National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine


The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, also known as the National Academies, is a congressionally chartered organization that serves as the collective scientific national academy of the United States of America. The name is used interchangeably in two senses: as an umbrella term or parent organization for its three sub-divisions that operate as quasi-independent honorific learned society member organizations known as the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine ; and as the brand for studies and reports issued by the unified operating arm of the three academies originally known as the National Research Council. The National Academies also serve as public policy advisors, research institutes, think tanks, and public administration consultants on issues of public importance or on request by the government.
The National Research Council, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine began as activities of the National Academy of Sciences until they were reorganized in 2015 into units of the current National Academies while maintaining the charter status and corporate successorship of the original National Academy of Sciences.
Now jointly governed by all three academies, the NRC produces some 200 publications annually which are published by the National Academies Press. The reports produced by the National Academies have been characterized as reflective of scientific consensus.

History

The US National Academy of Sciences was created by an Act of Incorporation dated March 3, 1863, which was signed by then President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The Act stated that "... the Academy shall, whenever called upon by any department of the Government, investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art.... " With the American civil war raging, the new academy was presented with few problems to solve, but it did address matters of "... coinage, weights and measures, iron ship hulls, and the purity of whiskey..."
All subsequently affiliated organizations have been created under this same overall congressional charter, including the two younger academies, National Academy of Engineering and NAM.
Under this same charter, the National Research Council was created in 1916. On June 19 of that year, then US President Woodrow Wilson requested that the National Academy of Sciences organize a "National Research Council". The purpose of the council was in part to foster and encourage "the increased use of scientific research in the development of American industries... the employment of scientific methods in strengthening the national defense... and such other applications of science as will promote the national security and welfare."
At the time, the academy's effort to support national defense readiness, the Committee on Nitric Acid Supply, was approved by Secretary of War Newton D. Baker. Nitric acid was the substance basic in the making of propellants such as cordite, high explosives, dyes, fertilizers, and other products but availability was limited due to World War I. The NRC, through its committee, recommended importing Chilean saltpeter and the construction of four new ordnance plants. These recommendations were accepted by the War Department in June 1917, although the plants were not completed prior to the end of the war.

In 1918, Wilson formalized the NRC's existence under Executive Order 2859. Wilson's order declared the function of the NRC to be in general:
During World War I, when the United States was at war, the NRC operated as the Department of Science and Research of the Council of National Defense as well as the Science and Research Division of the United States Army Signal Corps. When war was first declared, the council had organized committees on anti-submarine and gas warfare.
On June 1, 1917, the council convened a meeting of scientific representatives of the United Kingdom and France with interested parties from the U.S. on the subject of submarine detection. Another meeting with the British and French was held in Paris in October 1918, at which more details of their work were disclosed. As a result of these meetings, the NRC recommended that scientists be brought together to work on the problems associated with submarine detection. Due to the success of council-directed research in producing a sound-based method of detecting submarines, as well as other military innovations, the NRC was retained at the end of the war, though it was gradually decoupled from the military.
NRC's Articles of Organization have been changed only three times: in 1956, January 1993, and July 2015.

The Academies

The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine are honorary membership organizations, each of which has its own governing Council, and each of which elects its own new members. The membership
of the three academies totals more than 6,300 scientists, engineers, and health professionals. New members for each organization are elected annually by existing members, based on their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. By the terms of the original 1863 Congressional charter, the three academies serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine."

Program units

The program units, formerly known as the National Research Council, are collectively the operating arm of the three academies for the purpose of providing objective policy advice. Although separately chartered, it falls legally under the overall charter of the National Academy of Sciences, whose ultimate fiduciary body is the NAS Council. In actual practice, the NAS Council delegates governing authority to a Governing Board of the National Research Council that is chaired jointly by the presidents of the three academies, with additional members chosen by them or specified in the charters of the academies.
Under this three-academy umbrella, the program units produce reports that shape policies, inform public opinion, and advance the pursuit of science, engineering, and medicine.
There are seven major divisions: Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Division of Earth and Life Studies, Division of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Health and Medicine Division, Policy and Global Affairs Division, Transportation Research Board, and the Gulf Research Program.

Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE)

Units of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education

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  • Board on Children, Youth, and Families
  • Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences
  • Board on Human-Systems Integration
  • Board on Environmental Change and Society
  • Board on Science Education
  • Committee on Law and Justice
  • Board on Testing and Assessment
  • Committee on Population
  • Committee on National Statistics

    Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS)

Units of the Division on Earth and Life Studies

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  • Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
  • Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology
  • Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
  • Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology
  • Board on Life Sciences
  • Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
  • Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board
  • Ocean Studies Board
  • Polar Research Board
  • Water Science and Technology Board

    Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS)

The Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences has activities organized around:
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  • Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board
  • Air Force Studies Board
  • Board on Army Research and Development
  • Board on Energy and Environmental Systems
  • Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment
  • Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics
  • Board on Physics and Astronomy
  • Computer Science and Telecommunications Board
  • Intelligence Community Studies Board
  • Laboratory Assessments Board
  • National Materials and Manufacturing Board
  • Naval Studies Board
  • Space Studies Board

    Gulf Research Program (GRP)

Units of the GRP

  • Gulf Environmental Protection and Stewardship
  • Board on Gulf Education and Engagement
  • Gulf Health and Resilience Board
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Health and Medicine Division (HMD)

Policy and Global Affairs Division (PGA)

Units of the Policy and Global Affairs Division

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  • Board on Higher Education and Workforce
  • Board on International Scientific Organizations
  • Board on Research Data and Information
  • Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy
  • Committee on Human Rights
  • Committee on International Security and Arms Control
  • Committee on Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Public Policy
  • Committee on Science, Technology, and Law
  • Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine
  • Fellowships Office
  • Government-University-Industry-Philanthropy Research Roundtable.
  • Resilient America Program
  • Science and Technology for Sustainability