SCIENCE & MEDICINE ENGINEERING WORKING TOWARD A BETTER WORLD INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE U.S. NATIONAL ACADEMIES

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1 SCIENCE ENGINEERING & MEDICINE WORKING TOWARD A BETTER WORLD INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE U.S. NATIONAL ACADEMIES

2 for Ongoing INTERNATIONAL Priorities Activity Operating under a congressional charter, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), National Academy of Engineering (NAE), Institute of Medicine (IOM), and National Research Council (NRC) collectively the U.S. National Academies are private, nonprofit institutions that advise the federal government and public on matters of science, technology, and health by establishing committees of experts to address critical technical and policy issues. The Academies promotes the use of science, engineering, and medicine to enhance the security and well-being of people throughout the world and to ease disparities in human welfare. To accomplish this, it cooperates with partner organizations and scientific communities internationally. It also works to increase the capacity of both individual national academies and regional and global networks of academies to provide evidence-based advice to their governments, policy makers, and the public, thus strengthening and shaping policy and programs worldwide. Priorities for the National Academies international work include: Furthering Sustainable Development Energy and the environment Water resources Food security Mitigating and adapting to climate change Protecting biodiversity Enhancing Global Security Emerging infectious diseases Health surveillance Health care quality Containing the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons Preventing and recovering from conflict Averting and responding to natural and man-made disasters Building Human and Institutional Capital Enhancing the capacity of academies to provide policy advice Strengthening education systems Improving public access to scientific, technical, and health information Supporting ethical systems and public-service mechanisms Defending human rights of scientists, engineers, and health professionals Fostering international links among young scientists Toward these ends, the National Academies works in tandem with counterpart academies and organizations around the world, such as the InterAcademy Panel, InterAcademy Council, InterAcademy Medical Panel, International Council on Science, and International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences. The presidents and foreign secretaries of the NAS, NAE, and IOM serve as official representatives to these international organizations.

3 Today s global community faces unprecedented challenges that threaten the health and welfare of all people, as well as the planet on which we live. Now more than ever, it is critical for nations to address common problems under a shared commitment one that transcends cultural, social, and geopolitical boundaries and for technologically advanced countries to work closely with and in support of developing countries. Using the common language of science, the U.S. National Academies works cooperatively with scientists, engineers, and medical professionals worldwide to promote discovery and innovation, confront global challenges, bolster international security, strengthen science and technology initiatives, and foster better communication among nations. The pursuit of scientific progress is a global endeavor in which creative ideas and important resources come from all corners of the earth. With its proven record of service and distinguished roster of Academy members, foreign associates, and other volunteer experts, the National Academies can make a real difference in peoples lives. It has strong partnerships with other national academies and scientific organizations and access to the brightest, most credible scientists, engineers, and medical professionals the voices that leaders listen to when evidence-based advice is needed. The National Academies extensive efforts in international outreach are concentrated in four main areas: responding to critical global challenges; building capacity in developing countries; pursuing direct relationships with scientists and organizations worldwide; and advising the U.S. government. The examples presented here illustrate the range of activities the Academies has undertaken in recent years. Additional information, including program units involved in these activities, reports and report translations, as well as resources and services designed for the international community, can be found at

