Policy and Global Affairs (PGA)

Webinar

Eligibility & Benefits Deep Dive: Fellowship & Application Process Webinar

November 18, 2025

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)

Past

About

This session offers a deeper look at eligibility and award benefits for the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) and Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program (AF STFP). We’ll cover who is eligible, what kinds of research are supported, and the citizenship and degree requirements. You’ll also gain insight into the application timeline and structure, along with a detailed overview of award benefits. This session builds on the introductory webinar and is part of our ongoing series designed to help prospective applicants prepare strong and competitive applications.

Contact

Blain Bekele

fellowshipsofficeoutreach@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

AI Infrastructure to Accelerate AI Convergence and Catalyze U.S. Scientific Innovation

June 17 - 18, 2025

Past

Materials

Travel and Logistics Memo

About

As artificial intelligence (AI) is in a pivotal moment of rapid expansion and impact, building a robust future-proof national AI infrastructure is crucial for fueling the next wave of scientific breakthroughs and sustaining U.S. leadership. National success in a next-generation AI program will hinge on establishing testbeds, data-sharing frameworks, and collaboration networks that unite researchers and innovators across government, university, industry, and philanthropic institutions. By aligning these resources within an integrated AI ecosystem, the United States can catalyze breakthroughs, maintain global competitiveness, and address pressing societal needs. This workshop aims to foster a forward-looking vision for future AI infrastructure that enables the necessary convergence to propel discovery, promotes rapid commercialization, and positions the United States at the forefront of the AI revolution. Emphasizing urgency, speed, and scale in a rapidly evolving innovation environment, the discussions will outline ambitious objectives for over-the-horizon challenges and those scientific and technological advancements in AI that demand coordinated national effort.

GUIPRR will convene multi-sector and cross-cutting experts to explore the infrastructure necessary to enable the swift and widespread commercialization of AI technologies. Participants will identify the policies, partnerships, and infrastructure development strategies that can accelerate the deployment of AI in critical sectors, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and national security.

Contact

Delaney Bond

dbond@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.

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.

Meeting

50 Years of the Biological Weapons Convention: What Comes Next?

March 26, 2025

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

BWC Speaker and Moderator Biographies

About

This event will reflect on the past 50 years of the Biological Weapons Convention, identifying key accomplishments, lessons learned, and insights that will guide the next 50 years. We will explore the evolving role of science and technology in shaping the future of the BWC and its relevance in eliminating biological weapons. Additionally, the event will highlight opportunities for innovation in nonproliferation, emphasizing the need to broaden participation across sectors, disciplines, and countries, and engage new experts.

Contact

Maggie McCarthy

mmccarthy@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.

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.

Workshop

Bolstering national science & technology competitiveness through effective science communication

February 25 - 26, 2025

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

Materials

Travel and Logistics Memo

About

Pathways of effective communication are critical to translating impact from science into society and bolstering national science and technology competitiveness. Communication between and across different sectors within the U.S. research enterprise – academia, industry, government, philanthropy, and the public – can present challenges due to differences in institutional cultures and perspectives. The diversity of institutions that comprise the national science and technology landscape provides opportunities to bridge communication misalignments, increase trust, and create value that increases economic competitiveness.

This workshop will explore “communication” from different angles including: how inclusive public engagement strategies can mitigate mistrust in science and technology; how effective communication to policymakers can drive S&T economic and workforce development; how earlier and more open pathways for dissemination of scientific results spur more rapid R&D innovation; and how the balance of national and international S&T priorities is best conveyed to the different sectors to maximize competitiveness.

This meeting is for GUIPRR members and invited guests only. If you have not received the registration link directly and your organization is part of the GUIPRR membership, please contact jgriffiths@nas.edu for the registration link.

Contact

Delaney Bond

dbond@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

Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Scientific Research: A Meeting of Experts

February 19 - 21, 2025

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a virtual meeting of experts on February 19 and February 21 to discuss the landscape of and gaps in research on the environmental impacts of scientific research.

Organizing Project

Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Scientific Research: A Meeting of Experts

Contact

Emi Kameyama

sustainability@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.

Webcast

Supporting Family Caregivers in STEMM: Graduate Student and Post-Doc Caregivers Webinar

October 29, 2024

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM (ET)

Past

Discussion

This discussion information is being collected via Slido. Slido is not affiliated in any way with, or endorsed by, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and your submission via the Slido website is subject to Slido’s privacy and terms of use.

About

Caregiving is a universal experience--whether providing care for children or aging relatives or receiving care when ailing, everyone at some point will be touched by caregiving. And yet, caregiving remains stigmatized and under-supported in academia, with particular challenges for graduate students and post-docs who face greater hurdles to accessing and advocating for their needs. Building on the recent release of a National Academies report on Supporting Family Caregivers in STEMM, this webinar will unpack the caregiving experiences of post-doctoral scholars and graduate students and examine what institutions can do to better support these populations.

