TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Physics in a New Era: An Overview SN - DO - 10.17226/10118 PY - 2001 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10118/physics-in-a-new-era-an-overview PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics KW - Conflict and Security Issues AB - Physics at the beginning of the twenty-first century has reached new levels of accomplishment and impact in a society and nation that are changing rapidly. Accomplishments have led us into the information age and fueled broad technological and economic development. The pace of discovery is quickening and stronger links with other fields such as the biological sciences are being developed. The intellectual reach has never been greater, and the questions being asked are more ambitious than ever before. Physics in a New Era is the final report of the NRC’s six-volume decadal physics survey. The book reviews the frontiers of physics research, examines the role of physics in our society, and makes recommendations designed to strengthen physics and its ability to serve important needs such as national security, the economy, information technology, and education. ER - TY - BOOK AU - Institute of Medicine TI - Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures SN - DO - 10.17226/9610 PY - 2000 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9610/clearing-the-air-asthma-and-indoor-air-exposures PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Health and Medicine AB - Since about 1980, asthma prevalence and asthma-related hospitalizations and deaths have increased substantially, especially among children. Of particular concern is the high mortality rate among African Americans with asthma. Recent studies have suggested that indoor exposures—to dust mites, cockroaches, mold, pet dander, tobacco smoke, and other biological and chemical pollutants—may influence the disease course of asthma. To ensure an appropriate response, public health and education officials have sought a science-based assessment of asthma and its relationship to indoor air exposures. Clearing the Air meets this need. This book examines how indoor pollutants contribute to asthma—its causation, prevalence, triggering, and severity. The committee discusses asthma among the general population and in sensitive subpopulations including children, low-income individuals, and urban residents. Based on the most current findings, the book also evaluates the scientific basis for mitigating the effects of indoor air pollutants implicated in asthma. The committee identifies priorities for public health policy, public education outreach, preventive intervention, and further research. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Seeing into the Earth: Noninvasive Characterization of the Shallow Subsurface for Environmental and Engineering Applications SN - DO - 10.17226/5786 PY - 2000 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/5786/seeing-into-the-earth-noninvasive-characterization-of-the-shallow-subsurface PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Earth Sciences KW - Transportation and Infrastructure AB - Just below our feet is an environment that supports our infrastructure, yields water, provides for agriculture, and receives our waste. Our capacity to describe, or characterize, this environment is crucial to the solution of many resource, environmental, and engineering problems. And just as medical imaging technologies have reduced the need for exploratory surgeries, a variety of technologies hold the promise for rapid, relatively inexpensive noninvasive characterization of the Earth's subsurface. Seeing into the Earth examines why noninvasive characterization is important and how improved methods can be developed and disseminated. Looking at the issues from both the commercial and public perspectives, the volume makes recommendations for linking characterization and cost savings, closing the gap between the state of science and the state of the practice, and helping practitioners make the best use of the best methods. The book provides background on: The role of noninvasive subsurface characterization in contaminant cleanup, resource management, civil engineering, and other areas. The physical, chemical, biological, and geological properties that are characterized. Methods of characterization and prospects for technological improvement. Certain to be important for earth scientists and engineers alike, this book is also accessible to interested lay readers. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards: A Guide for Teaching and Learning SN - DO - 10.17226/9596 PY - 2000 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9596/inquiry-and-the-national-science-education-standards-a-guide-for PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education AB - Humans, especially children, are naturally curious. Yet, people often balk at the thought of learning science—the "eyes glazed over" syndrome. Teachers may find teaching science a major challenge in an era when science ranges from the hardly imaginable quark to the distant, blazing quasar. Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards is the book that educators have been waiting for—a practical guide to teaching inquiry and teaching through inquiry, as recommended by the National Science Education Standards. This will be an important resource for educators who must help school boards, parents, and teachers understand "why we can't teach the way we used to." "Inquiry" refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and in which students grasp science knowledge and the methods by which that knowledge is produced. This book explains and illustrates how inquiry helps students learn science content, master how to do science, and understand the nature of science. This book explores the dimensions of teaching and learning science as inquiry for K-12 students across a range of science topics. Detailed examples help clarify when teachers should use the inquiry-based approach and how much structure, guidance, and coaching they should provide. The book dispels myths that may have discouraged educators from the inquiry-based approach and illuminates the subtle interplay between concepts, processes, and science as it is experienced in the classroom. Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards shows how to bring the standards to life, with features such as classroom vignettes exploring different kinds of inquiries for elementary, middle, and high school and Frequently Asked Questions for teachers, responding to common concerns such as obtaining teaching supplies. Turning to assessment, the committee discusses why assessment is important, looks at existing schemes and formats, and addresses how to involve students in assessing their own learning achievements. In addition, this book discusses administrative assistance, communication with parents, appropriate teacher evaluation, and other avenues to promoting and supporting this new teaching paradigm. ER - TY - BOOK TI - Retrofitting Buildings for Seismic Safety: Summary of a Symposium DO - 10.17226/21535 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/21535/retrofitting-buildings-for-seismic-safety-summary-of-a-symposium PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - KW - Earth Sciences ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - National Laboratories and Universities: Building New Ways to Work Together: Report of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/11190 PY - 2005 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11190/national-laboratories-and-universities-building-new-ways-to-work-together PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Education KW - Engineering and Technology AB - This volume is a report of a workshop held in 2003 to address best practices and remaining challenges with respect to national laboratory-university collaborations. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Elementary-Particle Physics: Revealing the Secrets of Energy and Matter SN - DO - 10.17226/6045 PY - 1998 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/6045/elementary-particle-physics-revealing-the-secrets-of-energy-and-matter PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - Part of the Physics in a New Era series of assessments of the various branches of the field, Elementary-Particle Physics reviews progress in the field over the past 10 years and recommends actions needed to address the key questions that remain unanswered. It explains in simple terms the present picture of how matter is constructed. As physicists have probed ever deeper into the structure of matter, they have begun to explore one of the most fundamental questions that one can ask about the universe: What gives matter its mass? A new international accelerator to be built at the European laboratory CERN will begin to explore some of the mechanisms proposed to give matter its heft. The committee recommends full U.S. participation in this project as well as various other experiments and studies to be carried out now and in the longer term. ER - TY - BOOK AU - Institute of Medicine A2 - S. James Adelstein A2 - Frederick J. Manning TI - Isotopes for Medicine and the Life Sciences SN - DO - 10.17226/4818 PY - 1995 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/4818/isotopes-for-medicine-and-the-life-sciences PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Health and Medicine AB - Radioactive isotopes and enriched stable isotopes are used widely in medicine, agriculture, industry, and science, where their application allows us to perform many tasks more accurately, more simply, less expensively, and more quickly than would otherwise be possible. Indeed, in many cases—for example, biological tracers—there is no alternative. In a stellar example of "technology transfer" that began before the term was popular, the Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessors has supported the development and application of isotopes and their transfer to the private sector. The DOE is now at an important crossroads: Isotope production has suffered as support for DOE's laboratories has declined. In response to a DOE request, this book is an intensive examination of isotope production and availability, including the education and training of those who will be needed to sustain the flow of radioactive and stable materials from their sources to the laboratories and medical care facilities in which they are used. Chapters include an examination of enriched stable isotopes; reactor and accelerator-produced radionuclides; partnerships among industries, national laboratories, and universities; and national isotope policy. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Rock Fractures and Fluid Flow: Contemporary Understanding and Applications SN - DO - 10.17226/2309 PY - 1996 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/2309/rock-fractures-and-fluid-flow-contemporary-understanding-and-applications PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Earth Sciences AB - Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fractures—a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storage—has grown significantly in the past 20 years. This volume presents a comprehensive report on the state of the field, with an interdisciplinary viewpoint, case studies of fracture sites, illustrations, conclusions, and research recommendations. The book addresses these questions: How can fractures that are significant hydraulic conductors be identified, located, and characterized? How do flow and transport occur in fracture systems? How can changes in fracture systems be predicted and controlled? Among other topics, the committee provides a geomechanical understanding of fracture formation, reviews methods for detecting subsurface fractures, and looks at the use of hydraulic and tracer tests to investigate fluid flow. The volume examines the state of conceptual and mathematical modeling, and it provides a useful framework for understanding the complexity of fracture changes that occur during fluid pumping and other engineering practices. With a practical and multidisciplinary outlook, this volume will be welcomed by geologists, petroleum geologists, geoengineers, geophysicists, hydrologists, researchers, educators and students in these fields, and public officials involved in geological projects. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Preliminary Assessment of DOE Facility Management and Infrastructure Renewal: Letter Report DO - 10.17226/10939 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10939/preliminary-assessment-of-doe-facility-management-and-infrastructure-renewal-letter PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Energy and Energy Conservation AB - The report that accompanied the House-approved Energy and Water Development Appropriations for FY2003 (H.Rept. 107-112) directed the National Research Council to evaluate the steps being taken by DOE to improve its facility and infrastructure management. Specifically, the NRC was to assess DOE’s facilities and infrastructure management practices; identify or develop “best practice” tools for DOE property management; develop guidelines for deciding when to repair, renovate, or replace facilities; and define performance metrics. This interim letter report presents the NRC’s preliminary assessment of DOE facility management policies and procedures and its current renewal activities. Seven broad-based attributes that characterize the quality of an organization’s facility management policies and practices were applied by the study committee in developing this assessment. ER - TY - BOOK TI - On Continued Operation of the BEVALAC Facility: Letter Report DO - 10.17226/12315 PY - 1992 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12315/on-continued-operation-of-the-bevalac-facility-letter-report PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Space and Aeronautics ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TI - Report Series: Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics: Mission Concept Studies DO - 10.17226/25212 PY - 2018 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25212/report-series-committee-on-astronomy-and-astrophysics-mission-concept-studies PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - The Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics (CAA) is tasked with monitoring the progress of the recommended priorities of the astronomy and astrophysics decadal survey of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and providing an independent, authoritative forum for identifying and discussing issues in astronomy and astrophysics between the research community, the federal government, and the interested public. This publication reviews NASA’s plans for delivering mission concept studies (large and medium) to the Decadal Survey Committee. The CAA assessed the appropriateness of NASA’s plans and provided findings for the purpose of improving the value of NASA’s preparations to the Decadal Survey Committee. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Opportunities in High Magnetic Field Science: Letter Report DO - 10.17226/10923 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10923/opportunities-in-high-magnetic-field-science-letter-report PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics AB - In recent years the field of high magnetic field science has become increasingly important to other disciplines, including biology. In 2002, the National Science Foundation concluded that there was a need for an assessment of the field in the United States to set the stage for future planning. Accordingly, it requested that the NRC assess the current state and future prospects for high-magnetic-field science and instrumentation in the United States. This letter report provides a status report of that study. The letter report offers a brief assessment of the current position of the United States in this field and lists a series of questions that will be addressed in the final report. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academy of Sciences AU - National Academy of Engineering AU - Institute of Medicine A2 - Thomas Arrison TI - Rising Above the Gathering Storm Two Years Later: Accelerating Progress Toward a Brighter Economic Future: Summary of a Convocation SN - DO - 10.17226/12537 PY - 2009 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12537/rising-above-the-gathering-storm-two-years-later-accelerating-progress PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Industry and Labor KW - Education KW - Engineering and Technology KW - Policy for Science and Technology AB - Rising Above the Gathering Storm Two Years Later: Accelerating Progress Toward a Brighter Economic Future summarizes a convocation held in April 2008 to commemorate the release of the original Gathering Storm report. The convocation featured participation by Members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries, leaders from industry and academia, and other experts. The discussions reviewed progress made thus far in implementing the Gathering Storm recommendations to strengthen K-12 education in math and science, research, higher education, and the environment for innovation. Participants also noted that much additional work is needed to ensure that America remains a leader in science and engineering in the long term. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Progress in Improving Project Management at the Department of Energy, 2002 Interim Assessment DO - 10.17226/10389 PY - 2002 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10389/progress-in-improving-project-management-at-the-department-of-energy-2002-interim-assessment PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine A2 - Linda Casola TI - Enhancing Urban Sustainability with Data, Modeling, and Simulation: Proceedings of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/25480 PY - 2019 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25480/enhancing-urban-sustainability-with-data-modeling-and-simulation-proceedings-of PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies KW - Surveys and Statistics AB - On January 30-31, 2019 the Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics, in collaboration with the Board on Energy and Environmental Systems and the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, convened a workshop in Washington, D.C. to explore the frontiers of mathematics and data science needs for sustainable urban communities. The workshop strengthened the emerging interdisciplinary network of practitioners, business leaders, government officials, nonprofit stakeholders, academics, and policy makers using data, modeling, and simulation for urban and community sustainability, and addressed common challenges that the community faces. Presentations highlighted urban sustainability research efforts and programs under way, including research into air quality, water management, waste disposal, and social equity and discussed promising urban sustainability research questions that improved use of big data, modeling, and simulation can help address. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Assuring the Safety of the Pentagon Mail: Letter Report DO - 10.17226/10901 PY - 2003 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10901/assuring-the-safety-of-the-pentagon-mail-letter-report PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - ER - TY - BOOK TI - Free Electron Lasers and Other Advanced Sources of Light: Scientific Research Opportunities DO - 10.17226/9182 PY - 1994 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9182/free-electron-lasers-and-other-advanced-sources-of-light-scientific PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine A2 - Katie Bratlie A2 - Joe Alper TI - Workplace Safety in Hybrid Federal Laboratories: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief DO - 10.17226/27297 PY - 2023 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27297/workplace-safety-in-hybrid-federal-laboratories-proceedings-of-a-workshop PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Industry and Labor AB - Safety considerations constitute an essential component of laboratory-based research and development (R&D) operations. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, laboratory staff transitioned to remote work. As facilities adopted hybrid work models, this shift in the research landscape also reshaped the traditional mentoring process, potentially reducing direct interactions among principal investigators, immediate supervisory personnel responsible for ensuring subordinate personnel satisfy safety requirements, safety representatives, junior researchers, and facility users. Simultaneously, the increased flexibility offered by hybrid work arrangements could enhance work-life balance options, thus removing barriers for individuals pursuing R&D roles, ultimately fostering a more inclusive work environment. Overall, the impact of these changes on safety cultures and practices remains unknown, necessitating potential adjustments. On August 15-16, 2023, the Laboratory Assessments Board convened a virtual workshop to investigate the influence of hybrid work environments on safety proficiency, cultures, and practices, all while upholding the highest standards of effort, performance, and relevance. This publication summarizes the presentation and discussion of the workshop. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Human Exposure Assessment for Airborne Pollutants: Advances and Opportunities SN - DO - 10.17226/1544 PY - 1991 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1544/human-exposure-assessment-for-airborne-pollutants-advances-and-opportunities PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - Most people in the United States spend far more time indoors than outdoors. Yet, many air pollution regulations and risk assessments focus on outdoor air. These often overlook contact with harmful contaminants that may be at their most dangerous concentrations indoors. A new book from the National Research Council explores the need for strategies to address indoor and outdoor exposures and examines the methods and tools available for finding out where and when significant exposures occur. The volume includes: A conceptual framework and common terminology that investigators from different disciplines can use to make more accurate assessments of human exposure to airborne contaminants. An update of important developments in assessing exposure to airborne contaminants: ambient air sampling and physical chemical measurements, biological markers, questionnaires, time-activity diaries, and modeling. A series of examples of how exposure assessments have been applied—properly and improperly—to public health issues and how the committee's suggested framework can be brought into practice. This volume will provide important insights to improve risk assessment, risk management, pollution control, and regulatory programs. ER -