Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS)

Meeting Closed

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 12

August 27, 2025

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM (ET)

Past

About

The twelfth committee meeting will be a closed session, as the group will finalize the draft recommendations and address any remaining issues with the report.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

all except for Luna Lu

The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:

nothing beyond the event description

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

N/A

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

August 28, 2025

Organizing Project

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

Contact

Tim Marflak

(585) 519-1874
tmarflak@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 11

July 23, 2025

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (ET)

Past

About

During this meeting, the committee will review recent progress on the draft report. The group will also continue refining potential conclusions and recommedations.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

all except for Bora Gencturk

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

N/A

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

July 23, 2025

Organizing Project

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

Contact

Tim Marflak

(585) 519-1874
tmarflak@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Workshop

Cyber Hard Problems: Making Progress: A Workshop

June 25 - 26, 2025

Past

About

We rely on cyber systems for most aspects of our daily lives—from commercial transactions to transportation networks. However, keeping these essential cyber systems safe, secure, and resilient is becoming more difficult as these technologies grow in complexity and face increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.

A new National Academies report Cyber Hard Problems: Focused Steps Toward a Resilient Digital Futureoutlines 10 key challenges where targeted progress could strengthen the security and resilience of U.S. cyber systems.

Join us June 25-26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. or online for a workshop exploring these critical issues and next steps.

During the first workshop session on June 25 (from 9am-5:30pm ET), expert speakers from industry, government, and academia will discuss the 10 cyber hard problems identified in the report, how they impact everyday life, and ways to mitigate them. Topics of discussion will include:

how developers and the public can better assess risk in cyber systems, including emerging uses of artificial intelligence
methods to ensure that both individual cyber components and integrated systems remain secure from creation to implementation
ways to enhance information provenance and integrity and design user interfaces that bolster cybersecurity
mechanisms for improving the security and operation of cyber-physical systems such as smart buildings and critical infrastructure

The second workshop session on June 26 (from 9am-12:15pm ET) will move beyond the individual cyber hard problems to explore overarching needs for policy and governance, with a focus on national cybersecurity strategies.

Contact

Tho Nguyen

thonguyen@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 10

June 24 - 25, 2025

Past

About

The study's tenth committee meeting will focus on reviewing report revisions since the last meeting and refining the draft list of key findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

all except for David Rice and Chris Knotts

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

June 25, 2025

Organizing Project

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

Contact

Tim Marflak

(585) 519-1874
tmarflak@nas.edu

Location

Keck Center

500 5th St NW

Washington DC 20001, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webcast

NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory First Look Event

June 23, 2025

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (ET)

Past

About

The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s First Look event,hosted by the National Academies' Space Studies Board and the Board on Physics and Astronomy, will be livestreamed from 11am-12:30pm ET on Monday, June 23, 2025. At this international celebration, the Rubin Observatory team will unveil the observatory’s first images - a set of large, ultra-high-definition images and videos that showcase Rubin’s extraordinary capabilities to the world for the first time. This unique movie will bring the cosmos to life, yielding a treasure trove of discoveries: asteroids and comets, pulsating stars, and supernova explosions.

The recently constructed NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory on Cerro Pachón in Chile will use the world's largest digital camera to reveal the most detailed time-lapse view of the cosmos to date. This first-of-a-kind observatory, recommended by the National Academies' 2010 decadal survey of astronomy and astrophysics, will help expand our understanding of the Universe, chronicle its evolution, and explore the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter.

Watch the webcast here; registration is not required.

Contact

Andrea Rebholz

arebholz@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 9

May 13 - 14, 2025

Past

About

The study's 9th meeting will feature only closed sessions, as the committee will provide feedback on the second draft of the report and discuss potential recommendations.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Institution Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

all except for Chris Knotts and Luna Lu

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

N/A

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

May 19, 2025

Organizing Project

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

Contact

Tim Marflak

(585) 519-1874
tmarflak@nas.edu

Location

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center

100 Academy Way

Irvine CA 92617, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 3 - The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks

April 10, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Environmental Health Matters Initiative organized a webinar series to explore human exposure to and related health effects of microplastics in the environment.

The third webinar in the series aimed to inform the public and the scientific research community about the potential hazards associated with microplastics, drawing on documented studies and scientific evidence. It explored the harmful characteristics that researchers and stakeholders may consider in future studies.

Additionally, speakers discussed established methodologies for risk assessment while examining the complexities, uncertainties, and challenges involved in evaluating risks. This webinar aimed to lay a foundation for the development of a comprehensive and standardized framework for assessing microplastic-related risks, which can inform research priorities and downstream decision-making.
The webinar featured presentations from Todd Gouin (TG Environmental Research), Philip Landrigan (Boston College), and Stephanie Wright (Imperial College London), followed by a multisectoral panel discussion between the speakers and Valerie Hanley (California Department of Toxic Substances Control).

PAST WEBINARS - The webinar series: Exploring Exposure and Related Health Effects ran between February and June 2025.

Webinar #1: Methodologies for appropriate and improved sampling, analysis, characterization, monitoring, and reporting of microplastics. Date: February 27
Webinar #2: The Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways. Date: March 20

Please submit your feedback using this post event questionnaire, we'd love to hear from you!

Organizing Project

Microplastics Webinar Series: Exploring exposure and related health effects

Contact

EHMI Staff

ehmi@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 2 – Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways

March 20, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Environmental Health Matters Initiative organized a webinar series to explore human exposure to and related health effects of microplastics in the environment.