4 Responding to Critical Global Challenges Many of the world s greatest health, environmental, and security threats are beyond the ability of any one nation to confront by itself. The National Academies addresses critical global challenges by working with its scientific partners to coordinate responses to the problems that affect the lives and well-being of countless people from finding a way to get a life-saving drug to an ailing African child to protecting an entire population from the risks of nuclear proliferation. Energy and the Environment Recognizing both the increasing global demand for energy and the importance of addressing that need without causing irrevocable harm to the environment, the academies of science and engineering from the world s two largest energy consumers, the United States and China, collaborated in a series of activities. One resulting study, Energy Futures and Urban Air Pollution: Challenges for China and the United States, provides the governments of both countries with key recommendations on addressing energy consumption and air-quality issues while maintaining economic growth. Fighting Malaria Each year, the mosquito-borne disease malaria kills nearly one million Africans most of them under the age of five. Deeply concerned about this worsening issue, the National Academies charged a committee with evaluating the obstacles that compromise the delivery of care to those in dire need, including the unavailability of affordable drugs. Out of this effort came the report Saving Lives, Buying Time: Economics of Malaria Drugs in an Age of Resistance. Safe Drinking Water Clean drinking water is a basic human need. Sadly, more than one in six people still lack access to this precious commodity. With the cooperation of scientific, engineering, and medical academies from around the world, the National Academies developed the Web resource Safe Drinking Water Is Essential. It offers extensive, life-saving information in five languages on topics related to drinking water quality and options for distribution and treatment. More Effective Farming Increased agricultural productivity is a major stepping stone on the path out of poverty in sub-saharan Africa and South Asia. Farmers in these regions are challenged by poor soil, inefficient water use, and a lack of plant breeding resources, nutritious animal feed, high-quality seed, fuel, and electricity. In a report that may bring relief to many, a National Academies panel of experts identified 60 emerging technologies that could potentially improve yields in crop and animal production in these regions. Strengthening International Security Nuclear power offers a potential alternative to fossil fuels for meeting the growing global demand for energy, but it also heightens the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation. Similarly, life-science technologies that can dramatically improve lives can also be used in the manufacture of biological weapons. The National Academies addresses nuclear, chemical, and biological threats by meeting with international partners and publishing such studies as Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Goals, Strategies, and Challenges (jointly with the Russian Academy of Sciences) and Biotechnology Research in an Age of Terrorism.

5 Building Capacity in Developing COUNtries A strong science and technology base facilitates progress and creates a promising future for a nation and its people. The National Academies works with associations of academies worldwide to strengthen the science, technology, and health initiatives of developing countries. It helps science academies create awareness among their policy makers and provide science-based advice to their governments, and it enlists talented scientists and engineers to work with their foreign counterparts to solve pervasive problems and support educational programs. Cooperative Program with Pakistan The jointly funded Pakistan U.S. Science and Technology Cooperation Program is a true collaboration that has strengthened ties between the two countries. The program has improved education and research at Pakistan s higher-learning institutions, allowed both public and private science to support industry competitiveness, and improved the quality of life for Pakistani people. Population Data in Support of Humanitarian Relief Efforts Each year, millions of people are displaced by natural and industrial disasters or social and political upheaval, necessitating swift and effective emergency responses. The report Tools and Methods for Estimating Populations at Risk from Natural Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Crises identifies ways to improve the collection and use of population data for more effective crisis management and recovery programs. Strengthening African Science Academies The ten-year African Science Academy Development Initiative (ASADI) supports eight African science academies in their transformation from largely honorific societies to organizations that provide independent, evidence-based advice to their governments. With ASADI support, the science academies of Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa have produced peer-reviewed reports on such critical health issues as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and nutrition, and have conducted symposia on a broad range of national topics, including health systems, malaria, blood safety, and biosecurity. Improving Road Safety The World Health Organization estimates that more than a million people in developing countries die each year from traffic accidents, with about 20 million suffering serious injuries and these numbers are growing rapidly. A recent National Academies report on this crisis highlights how the United States, with its long history of motorization, can help government agencies in affected countries reduce road traffic casualties through capacity building in the transportation, health, traffic enforcement, and public administration sectors. Visiting Lecturer Program, Cambodia Mathematics is the international language of science and technology, yet many universities in developing nations such as Cambodia lack the capacity to educate their students fully. The National Academies, in cooperation with partners in France and Japan, helps build capacity in mathematics and mathematics education through its Visiting Lecturer Program, which provides advanced undergraduate level courses and fosters productive interaction between the mathematical community of the developed world and the vast, often untapped, talent in the developing world.

