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Standing Committee

Committee on Science, Technology, and Law

The National Academies established the Committee on Science, Technology, and Law in 1998 to bring together the science and engineering community and the legal community to explore pressing issues, improve communication and help resolve issues. Under the leadership of co-chairs Dr. Harold Varmus and Professor Martha Minow, the committee meets twice a year in a neutral and non-adversarial setting to discuss critical issues at the interface of science, technology, and the law; to promote understanding; and to develop imaginative approaches to solving problems of mutual concern.

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News and Updates

New Publication on Strengthening the U.S. Medicolegal Death Investigation System: Lessons from Death in Custody

Update

Nov 21, 2025
A closeup of the locking mechanism of a closed jail cell with welded iron bars on a dimly lit dark background - 3D render

Apply for a 2026 CSTL Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship

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Nov 20, 2025
About Events Projects Publications/Resources News and updates

Past Events

Advancing the Field of Forensic Pathology: Lessons Learned from Death in Custody Investigations Committee Check-In #1

  • July 2, 2024
  • 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

This was a check-in meeting for an ad hoc committee conducting a consensus study on the handling of deaths in custody (detained, arrested, en route to incarceration, or incarcerated in state or local...

Advancing the Field of Forensic Pathology: Lessons Learned from Death in Custody Investigations Meeting #2

  • June 17 - 18, 2024
  • Meeting
  • Past

This was the second meeting for an ad hoc committee conducting a consensus study on the handling of deaths in custody (detained, arrested, en route to incarceration, or incarcerated in state or local...

Optimizing Federal, State, and Local Response to Public Health Emergencies - A Workshop

  • May 30 - 31, 2024
  • Workshop
  • Past

This virtual workshop examined factors that affected the ability of public health agencies and federal, state, and local governments to respond successfully to the COVID-19 pandemic and explored appro...

Evolving Technological, Legal and Social Solutions to Counter Disinformation in Social Media - A Workshop

  • April 10 - 11, 2024
  • Workshop
  • Past

This workshop featured two days of interactive brainstorming to foster new research and collaborations and build implementable solutions for a whole-of-society approach to mitigating disinformation an...

Advancing the Field of Forensic Pathology: Lessons Learned from Death in Custody Investigations Meeting 1

  • April 2 - 3, 2024
  • Meeting
  • Past

This was the first meeting for an ad hoc committee conducting a consensus study on the handling of deaths in custody (detained, arrested, en route to incarceration, or incarcerated in state or local f...

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Report Release Webinar)

  • January 17, 2024
  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
  • Webinar
  • Past

REPORT RELEASE WEBINAR Facial Recognition Technology: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance Facial recognition technology is increasingly used for identity verification and identifica...

Optimizing Federal, State, and Local Response to Public Health Emergencies - A Workshop - Planning Meeting 1

  • December 14, 2023
  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)
  • Past

This is the first meeting of the committee planning the workshop titled Optimizing Federal, State, and Local Response to Public Health Emergencies. The meeting is virtual.

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Meeting 21)

  • December 12, 2023
  • 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will meet to continue to work on the report draft.

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Meeting 20)

  • December 8, 2023
  • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will meet to continue to work on reviewer feedback and draft the report.

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Meeting 19)

  • November 21, 2023
  • 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM (EST)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will meet in closed session to go through reviewer comments.

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Meeting 18)

  • October 4, 2023
  • 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will continue to work on the draft of the report.

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Meeting 17)

  • September 29, 2023
  • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will continue to work on the report draft.

Evolving Technological, Legal and Social Solutions to Counter Disinformation in Social Media - A Workshop - Planning Meeting 1

  • August 30, 2023
  • 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)
  • Meeting
  • Past

This is the first meeting of the committee planning the workshop titled Evolving Technological, Legal and Social Solutions to Counter Disinformation in Social Media. The meeting is virtual.

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Meeting 16)

  • August 22, 2023
  • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will continue to work on the report draft.

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance (Meeting 15)

  • July 21, 2023
  • 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM (EDT)
  • Closed
  • Meeting
  • Past

The committee will continue to work on the draft draft.
Page 2 of 15
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