The second webinar of the Microplastics & Health webinar series aimed to promote awareness and provide a standard baseline understanding of microplastics' distribution in the environment and the most prevalent sources or hotspots of human exposure. Specifically, speakers and panelists highlighted the major exposure pathways (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact) and identified which pathways pose the highest risk to human health. The goal was to bridge scientific findings with policy and regulatory frameworks by identifying data gaps, research priorities, and regulatory strategies that can mitigate microplastic exposure and inform downstream decision-making.

The webinar featured presentations from Bart Koelmans (Wageningen University) and Tracey Woodruff (University of California, San Francisco) followed by a multisectoral panel discussion between the speakers and Matthew MacLeod (Stockholm University) and Jane Muncke (Food Packaging Forum).

PAST WEBINARS - The webinar series: Exploring Exposure and Related Health Effects ran between February and June 2025.

Webinar #1: Methodologies for appropriate and improved sampling, analysis, characterization, monitoring, and reporting of microplastics. Date: February 27
Webinar #3: The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks. Date: April 10

Please submit your feedback using this post event questionnaire, we'd love to hear from you!

Organizing Project

Microplastics Webinar Series: Exploring exposure and related health effects

Contact

EHMI Staff

ehmi@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Meeting 8

March 10 - 12, 2025

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

This eighth committee meeting will occur in two parts: the first (on March 10) will feature presentations from a USACE Geotech expert and a panel focused on R&D drivers from USACE Civil Works HQ, and the second (on March 12) will discuss the impact of innovative materials from the perspective of USACE's Navigation Branch.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Not Closed

Organizing Project

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

Contact

Tim Marflak

(585) 519-1874
tmarflak@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 1 – Methodologies for Appropriate and Improved Sampling, Analysis, Characterization, Monitoring, and Reporting of Microplastics

February 27, 2025

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

Dr. Walker-Franklin and Dr. Hankett Presentation

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Environmental Health Matters Initiative organized a webinar series to explore human exposure to and related health effects of microplastics in the environment.

The first webinar promoted awareness and provide a standard baseline understanding of microplastics' critical characteristics and associated future research direction. Specifically, speakers and panelists highlighted best practices and considerations for the collection, measurement, and characterization of microplastics in different media. They also explored the latest scientific findings that could enhance the comparability, reproducibility, and transparency of future microplastic research, providing crucial insights to inform downstream decision-making.

The webinar featured two presentations from Jeanne Hankett (BASF Corporation) and Imari Walker-Franklin (RTI International) followed by a multisectoral panel discussion between the speakers and Alessio Gomiero (NORCE Microplastics Center) and Leah Thornton Hampton (Southern California Coastal Water Research Project).

PAST WEBINARS - The webinar series: Exploring Exposure and Related Health Effects ran between February and June 2025.

Webinar #2: The Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways. Date: March 20
Webinar #3: The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks. Date: April 10

Please submit your feedback using this post event questionnaire, we'd love to hear from you!

Organizing Project

Microplastics Webinar Series: Exploring exposure and related health effects

Contact

EHMI Staff

ehmi@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 7

February 27 - 28, 2025

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

This meeting will be held in Pittsburgh, PA and during the open session, the committee will tour two lock and dam facilities, meet with Pittsburgh District USACE experts, and learn how innovative materials are involved in District operations. During the closed session, the committee will share their reactions and discuss the adjustments needed to the draft report sections.

Additional Information

Is it a Closed Session event?

Partially Closed

The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the event

All except for Chris Knotts

The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:

N/A for

Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

March 03, 2025

Organizing Project

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure

Contact

Tim Marflak

(585) 519-1874
tmarflak@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Workshop

Pathways for New Nuclear Development: A Workshop

January 29 - 30, 2025

Past

Materials

About

The recent completion of Plant Vogtle, the largest nuclear energy plant in the United States, has sparked new opportunities for building next-generation nuclear reactors to produce reliable, clean energy. However, significant barriers to nuclear deployment include technical challenges, regulatory hurdles, and investment risks that complicate decision-making timelines.

Building on recommendations from the consensus report, Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States, this workshop aims to explore pathways for new nuclear development in the United States. This event will facilitate in-depth discussions among policymakers, regulators, community leaders, and technical experts from industry, national labs, and academia regarding the challenges of deploying more nuclear power, including ways to improve construction, financing, decision-making, and public engagement. Participants will discuss the real and perceived risks of new nuclear projects and their projected timelines, the risks and opportunities of co-locating with other facilities or in non-traditional locations, and the role different designs could play in meeting growing electricity demand.

Organizing Project

Pathways for New Nuclear Development: A Workshop

Contact

Jasmine Victoria Bryant

jvbryant@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

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Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS)

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 12

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 11

Space Studies Board and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board Joint Meeting Spring 2025

Cyber Hard Problems: Making Progress: A Workshop

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 10

NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory First Look Event

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 4 - Research Priorities, Mitigation Strategies, and Public Communication in the Face of Uncertainties

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 9

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 3 - The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks

Space Science Week 2025

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 2 – Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Meeting 8

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 1 – Methodologies for Appropriate and Improved Sampling, Analysis, Characterization, Monitoring, and Reporting of Microplastics

Study on Furthering the Development and Use of Innovative Materials in Water Resources Infrastructure - Committee Meeting 7

Pathways for New Nuclear Development: A Workshop