6 Pursuing Direct Relationships with Scientists and Organizations WoRldwide Seeking scientific solutions to common problems is an international priority requiring a foundation of strong relationships among national academies and scientific organizations worldwide. The National Academies is dedicated to bringing together talented, concerned, and motivated scientists to communicate ideas, learn from each other, and develop shared values, even when formal relations between countries are strained or nonexistent. Joint research projects on specific technical problems, travel grants for U.S. experts to attend international conferences, and missions to assist individual colleagues abroad all strengthen science globally and enrich the knowledge of the U.S. science, engineering, and medical communities. Building Bridges in the Middle East For nearly two decades, the National Academies and the science academies of Jordan, Palestine, and Israel have worked to promote scientific cooperation in the Middle East. In 1994, the Association of Middle East and U.S. National Academies of Sciences was formed and has since published the joint study Water for the Future: The West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel, and Jordan; held technical workshops on nutrition, biodiversity, water, and telemedicine; and initiated a series of symposia for young scientists. Cooperation with Iranian Colleagues Former president of the National Academy of Engineering William A. Wulf eloquently voiced the sentiments of the National Academies when he asserted that there exists a historic opportunity to continue our work with Iranian colleagues on problems of global importance that will not only advance international science and engineering, but also build trust and respect for one another throughout our societies. Even in the midst of political tensions, the Academies brings together specialists in science and engineering from Iran and the United States for such workshops as The Experiences and Challenges of Science and Ethics, Reducing Earthquake Damage, and Water Conservation, Reuse, and Recycling. Defending and Promoting Human Rights Academies worldwide are encouraged and assisted by the Committee on Human Rights to defend professional colleagues who are unjustly imprisoned for peacefully exercising their universal human rights, including their freedom to publish, assemble, voice opinions, travel, seek and impart information and ideas, and share in scientific advancement. The committee has defended hundreds of colleagues; most have been released, including a geologist and two medical doctors who, collectively, spent 37 years in a Myanmar prison. Frontiers of Science Symposia For more than two decades, the National Academies Frontiers of Science series has brought together some of the country s finest young scientists to discuss cutting-edge advances, research challenges, and exciting new opportunities in their respective fields. The enduring success of this annual symposium, along with that of the later-established Frontiers of Engineering series, has inspired the creation of similar programs with partners in Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, India, and the Middle East.

7 Advising the U.S. Government The National Academies was established to advise the U.S. government on science, technology, and health. Its mission involves offering guidance on how the United States can use its resources to work more effectively with other countries, particularly those of the developing world; how U.S. laws can be structured to ensure national security without inhibiting the free exchange of ideas and innovation; and how the country s expertise in science, technology, and health can enhance U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance programs. Science, Technology, and Health in Foreign Policy The U.S. Department of State recognizes the value of expert knowledge when addressing critical topics. In its report The Pervasive Role of Science, Technology, and Health in Foreign Policy, the National Academies identified how science, technology, and medicine can contribute to making and implementing foreign policy. One recommendation led to the creation of the post of Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State. Jefferson Science Fellowship Program Under this program, experienced academic scientists and engineers are chosen for their achievements, communication skills, and interest in science policy and invited to spend one year at the Department of State, where they serve as expert consultants on rapidly advancing technical issues critical to foreign policy initiatives. Participants then return to their academic careers with an increased awareness of and sensitivity to the international dimensions of science, technology, and health policy and remain available to the State Department for another five years to work on short-term projects. Science and Security The U.S. government has a responsibility to protect its citizens from threats to security as well as to support scientific, engineering, and medical progress through the free and open global exchange of ideas and innovation. Recognizing that science strengthens security, the National Academies advises the government on how it can shape its laws to ensure both national security and international scientific openness in such areas as the classification of information, export controls, and visa regulations for foreign students and scholars. Monitoring a Crucial Health Program In 2003, Congress authorized legislation that included the U.S. President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a comprehensive five-year initiative to help countries combat the global spread of HIV and AIDS. Based on the Institute of Medicine s 2007 evaluation of the plan s efficacy, the U.S. government decided to continue the initiative and pursue IOM s recommendation that PEPFAR s focus be shifted from emergency relief to an emphasis on the long-term strategic planning and capacity building necessary for a sustained effort to counter the spread of AIDS.

8 The great scientific challenges transcend national frontiers and national prejudices. In a sense, this has always been true, for the language of science has always been universal, and perhaps scientists have been the most international of all professions in their outlook. President John F. Kennedy From his address on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary Convocation of the National Academy of Sciences, October 22, 1963