Date: March 26, 2009
Editor: Sharon Yep
"Reports & Events" is a monthly list of selected events open to the public and a listing of National Academies reports tentatively scheduled for release next month. A complete listing of events can be accessed at http://search.nap.edu/nap-cgi/events.cgi.
MEETINGS
Preventing a global heart disease epidemic
April 13 and 14
(Washington, D.C.)
As part of an Institute of Medicine study on preventing a growing global epidemic of cardiovascular disease, this two-day information-gathering session will explore global and regional trends in heart disease rates, the economic costs, and risk reduction strategies that have been tried, among other topics. Sessions will run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Lecture Room of the National Academy of Sciences building, 2100 C St., N.W. A draft agenda and registration information are available at http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3783/61447/64163.aspx.
CONTACT: Office of News and Public Information, 202-334-2138
Vaccine safety
April 14
(Washington, D.C.)
An Institute of Medicine committee that is providing guidance on the development of an updated U.S. National Vaccine Plan will hold a public meeting to gather input on the draft plan’s second goal: to enhance the safety of vaccines and vaccination practices. The meeting will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 100 of the National Academies’ Keck Center, 500 Fifth St., N.W. A draft agenda and registration information are available online at http://www.iom.edu/?id=62945. Those who cannot attend may listen to a live audio webcast that will be available at the start of the meeting as a link on http://national-academies.org/.
CONTACT: Office of News and Public Information, 202-334-2138
Annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences
April 25-28
(Washington, D.C.)
The National Academy of Sciences will hold its 146th annual meeting, at which new Academy members will be elected. ELECTION RESULTS will be available online at noon EDT on April 28 at http://national-academies.org. Reporters can register in advance to receive the list of new members via e-mail. Various public sessions will be held in the auditorium of the National Academy of Sciences building, 2100 C St., N.W.
APRIL 25, 8 P.M. TO 9 P.M. – Induction ceremony and signing of "Registry of Membership" for members elected in 2008. A reception will follow from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
APRIL 26, 2 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M. – Ceremony for recipients of 2009 awards
Honorees include Neal Lane, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor and senior fellow of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, who will receive the Academy's most prestigious award, the Public Welfare Medal. For the list of award recipients, visit http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=01282009
APRIL 27, 8:30 A.M. TO 9:15 A.M. – Annual address by NAS president
Ralph J. Cicerone will address the members. His speech will be audio webcast for the public at http://national-academies.org.
APRIL 27, 3 P.M. TO 5:30 P.M. – Symposium on developments in evolutionary biology
This event will discuss advances in molecular biology, developmental genetics, and evolutionary theory that have led to discoveries beyond anything Charles Darwin could have imagined.
Reporters who wish to attend must register in advance.
CONTACT: Office of News and Public Information, 202-334-2138
REPORTS
The following reports from the National Academies are tentatively scheduled for release during April. However, release dates depend on successful completion of the review process and publishing schedules. Reporters who would like to be notified when a report is due for release should contact the Office of News and Public Information -- 202-334-2138 or e-mail <news@nas.edu> -- and ask to be placed on the contact list.
ENGINEERING and TECHNOLOGY
Technology, Policy, Law, and Ethics for Cyberattack
[National Research Council]
Reviews the implications of information warfare, including the utility of offensive cyberattack, the ethical and legal issues involved, and the United States’ ability to respond to cyberattack by another nation.
ENVIRONMENT
Final Report from the Committee on New Orleans Regional Hurricane Protection Projects
[National Research Council]
Evaluates the final report issued by the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET), which was formed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to examine why New Orleans' hurricane-protection system failed during Hurricane Katrina and how it can be strengthened.
Shellfish Mariculture in Drakes Estero, Point Reyes National Seashore, California
[National Research Council]
Assesses the scientific basis for the National Park Service’s presentations and report "Drakes Estero: A Sheltered Wilderness Estuary" on the ecological effects of the Drakes Bay Oyster Company operations on Drakes Estero, Point Reyes National Seashore, in California.
HEALTH
Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice
[Institute of Medicine]
This report assesses the incidence and impact of financial conflicts of interest in health research, education, and practice and recommends policies and other means to ensure that financial ties are appropriately disclosed and managed to ensure the integrity of health care.
Health Literacy, eHealth, and Communication: Putting the Consumer First -- Workshop Summary
[Institute of Medicine]
Summary of presentations and discussions at a public workshop held by IOM’s Roundtable on Health Literacy, which focused on barriers to the use of communication technology and steps that need to be taken to support its use – particularly electronic medical records – to promote health.
