The Mission of Nas: Timeless and Timely

THE MISSION OF NAS: TIMELESS AND TIMELY

A Speech by Ralph J. Cicerone, President National Academy of Sciences Presented at the Academy’s 143rd Annual Meeting April 24, 2006

oday marks the 143rd NAS annual What is it that the NAS does, and why do meeting, and it is my first chance to we do it? These are the questions that I want to T address you, the members. I am very address today. grateful to the 2005 Nominating Committee, the Council, and the members for this honor Creation of the NAS (1863) and the NRC (1916) and opportunity. Creating the National Academy of Sciences in It is invigorating and even awe-inspiring 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, was to enter this building every day. There are bold. The vision of President Lincoln and the powerful reminders of our history and of our support of Congress deserve credit, along with current activities. The scope and variety of perceptions of wartime needs and perhaps the our activities — from radioactive waste, desire of American scientists who wanted to guidelines for human embryonic stem-cell have an honorific society similar to those of research, and progress in fundamental biology the British and to the quality of American Ph.D. programs, French (Figure 1). K–12 science standards, and science and Whatever the technology competitiveness — are very im- combination of pressive and stimulating, and demonstrate why motivations of an institution like the NAS is needed, and not those who created just scientists working individually. Alto- the NAS, the bold gether, the value of our history and the com- act can now be mitment of the people who work with us are judged as a wise easily sensed. act, for science The current officers of the National Acad- permeates our daily emy of Sciences are Professor Barbara Schaal, lives in ways un- Washington University; Professor John imaginable in Brauman, Stanford University; Professor 1863. The Act of Ronald Graham, University of California, San Incorporation Diego; and Professor Michael Clegg, Univer- (1863) says that the sity of California, Irvine. NAS must hold an Ralph J. Cicerone, president, National Academy of Sciences annual meeting somewhere in the United of service to the Nation which the sovereign States and that: authority has ever made to a group of citizens completely outside the control of political the Academy shall whenever called government. In less than 40 words the Act of upon by any department of the Gov- Incorporation in effect created in the whole ernment, investigate, examine, experi- domain of science a supreme court of final ment and report upon any subject of advice beyond which there was no higher science or art … authority in the Nation and ensured that so far as was humanly possible its findings would be Of course “art” meant the mechanical and wholly in the public interest uninfluenced by agricultural arts. The Act continues: any element of personal, economic, or politi- … but the Academy shall receive no cal force.” compensation whatever for any ser- So, we were created to respond to govern- vices to the Government of the United ment when requested, we are nonprofit, we States. do not receive an annual appropriation from Congress but instead are reimbursed on a Former NAS President Frank Jewett said project-by-project basis, and we are free to at the 1947 annual meeting, “The Act of determine our own size and composition Incorporation is an astounding document. It is amongst the disciplines. one of the most, if not the most, sweeping To extend the scope and activities of the delegations of power coupled with obligation NAS, the NAS Council formed the National