Contact

Katherine Wullert

KWullert@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

Incentivizing urgency, speed and scale to support future U.S. Innovation

October 15 - 16, 2024

Past

Materials

About

The traditional funding and incentivizing model for R&D has evolved rapidly within the last decade. Traditional research processes are ill-suited to induce a rapid transition to real-world applications and markets. New and diverse funding structures have been developed to carry technology through from basic research to societal applications. Are these models well suited to work at scale and with the speed needed to keep up with scientific change? This workshop will consider models that address balancing risk and speed for new technologies across multiple players (industry, university, philanthropy, and government) and incentivize risk-taking to address urgent problems not well-served by traditional strategies.

This meeting is for GUIRR members and invited guests only. If you have not received the registration link directly and your organization is part of the GUIRR membership, please contact jgriffiths@nas.edu for the registration link.

Contact

Delaney Bond

(202) 334-2998
dbond@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.

Webinar

Perspectives from New Voices: Navigating Early-stage STEM Careers Across Sectors

September 25, 2024

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)

Past

About

The Board on Higher Education and Workforce will host an open session featuring members of the New Voices in Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine program, which engages mid-career scientists, engineers, and health professionals to expand the diversity of expertise engaged in the National Academies’ work. The session will focus on how experiences as graduate students and postodocs aid in the transition to careers in STEM and share lessons learned on how to prepare for the transition. Panelists will draw from their academic and professional experiences across multiple sectors.This is one of two conversations with New Voices members intended to provide deeper insight into current hurdles that graduate students and postdocs face to prepare for and land into their own successful career.

Speakers:

Moderator:

Dr. Mahdieh Aghazadeh, Principal Process Engineer, Johnson and Johnson

Panelists:

Dr. Sabrina Assoumou, Associate Professor and Inaugural Louis W. Sullivan, MD, Endowed Professor of Medicine, Boston University, Boston Medical Center
Dr. Holly Mayton, Principal Scientist – Sustainability, Science, and Policy, Deere & Company
Dr. Emily Pentzer, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

Contact

Maria Lund Dahlberg

(202) 334-3372
mdahlberg@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

Current STEM Labor Movements: Upstream Consequences for Industry and Innovation

September 16, 2024

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

Past

About

To capitalize on the importance and critical role of private and industrial partners in this discussion, a conversation series will be convened as a partnership between GUIRR and the National Academy of Engineering President's Business Advisory Committee. This panel will convene to discuss how student needs around increased pay and other fringe benefits, as well as additional economically based future STEM trainee pressures, may change the cost or efficiency of innovation. Specific consideration will be placed on trainees’ economic forces and pathways representing the transition from the university to industry. It will also consider the role of building a robust and retained workforce in an era of increased global competition for a shrinking and specialized labor pool.

Contact

Alex Temple

atemple@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.

Conference Closed

International Bioeconomy Forum at Global Bio-India 2024

September 13, 2024

7:00 AM - 8:30 AM (ET)

Past

About

Global Bio India (GBI) 2024 will feature a facilitated discussion introducing the National Academies' International Bioeconomy Forum. This initiative will involve a multilateral committee organizing four hybrid meetings in India throughout 2025. Additionally, the National Academies will explore the feasibility of a long-term sustainability plan for the roundtable beyond 2025.

The discussion will engage 20-30 distinguished representatives from Indian academia, government, industry, and public-private partnerships, facilitated by Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE). The aim is to assess interest, gather insights, and secure commitment from key stakeholders in preparation for the roundtable’s launch in early 2025.

This session offers an excellent opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed structure and focus areas of the Bioeconomy Forum. It will also explore specific topics and concepts that emerged from the workshop, “Scientific, Industry, Innovation, and Governance Landscape for Biotechnology Research and Development in the United States and India.”

On 2/26/2025, the U.S. Department of State informed the National Academy of Sciences that it should terminate all work on this activity. This activity has ended, and a final product was not released.

Organizing Project

International Forum on Responsible Bioeconomy Innovation

Contact

Carmen Shaw

(202) 334-2849
CShaw@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.

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My Academies

Policy and Global Affairs (PGA)

Eligibility & Benefits Deep Dive: Fellowship & Application Process Webinar

AI Infrastructure to Accelerate AI Convergence and Catalyze U.S. Scientific Innovation

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

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

50 Years of the Biological Weapons Convention: What Comes Next?

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

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

Bolstering national science & technology competitiveness through effective science communication

Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Scientific Research: A Meeting of Experts

Supporting Family Caregivers in STEMM: Graduate Student and Post-Doc Caregivers Webinar

Incentivizing urgency, speed and scale to support future U.S. Innovation

Perspectives from New Voices: Navigating Early-stage STEM Careers Across Sectors

Current STEM Labor Movements: Upstream Consequences for Industry and Innovation

International Bioeconomy Forum at Global Bio-India 2024

Macroeconomic Implications of Decarbonization Policies and Actions