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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.

In progress

News and Updates

NEW PUBLICATION: Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, Fourth Edition

Update

Jan 7, 2026

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

Update

Nov 20, 2025

Projects

Showing 1–32 of 46 items
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Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship Program

Fellowship/Professional Development Program

In Progress

Implications of Recent Supreme Court Decisions for Agency Decision-Making: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

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

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Recently Completed

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

Workshop

Completed

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

Workshop

Completed

The Food and Drug Administration’s Accelerated Approval Process for New Pharmaceuticals - A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Brain-Machine and Related Neural Interface Technologies: Scientific, Technical, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues - A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Science for Judges - Development of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, 4th Edition

Other

Recently Completed

Location Data in the Context of Public Health, Research, and Law Enforcement: An Exploration of Governance Frameworks - A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Facial Recognition: Current Capabilities, Future Prospects, and Governance

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

The Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorization: Lessons Learned from the Past to Guide the Future: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing

Workshop

Completed

Section 230 Protections: Can Legal Revisions or Novel Technologies Limit Online Misinformation and Abuse? A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Marshall-Motley Scholars Program

Fellowship/Professional Development Program

Completed

The Science of Implicit Bias: Implications for Law and Policy - A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Protecting Critical Technologies for National Security in an Era of Openness and Competition

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Emerging Areas of Science, Engineering, and Medicine for the Courts: Identifying Chapters for a Fourth Edition of The Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence - A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Direct to Consumer Genetic Testing: What are the Policy Issues that Society Must Address? A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Six Party Symposia on Synthetic Biology

Workshop

Completed

International Animal Law and the Neuroscience Research Enterprise: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Issues Associated with Neural Chimeras and Organoids

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

The H5N1 Avian Flu Virus: Has the Paradigm Changed?

Workshop

Completed

Science and Innovation Leadership for the 21st Century: Challenges and Strategic Implications for the United States

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

National and International Intellectual Property Practices and Policies: Assessing the Impact of Political, Economic and Technological Pressures

Workshop

Completed

Gain-of-Function Research: A Symposium

Workshop

Completed

International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Implementing Key Recommendations of "Research Universities and the Future of America": A Convocation

Workshop

Completed

Science Policy Decision-Making: Educational Modules

Educational/Outreach Activity

Completed

Review of Proposals for Research on Statistical Methodologies for Assessing Variables in Eyewitness Performance

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Current Trends in Synthetic Biology: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Gain-of-Function Research: A Second Symposium

Workshop

Completed

The Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing

Workshop

Completed
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