FIGURE 1 The apocryphal group portrait by Albert Herter depicts President Abraham Lincoln with several found- ing members, when he signed the charter of the National Academy of Sciences on March 3rd, 1863. From left to right: Benjamin Peirce, Alexander Dallas Bache (first president of the Academy), Joseph Henry, Louis Agassiz, President Lincoln, Senator Wilson, Admiral Charles Henry Davis, and Benjamin Apthorp Gould. 2 Research Council in 1916, and President the most authoritative. He quoted from an Woodrow Wilson’s 1918 Executive Order NAS publication, Teaching About Evolution and gave permanent status to the NRC. The the Nature of Science (1998). “Science is a impetus for creation of the NRC was driven particular way of knowing about the world. by the NAS’s resolve to coordinate national In science, explanations are restricted to those scientific and technological resources. The that can be inferred from the confirmable data NAS Council resolved (1916): — the results obtained through observations and experiments that can be substantiated by … National Research Council, the other scientists. Anything that can be observed purpose of which shall be to bring into or measured is amenable to scientific investi- cooperation government, educational, gation. Explanations that cannot be based industrial, and other research organiza- upon empirical evidence are not part of sci- tions with the object of encouraging ence.” He also noted that “… the National the investigation of natural phenom- Academy of Sciences (hereinafter “NAS”) was ena, and increased use of scientific recognized by experts for both parties as the research in the development of Ameri- ‘most prestigious’ scientific association in this can industries, the employment of country.” The NAS, as science itself, is self- scientific methods in strengthening the correcting and evolving. national defense, and such other In the 1980s, President Frank Press noted applications of science as will promote many specific examples of new challenges and the national security and welfare. roles for us that stemmed from our core roles and values. Ten years ago, in his 1996 speech, Of course, there have been some changes President Bruce Alberts listed four types of to the charter documents, but the original NAS functions. Let me review these func- purposes endure. Importantly, the National tions, and build on the ideas of both past Academy of Engineering was created in 1965, presidents, seated with us today. The National and the NAE helps us to govern the NRC. Academy of Sciences must: And the Institute of Medicine (from 1970) has Ù Validate scientific excellence developed its own strengths under our charter. The scope and vitality of NRC and IOM Ù Enhance the vitality of the scientific enter- activities today demonstrate that we are able prise to respond to requests from almost anywhere Ù Guide public policy with science in the government. Ù Communicate the nature, values, and judgments of science to government and Missions of the NAS and NRC the public in Recent Times What are our missions now? First, I should Validate Scientific Excellence note that the NAS is the keeper of the defini- Our unique role is electing our own members tion of science. In the Dover, Pennsylvania, and determining how to do it. Home Secre- court case that ruled against the teaching of tary John Brauman has noted that in NAS “intelligent design,” Judge John Jones III history (at least over the past century), the accepted the NAS’s definition of science as number elected each year has exceeded the

3 number who died so that the total size of the changed and the Academy has frequently NAS has grown monotonically. changed its point of view.” Balancing the In discussions at this year’s regional NAS weight of lifetime contributions of an older meetings, several members noted that we are nominee against the shorter record of some- apparently more selective than academies of one younger who offers more promise for other countries, and that our consideration of future contributions and service is always a nominees includes more documentation and key issue, and not an idle question given our discussion than other U.S. learned societies. mission. These aspects of our elections are highly We also award NAS prizes, not always to respected. NAS members, in several fields of science; So as we ask ourselves, What should be validating scientific excellence is very impor- our annual quota and how should it be dis- tant to us. Our prizes set examples for society tributed? We should also continue to consider — examples of creativity and achievement, how we evaluate excellence. We have always and of commitment to high standards. elected for scientific excellence, but as former Our selections also have impacts on the President Jewett noted, “yardsticks have individuals who are rewarded with NAS membership or prizes. Often, after NAS election, the individual receives significant salary increases and new job offers, and is invited to participate in high-level activities or to assume a leadership position. Thus, for our own good and to meet our responsibilities, we must continually re-examine how we elect with respect to age, gender, minorities, geo- graphic distribution, and the mix of scientific disciplines as modes of research and publication change. In some fields, there is more need for group endeavors, or reliance on advanced instrumentation, computational techniques, and software, and there are new, emerging fields of science.

Enhance the Vitality of the Scientific Enterprise Maintaining the vitality of the scientific enterprise is one of the main goals and roles of the FIGURE 2 Cozzarelli in his Berkeley laboratory during filming for ‘‘porridge Council of the National Academy of Sciences. pulleys and Pi’’ produced by the Current members of the Council are Roger Mathematical Sciences Research Beachy, May Berenbaum, Claude Canizares, Institute (Berkeley, CA). Photograph Gerald Fischbach, Jerry Gollub, Y.W. Kan, by George Paul Csicsery © 2003. Thomas Kelly, Robert Lefkowitz, Carl All rights reserved.

