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Some Are Dreamers THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES Some Are Doers ACADEMY OF SCIENCES NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE RESEARCH COUNCIL NATIONAL INFOCUS infocusmagazine.org Some Are Both We call them Engineers Reward Excellence! Nominate an outstanding bioengineer for the National Academy of Engineering’s 2011 Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Award. To find out more, go to www.nae.edu/2009awards/r1 INFOCUS PRE-SORT STANDARD P.O. Box 665 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Holmes, PA 19043 PERMIT NO. 6426 WASHINGTON, DC Balancing Protection & Personal Privacy | What’s Next in Neuroscience? The Costs of Scientific Space Missions | Updated Stem Cell Research Guidelines Winter 2009 vol. 8 number 3 Science and Technology for Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Test and Evaluation of Biological America’s Progress: Ensuring the Concentrations for Selected Standoff Detection Systems Best Presidential Appointments in Airborne Contaminants, Vol. 5 — Abbreviated Version the New Administration Committee on Toxicology, Board Board on Chemical Sciences and Committee on Science, on Environmental Studies and Technology and Board on Life Engineering, and Public Policy; Toxicology, Division on Earth and Sciences, Division on Earth and National Academy of Sciences, Life Studies (2008, 386 pp.; ISBN Life Studies (2008, 42 pp.; ISBN National Academy of Engineering, 0-309-12844-7; available from 0-309-11443-8; available from and Institute of Medicine (2008, NAP). NAP). 76 pp.; ISBN 0-309-12680-0; available from NAP). 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Box 665, Holmes, PA 19043. held November 2008 in Hollywood, photo by Kari Wilton THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES INFOCUS Volume 8 Number 3 infocusmagazine.org FEATURES CONTENTS NATIONAL SECURITY HEALTH & SAFETY 4 Preventing Terrorism, Protecting 10 A Prescription to Improve Privacy Patient Safety Report examines the pros and More sleep, better supervision, cons of data mining and reasonable workloads for medical residents 12 Phthalates A window to better risk assessment at EPA 10 4 ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 6 Fueling the ‘Nuclear 13 The Search for Truth Renaissance’ Can brain imaging be the perfect lie Stable nuclear detector? fuel supplies could curtail 15 Into Deep Space or In Too Deep? security risks NASA’s plans for scientific exploration come at a price 15 6 ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCES 7 From Sidewalks to Streams Improving stormwater management 9 Part of the Process Public input makes for better environ- mental decisions WINTER 2009 1 16 Spotlight THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES An African Parliamentarian Speaks on the Unique Value of Academies National Academy of Sciences Patrick Amuriat Oboi, a member of the Ralph J. Cicerone, President Parliament of Uganda and its Committee Barbara A. Schaal, Vice President on Science and Technology, delivered the E. William Colglazier, Executive Officer CONTENTS opening address at the fourth annual con- ference of the African Science Academy Kenneth R. Fulton, Executive Director Development Initiative, held recently in London National Academy of Engineering Craig R. Barrett, Chair Charles M. Vest, President Maxine L. Savits, Vice President Lance Davis, Executive Officer Institute of Medicine Harvey V. Fineberg, President Judith Salerno, Executive Officer 16 National Research Council 17 Brief Takes Ralph J. Cicerone, Chair • New Stem Cell Charles M. Vest, Vice Chair Guidelines E. William Colglazier, Executive Officer • Science Comes to Hollywood 17 18 New Publications In Focus is prepared by the Office of News and Public Information. Executive Director: William Skane In Focus Editor: Valerie Chase Staff Writers: Rebecca Alvania, Sara Frueh, Bill Kearney, Maureen O’Leary, Christine Stencel, Jennifer Walsh Original Design: Francesca Moghari 2 THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES INFOCUS A Fresh Start for Science and Our Continuing Mission With a new president in the White House, we anticipate that the National Research Council, and the three academies, the NAS, NAE, and IOM, will be asked the questions of the times. We are gratified that President Barack Obama has declared that “…it is time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and work to restore America’s place as the world leader in science and tech- nology.” Scientific methods will be called upon in many contexts, and I believe that this newly expanded role for science, engineering, and medicine will help break our nation out of this period of seri- FROM THE PRESIDENT ous economic trouble. President Obama has selected a group of outstanding scientific leaders to help him to lead. Six are members of the NAS, and two are also members of the IOM. Nobel laureate Steven Chu is now secretary of energy. John Holdren directs the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and is the president’s science adviser. Along with Holdren, Nobel laureate Harold Varmus and Eric Lander are co-chairs of the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology. Jane Lubchenco administers the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And Lawrence Summers directs the White House National Economic Council. These talented individuals have served on many of