Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
The Board on Earth Sciences and Resources (BESR) coordinates National Academies' activities on Earth science issues, including studies of important national issues in the Earth sciences. BESR interacts with agencies, identifies opportunities for advancing basic research and understanding of Earth science information for policy decisions and reports on the applications of Earth sciences to important societal issues.
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News and Updates
Best Practices, Opportunities for Plugging Orphan Wells Identified in New Report
News Release
Potentially hundreds of thousands of orphaned oil and gas wells across the U.S. remain unplugged or were sealed before modern standards existed, and pose risks to public health, the environment, and nearby communities. A new National Academies report examines technologies and best practices for plugging and remediating orphan wells.
Precompetitive Geoscience Data in the United States: Benefits, Barriers, and Opportunities for Progress
Update
Register to join a June 17 virtual discussion exploring the value of precompetitive geoscience data sharing. Sessions will examine U.S. and international case studies, industry perspectives, and the potential for AI-enabled modeling and analysis using shared subsurface datasets.
Derisking the Future: Continental Drilling for Resource Exploration and Management
Update
The critical minerals needed for advanced technologies, the energy to power advanced manufacturing, and the groundwater resources to support AI and advanced computing all lie in the subsurface. Join our spring meeting on June 15