4 Lineberger, Joyce Marcus, Susan Wessler, and capacity of the NAS in terms of disciplinary Mary Lou Zoback. They serve three-year scope of expertise and numbers of experts. terms. Since the creation of the NAE in 1965, its Our scientific journal, Proceedings of the members have become as involved as ours in National Academy of Sciences, is a key activity in NRC studies. this function. PNAS reports to the NAS Many requests come to the NRC that are Council through the NAS Committee on aimed at enhancing the vitality of the scientific Publications. In the annual business meeting, enterprise — for example, requests to review I will display some impressive indicators of the scope, priorities, and effectiveness of the health of PNAS. As you know, PNAS various federal programs in science, technol- was led by Editor-in-Chief Professor Nick ogy, and health care. The breadth of these Cozzarelli (UC Berkeley) for the last ten years requests is very large, and it takes the resources until his untimely death last month (Figure 2). of the NAS, NAE, IOM, and all of the NRC Senior editor Sol Snyder, four associate edi- to be able to respond. Our members and tors, and 143 other NAS members are active perhaps 6,000 nonmember experts are at work on the Editorial Board of PNAS. Innovations on these studies at any one time. Let me in the past ten years have been numerous and mention two examples of recent high-impact effective, including growing the Track II reports. direct submission pathway, drawing excellent Bridges to Independence: Fostering the Indepen- papers from nonmembers, providing elec- dence of New Investigators in Biomedical Research, tronic access to articles (with free online from the Board on Life Sciences (the study access in more than 140 developing coun- committee included NAS members Tom tries), providing free back issues and much Cech and Keith Yamamoto), pointed out that greater access in several ways, and widening individuals in the life sciences are getting the scope of science coverage. started on their independent research careers Each year, about 100 of the nation’s top later and later (Figure 3). The average age of young scientists are invited to participate in individuals obtaining their first R01 grants the Kavli Frontiers of Science symposium, grew from 37 to 42 years between 1985 and where they learn about advanced research in 2002. The report recommended that NIH disciplines other than their own and make create a category of grants open to connections with other future scientific lead- postdoctoral investigators, and we are pleased ers. This series, overseen by Vice President that NIH did create such a new program Schaal and the NAS Council’s Committee on earlier this year. Now, a post-doctoral fellow Scientific Programs, has spawned bilateral may compete for a grant for which he or she programs with Germany, China, Japan, and will be the PI and can take the grant with him India as well as similar symposia in engineer- or her to a new permanent position. This new ing and the social sciences. bridge to independence should enhance the The Act of Incorporation chartered us to vitality of those fields in which grants may be advise the government, which continues to be obtained. our largest external role. The creation of the The report Rising Above the Gathering National Research Council extended the Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a

5 Brighter Economic Future was requested by two The committee worked quickly and effec- United States senators in mid-2005 at a meet- tively and produced 20 individual recommen- ing of the Committee on Science, Engineer- dations in four major categories: ing, and Public Policy (COSEPUP), whose A. Increase America’s talent pool by vastly chair was Maxine Singer (Figure 4). Maxine, improving K–12 science and mathematics Bruce Alberts, and Bill Wulf selected Norm education. This was identified as the Augustine (an NAE member and the 2006 highest priority. Individual actions NAS Public Welfare Medalist) to chair the inside this category were aimed at committee of 20 members, including seven creating and supporting teachers who NAS members. The senators asked us: have strong subject-matter knowl- What are the top ten actions, in prior- edge in the subjects that they teach. ity order, that federal policymakers B. Sustain and strengthen the nation’s tradi- could take to enhance the science and tional commitment to long-term basic technology enterprise so that the research that has the potential to be trans- formational to maintain the flow of new United States can successfully compete, ideas that fuel the economy, provide prosper, and be secure in the global security, and enhance the quality of life. economy of the 21st century? What It included a recommendation to strategy, with several concrete steps, increase federal funding of basic could be used to implement each of research by ten percent per year for those actions? the next seven years (a doubling) with special attention to the physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer science, without disinvesting in the life sciences. C. Make the United States the most attractive setting in which to study and perform research so that we can develop, recruit, and retain the best and brightest students, scientists, and engineers from within the United States and throughout the world. It included recommendations to create new scholarships and graduate fellowships for science students and some improvements to our visa sys- tems for students and visitors. D. Ensure that the United States is the pre- mier place in the world to innovate; invest in downstream activities such as manufac- turing and marketing; and create high- paying jobs based on innovation by such

