In Service to the Nation and the World

Society faces many urgent challenges that won’t be solved without ingenuity, research and evidence, and collaboration across many disciplines and areas of expertise. This overview of our activities highlights how the National Academies are advancing solutions for a brighter future.

Envisioning a nation and a world that rely on scientific evidence to make decisions that benefit humanity.

From the Presidents

We are well into the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and, although it is far from being over, lifesaving vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics have brought hope to the fight against this highly infectious and evolving virus. These innovations were only possible because the international scientific community mobilized in unprecedented ways, drawing upon years of basic and applied research to develop these and other tools in record time. In the process, we’ve also seen major advances in the collaborative ways that science, engineering, and medicine operate in times of crisis.

Similarly, at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the urgency of the pandemic accelerated a major shift in how we deliver our evidence-based guidance. Even as our dedicated volunteers and staff shifted seamlessly to an all-virtual work environment in March 2020, we developed new products and services such as rapid expert consultations to quickly provide actionable, real-time, evidence-based guidance to decision-makers on pandemic-related matters.

We also adopted a new strategic plan that reinforces our mission and values, and updated our conflict-of-interest policy to ensure our work remains of the highest integrity and quality. Now, as we adjust to a “new normal” and a hybrid work model, we are committed to taking innovative approaches to all of our initiatives — all with the goal of increasing the value and relevance of our work to the nation.

Indeed, as the U.S. and the world face multiple existential crises, the need for solutions grounded in science, engineering, and medicine has never been greater. The impacts of climate change are being felt by millions — especially society’s most vulnerable — with extreme events such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and more intense hurricanes projected to increase in the coming decades. At the same time, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is devastating lives, exacerbating geopolitical tensions, and placing more pressure on an already strained global economy.

At the National Academies, we are focused on using our considerable convening power to bring together the best minds across disciplines, sectors, and borders to make progress on pressing societal challenges — and to anticipate and prepare for future crises. In this digital resource, you’ll learn how we are responding to the pandemic, galvanizing action on climate change, and strengthening national security and science diplomacy — including our efforts to help displaced Afghan and Ukrainian researchers continue their work while staying connected to the international research community. We stand ready to assist health care workers who are working under unimaginable conditions and to engage our engineering community to help rebuild Ukraine when the time comes.

We also are working to make sure that the benefits of science, engineering, and medicine are shared equitably and are widely available to all. In addition to several projects and activities aimed at advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM and academia and across society, we have launched a major effort to integrate DEI into everything we do — from our consensus and convening activities to seeking a broader pool of well-qualified candidates for election to each of our academies.

We are grateful to our incredible members and volunteers who do this work without compensation, to our amazing staff, and to our sponsors who make what we do possible. Together, we look forward to tackling the challenges to come with the best that science, engineering, and medicine have to offer.

Marcia McNutt
President, National Academy of Sciences
 
John L. Anderson
President, National Academy of Engineering
 
Victor J. Dzau
President, National Academy of Medicine

Delivering Science in a Crisis

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Academies have been providing leadership and rapid, science-based guidance on a wide range of critical issues — from equitably allocating vaccines and diagnostics to safely reopening schools. As society grapples with and eventually recovers from the pandemic, we’re capturing lessons learned to ensure that the nation and world are better prepared for future global crises.
 

“Science has been critically important in all areas of pandemic response, from detection to surveillance to public health measures, and of course countermeasures — treatments, diagnostics, and vaccines.” — National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau

Mobilizing Action on Climate Change

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated national and global agendas, a slower-moving — and potentially even more damaging — crisis has been unfolding for decades. Climate change and its impacts are already being felt by millions of people and have potentially devastating implications for the environment, the economy, global security, and human health and well-being.
 
The National Academies are mobilizing expertise across the sciences, engineering, and medicine to galvanize action toward net-zero emissions and a more resilient, more sustainable future.  
 

“In combating climate change, the most impact and economic opportunity will likely go to the nations with the strongest technology development.” — National Academy of Engineering President John L. Anderson

Building a More Equitable, Inclusive Society

In recent years, the nation has redoubled efforts to grapple with the pervasive effects of systemic racism and inequality, which are well documented across U.S. systems of health care, criminal justice and law enforcement, employment, housing, and education. The National Academies are marshalling the best evidence on the nature and consequences of systemic inequities to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and point the way toward solutions — across all of society and also within the research enterprise itself.

Fortifying the Research Enterprise

The research enterprise has fueled innovations in science, engineering, and medicine that have greatly enhanced economic prosperity, security, and health and well-being for people in the U.S. and around the world. At our core, the National Academies are dedicated to ensuring that U.S. research and STEM education remain strong, robust, and prepared to meet 21st century challenges.

Strengthening National Security and Global Science Diplomacy

In a rapidly changing and increasingly interconnected world, the National Academies are working to ensure that U.S. security and defense efforts are informed by advancements in science, technology, and medicine. Our work helps the nation identify and prepare for ever-shifting risks and threats while preserving and advancing scientific openness, cooperation, and collaboration across disciplines and national borders.
 

“We need Ukrainian scientists to help deal with problems like climate change, pandemics, and energy for the future. But more urgently, Ukraine will need good scientists in order to rebuild the country once this oppression ceases.” — National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt

Engaging the Public and Inspiring Trust

Now more than ever, policymakers and the public are depending on science and research to inform and guide the decisions they make. The National Academies engage the public in various ways to deepen understanding of science and to share trusted, evidence-based information widely.

Answering the Nation’s Call

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provide independent advice to the nation “whenever called upon to do so,” according to our original charter, which was signed more than 150 years ago by President Abraham Lincoln. Without a direct appropriation from the federal government, we enlist top scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other experts who volunteer their time on initiatives that have lasting and significant impacts on people’s lives all over the world.
 

Although many of our activities are requested and supported by Congress and federal agencies, our work extends well beyond fulfilling federal requests. Foundations and private philanthropy from individuals enable us to proactively address complex issues that often span disciplines, economic sectors, and national borders. 

Members of the National Academies have dedicated their careers to the advancement of scientific, engineering and medical knowledge, excellence, and service.  Elected by their peers, they help guide our work, serve on our study committees, and in turn, recognize new members.  During the pandemic from his base in San Francisco, our inaugural Artist in Residence Chris Michel began photographing some of our distinguished members.