from the 2020 fall semester regarding COVID-19 testing and guidance on student behavior, as college administrators plan for the 2021 spring semester.

Dec 1, 2020

Advantages and Trade-offs of COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests, National Testing Strategies Examined in New Rapid Response to Government

News Release

A new rapid expert consultation from a standing committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines four topics related to the use and interpretation of COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

Nov 9, 2020

To Adhere to Public Health Guidelines and Mitigate COVID-19, Officials Should Use Their Discretion to Minimize Incarceration, Says New Report

News Release

Where needed to adhere to public health guidelines and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, authorities should use their discretion to minimize incarceration in prisons and jails — and facilitate testing, quarantine, social supports, and individualized reentry plans for those released, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Oct 20, 2020

Fishing for Answers: Genomes of Some Ocean Creatures May Reveal How We Could Live to Be 100

Feature Story

This article is part of a series of profiles on the 2020 winners of the National Academy of Medicine’s Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards — part of the Healthy Longevity Global Competition, a multiyear, multimillion-dollar international competition seeking breakthrough innovations to improve physical, mental, and social well-being for people as they age.

Oct 19, 2020

How Sports Logos on Masks and Better Signage Can Help Prevent COVID-19, According to Social Science

Feature Story

By now, we’ve all heard the official COVID-19 prevention guidance: Wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay 6 feet away from other people. But hearing information, and turning it into an everyday habit, are two very different things.

Oct 1, 2020

New Guidance Says Decision-Makers Can Offer Incentives and Partner with Trusted Sources, Among Other Strategies, to Encourage Cooperation in COVID-19 Contact Tracing

News Release

WASHINGTON — A new rapid expert consultation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Societal Experts Action Network says strategies such as giving advance notice, partnering with trusted sources, and offering incentives can encourage individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to respond to health department contact tracing and share information about people they may have exposed to the virus.

Aug 25, 2020

How Can Hospitals Overcome Staffing and Supply Shortages Amid COVID-19 Surges?

Feature Story

Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals are still faced with staffing shortages due to the sheer volume of patients, staff illnesses, and non-COVID care that cannot be delayed.

Aug 7, 2020

Promising Strategies for Encouraging COVID-19 Protective Behaviors, Including Mask Wearing and Physical Distancing, Identified in New Guidance

News Release

A new rapid expert consultation from the Societal Experts Action Network identifies promising strategies to make the adoption of protective behaviors against COVID-19, such as wearing a mask or regularly washing your hands, more likely.

Jul 23, 2020

National Academies Release COVID-19 Data Guide for Decision-Makers

News Release

The recently formed National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN), which connects social and behavioral science researchers with decision-makers leading the response to COVID-19, today released a rapid expert consultation to guide leaders using COVID-19 measurements like hospitalizations and reported confirmed cases to understand the spread of the disease in their communities.

Jun 11, 2020

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