FIGURE 3 6 actions as modernizing the patent system, We have also been asked by a leading realigning tax policies to encourage inno- congressman for a quick response to questions vation, and ensuring affordable broadband about reconstructions of Earth’s surface tem- access. peratures of the past 2,000 years. The subject is scientifically challenging, as it involves The impact of this report has been enor- sampling with several different kinds of paleo mously positive. In the U.S. Senate there is indicators and assessing how to interpret data now legislation pending that would enact all from such samples and potential sensitivity to 20 recommendations from the report. It is co- statistical methods. There are also potential sponsored by 70 senators, 35 from each party, policy implications from the conclusions of and led by Senators Alexander, Bingaman, such reconstructions and questions about what Domenici, and Mikulski. The report was also kinds of access to the data used by individual a factor in President Bush’s State of the Union scientists can be provided. Three NAS mem- proposal for the American Competitiveness bers are serving on the study committee. Initiative. The report and its committee members have been very well received in There are numerous other topics for many quarters, yet to actually achieve what is which we have not been requested to conduct recommended will take years of continued a formal study but where the need is obvious. effort and actions from knowledgeable people How to deal with suspicions and/or instances in various states and localities along with the of scientific fraud? While science is self- federal government. COSEPUP (now chaired correcting, we know that peer review cannot by George Whitesides, who also served on the catch all flaws in journal submissions. When Augustine committee) is planning some ac- one scientist seems to get too far ahead of tivities to continue to define this agenda and everyone else, there is heightened need for to communicate widely. A new NRC assessment of American university doctoral programs is under way (the last such report was published in 1995); the committee is chaired by Jerry Ostriker. Previ- ous assessments were supported by federal agencies and private foundations. Now, there is some sentiment that such assessments and rankings are not the responsibility of the federal government, that instead they are a university responsibility. Fortunately, many universities have agreed to help pay for this assessment, along with private foundations and several federal agencies. We are hopeful that quantitative data and indicators of doctoral program characteristics will be valuable to prospective graduate students as they select graduate schools and to faculty members who seek to improve program quality. FIGURE 4 7 independent replication of experiments and Guide Public Policy with Science results. Once again, we encounter questions Our most obvious pattern of applying science about access to data; we need functional as a guide to public policy is responding to standards for what can and/or must be fur- requests from the federal government, where nished to other scientists so that they can we maintain a high level of activity. In many repeat experiments or calculations, and these cases, decisions on public policy hinge on standards must recognize differences amongst many other considerations, but our job is to fields of science. analyze the science and technology compo- We must also be aware of some topics on nents, including social and behavioral science which we have made efforts but where the aspects of the issues. Almost all of this work is challenges have grown faster. How can we done through the NRC. The entire life cycle foster the participation of more women and of an NRC report is overseen by the NRC’s minorities in science? How can we help the Governing Board, including the original federal government to find qualified scientists charge to the study group. The Governing to serve in it? And how can we help to en- Board consists of six NAS members (including hance the vitality of the scientific enterprise in the president, vice president, treasurer, and other countries? three other members of the Council), five Some prominent federal government NAE members (the president, currently scientists have reported that they are being William Wulf, and four other members of the prevented or discouraged from speaking NAE Council) and two IOM members (the publicly and/or interacting with news media. president, currently Harvey Fineberg, and I have stated publicly that the individual another member of the IOM Council). The scientist should be able to speak freely as long executive officer of the NRC is Dr. E. Will- as he or she identifies his or her own views iam Colglazier. and does not claim to speak for his or her Six years ago, the National Research government agency or for the administration. Council was reorganized into six divisions: I hope that you concur, because many rights Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, and the vitality of the scientific enterprise are Earth and Life Studies, Engineering and at stake. Physical Sciences, Institute of Medicine, Our role in K–12 education, especially Policy and Global Affairs, and the Transporta- mathematics and science education, was tion Research Board. Two of the six divi- greatly expanded under Bruce Alberts, and sional committees are chaired by NAS there is great enthusiasm for us to continue in members, Peter Raven for DELS and Richard this struggle. A notable achievement is the Atkinson for DBASSE. At any time, there are release of the first ten books in a series, more than 6,000 members of NRC and IOM Women’s Adventures in Science, aimed at study groups and committees; approximately middle-school children, on the lives of ten 17.5 percent of these individuals are members contemporary, active women scientists. These of the NAS, NAE, or IOM. Approximately books are engaging and present personal and 14 percent of NAS members serve each year personable examples of vitality in the scientific on NRC/IOM committees. enterprise.