Letter Report on the Review of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Risk-Based Approach to Public Health Attribution
[National Research Council]
Examines the data, risk factors, and methodology that FSIS will use to rank the relative public health risks posed by meat processing and slaughtering establishments.
Managing Food Safety Practices From Farm to Table -- Workshop Summary
[Institute of Medicine]
Summary of presentations and discussions at a workshop held by IOM’s Food Forum to explore ways to develop systematic, risk-based strategies for preventing microbial contamination in foods, particularly produce, meats, and thermally processed foods.
The Title X Family Planning Program: Enhancing Resources, Planning, and Evaluation
[Institute of Medicine]
This report assesses how well the federal Title X Family Planning Program is meeting the needs of the target population of low-income individuals and families who would benefit from assistance with reproductive health issues and family planning services. It examines the administration and management of the program and how it fits in with the services offered through other public and private funding sources.
ALSO OF INTEREST
A Celebration of International Polar Year
(Washington, D.C.)
The National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation will co-host a symposium highlighting the accomplishments of International Polar Year -- a global research effort to better understand polar regions. With more than 200 scientific expeditions and 1,000 research projects to discuss, the speakers will talk about climate change, polar ice sheet stability and sea level, polar ecosystems, and people in the changing Arctic. The event will be held April 6 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the National Academy of Sciences building, 2100 C St., N.W. Public registration for this free event and more information about International Polar Year are available online at http://www.dels.nas.edu/prb/. Reporters who wish to attend must register in advance.
CONTACT: Office of News and Public Information, 202-334-2138
Marian Koshland Science Museum
(Washington, D.C.)
The Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences holds public programs on a variety of science-related topics. Upcoming events include:
-- Picturing the Science of Climate Change (April 7, 6:30 p.m.)
-- Earth Day Poetry Slam with DC Slam (April 22, 6:30 p.m.)
-- Global Climate Change Science Café: Problems and Solutions (April 23, 6:30 p.m.)
For more information, visit http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/. Reporters must register in advance.
CONTACT: Annie Drinkard, 202-334-1612 or e-mail <adrinkard@nas.edu>
Communicating About Evolution: Lecture by Matthew Nisbet
(Washington, D.C.)
Co-hosted by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Institutes of Health, this lecture on April 13 is part of a series on evolution and medicine to be held in the auditorium of the National Academy of Sciences building at 2100 C St., N.W. The lecture is free, although a photo ID is required. Registration information is available online at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/News/Meetings/EvolutionSeries2009.htm. There will also be a live webcast available at http://videocast.nih.gov.
CONTACT: Office of News and Public Information, 202-334-2138
A Cosmic Journey Through Space and Time
(Washington, D.C.)
Renowned astrophysicists John Mather, Vera Rubin, Charles Bennett, and Adam Riess join moderator Marcia Bartusiak on April 16 in a lively discussion about our knowledge of the universe, including the first moments of the big bang and the mysteries of dark energy. The event starts at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the National Academy of Sciences building, 2100 C St., N.W. The event is a collaboration with the Smithsonian Resident Associates Program. For admission fees and more information, visit http://residentassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=216717.
CONTACT: Office of News and Public Information, 202-334-2138
Grant Winners and Conference Summary
The National Academies Keck Futures Initiative will announce the recipients of this year’s Futures grants to support interdisciplinary research in complex systems such as ecosystems, financial markets, communication networks, and biology. Winners are selected from researchers who attended the Futures conference on the topic last November. COMPLEX SYSTEMS, a summary of the conference, will be released in print and online in April. For more information, visit http://www.keckfutures.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Upcoming_Conferences_Complexity.
CONTACT: Maureen O'Leary, Office of News and Public Information, 202-334-2138
RESOURCES FOR REPORTERS
Science, medicine, and technology form the basis for many of the day's top news stories. Whether you are looking for background or searching for a different angle, check out http://national-academies.org/headlines.
Check out podcasts from the National Academies on all areas of science, engineering, and medicine at http://national-academies.org/podcast/, booklets at http://national-academies.org/publications/#booklets, and resources on evolution at http://national-academies.org/evolution/.
View the most recent Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences articles online by visiting This Week in Early Edition at http://www.pnas.org/site/misc/highlights.shtml, or PNAS in the News at http://www.pnas.org/site/misc/news.shtml. Journalists may register to receive embargoed material by contacting the PNAS News Office at <pnasnews@nas.edu>.
This guide, along with news releases and other documents from the Office of News and Public Information, is available on the Internet at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/bydate.aspx.
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