8 All NRC and IOM reports are examined (2002) all come to mind as recent examples of by our Report Review Committee, which high-impact reports. participates in and monitors the selection of Science in public education is being influ- reviewers and then monitors the review enced positively by our National Science Educa- process. RRC co-chairs are Floyd Bloom tion Standards (1996). The NSES are being (NAS) and Robert Frosch (NAE), and all used widely. In several states, however, some RRC members are members of NAS, NAE, groups (some elected, others not elected) or IOM. RRC chairs are invited to partici- involved in public education have tried to pate in NRC Governing Board meetings, as alter our NSES in ways that would compro- are the foreign secretaries of the NAS, NAE, mise the scientific method and/or discount and IOM. evolution in the curriculum, and we have Our reports have many kinds of impact — refused permission of NSES through our on Congress, on specific programs of indi- copyright for external usage of these standards. vidual federal agencies, on the courts, on the Vice President Schaal and our staff have pre- White House, and on the public at large — pared full responses to such requests, in which some of it immediate, some of it later; some- I have participated. times the impact is invisible or negligible. A Another measure of the impact of our large number of high-impact reports stand out work on applying science to public policy is when one reviews the list of report titles and the number of visits and requests that we what happened after their releases. I have receive from academies and government already mentioned Rising Above the Gathering officials of other countries who want to create Storm; it has already brought more attention to their own versions of the National Research the need for a national commitment to educa- Council. They are aware of the value of tion, science, and technology than any event scientific analysis of today’s issues; indeed, since Sputnik. The Institute of Medicine they have even compiled their own lists of report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health influential NRC reports. As academies in System (2000) resulted in profound changes in other nations build this capacity, they will also how the quality of health care is viewed and help to maintain the vitality of the scientific on efforts to improve it, along with congres- enterprise, one of the goals of the sional actions. Similarly, Effectiveness and Impact InterAcademy Panel and the InterAcademy of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Council, which the NAS helped to create. Standards (2002), An Assessment of the National A visible demonstration of our commit- Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Rating ment to the use of science in public policy is System for Rollover Resistance (2002), Technical our presentation of the NAS Public Welfare Bases for Yucca Mountain Standards (1995), Medal “… in recognition of distinguished Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some contributions in the application of science for Key Questions (2001), The Polygraph and Lie the pubic welfare.” We are proud to present Detection (2003), Assessment of Options for the 2006 Public Welfare Medal to Mr. Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope Norman Augustine. (2005), and Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism

9 Effectively Communicate Science to, and more antagonistic toward science than We have taken advantage of some of our they were a generation ago. There are scat- opportunities to communicate about science. tered reports of newspapers dropping science In the 1990s, the series Beyond Discovery, coverage, and there is also a persistent if not instigated by former Vice President Jack growing part of the population that denies the Halpern, documented stories about scientific reality of evolution, and the age of the Earth discoveries that led to large and unanticipated and of the universe. practical benefits. Our Office of News and A strategy requires us to think about our Public Information has been very productive goals, our messages, our audiences, our meth- and is quite respected nationwide. The open- ods, with whom to partner, and how exten- ing of the Koshland Science Museum has sively we want to work. It is relatively easy to been a large plus. Selected NRC reports have agree on what we want to say, but communi- been used as the basis for wider communica- cating requires more than just talking at some- tions efforts by our staff and some of our one, especially if we want to achieve changes committee members, and our dramatically in behavior. How much do we know about improved Web presence is now a major what is on the public’s mind? Who does resource. Former President Bruce Alberts and research on such questions? Are we willing to Foreign Secretary Mike Clegg have made conduct our own research before talking a lot? great progress in communicating NAS’s Research!America is an organization that interests and the capabilities of science world- supports scientific research, especially bio- wide, as did previous Foreign Secretary F. S. medical research. Along with arguing for Rowland. research funding, they also conduct public- The NAS report Science and Creationism: A opinion polling. They find very little aware- View from the National Academy of Sciences has ness of where research is conducted nationally been extremely important. It has been read — for example, what the National Institutes and appreciated very widely, and was cited in of Health or the National Science Foundation the Dover, Pennsylvania, court case that I does — and that very few members of the mentioned earlier. Yet there is reason to public are personally acquainted with a scien- believe that we must do much more in our tist. Other polling shows that the profession communications efforts. “scientist” is highly respected, but not as A committee led by former NAS Vice highly as it was even ten years ago. President Jim Langer on behalf of the NAS, I am convinced that we must renew and NAE, IOM, and NRC examined the impact expand our efforts to communicate with the and effectiveness of our strategies and a variety American public. There will be great benefits of activities in communications and reported for science and education and the nation if we in 2005 that while we had made marked succeed and significant losses if we fail. Vice progress, the overall task is daunting and will President Schaal and I have been discussing require much more commitment. In the this challenge at our NAS regional meetings meantime, there is emerging evidence that and elsewhere, and we are beginning to con- even though our reports seem to have more ceive a plan that would be ambitious yet impact today than previously, the public at realistic. large is less enthusiastic about, less committed

10 Our Future Roles: Responding In each of our major functions, we must and Initiating stay alert and strive for improvement and I mentioned that it is inspiring to enter this excellence. Particularly difficult challenges building every day. To witness the array of surround how we can participate in and studies and discussions under way here, in the contribute to science-based analysis on issues Keck Building, at the Beckman Center, and at about which we are not asked by the govern- Woods Hole is mind-opening. Another ment. In the case of human embryonic stem- reality, however, is that we have to negotiate cell research, private sponsors are funding our around security barriers at the State Depart- continued work on guidelines for research. In ment and the Federal Reserve buildings, K–12 education, where control is distributed which reflect our national concern over very diffusely, mostly in municipalities and terrorism. Prospects for the federal budget for states, we must continue to seek opportunities science are not good, and there is much with high leverage. We must continue to find political polarization. As always, we must be our own mistakes in the conduct of science, aware of the tensions affecting the conduct and define and promulgate high standards. In and support of research and education in international activities, we need more spon- general as we perform our required studies sors and partners to be effective, including and as we define priorities for the future. consortia like the InterAcademy Panel and the Our history and our current activities InterAcademy Council, as well as cooperative demonstrate that we are part of a grand enter- relations with sister academies. On mega- prise, and there is much to be done now. issues such as national and world energy What ought we to be doing? First of all, keep policy and sustainability, we must become the quality of the NAS extremely high, and its more effective analysts and leaders. members engaged. NAS members individu- Underlying this ambitious agenda is the ally, collectively, and with partners should need to reenergize our national enthusiasm for work actively to increase the vitality of the science at a time when there are an unprec- scientific enterprise; be responsive to govern- edented number of competing demands for ment and deliver high-quality analyses to our collective attention. Nonetheless, under- them; maintain our government’s respect and standing that science has become an ever- lines of communication at all levels; expand more-powerful part of our world, let us our capability for studies that are not re- uphold the boldness and wisdom of two great quested by government, including interna- citizens, President Lincoln, who chartered the tional activities; and communicate to and with NAS, and President Wilson, who chartered the public about the pursuit of science, its the NRC, and let us all renew our commit- value, the role of science and education in the ments to excel in all that we do, and individu- economy, national governance, and world ally to do what we do best and to rely on the affairs, and in world development and best amongst us when we must. sustainability.