Chemical and Chemical Engineering Research Trends and Analyses : Expert Reports
The division produces 60-70 reports per year. These reports are unique, authoritative expert evaluations. Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review. The experts who volunteer their time participating on study committees are vetted to make sure that the committee has the range of expertise needed to address the task, that they have a balance of perspectives, and to identify and eliminate members with conflicts of interest. All reports undergo a rigorous, independent peer review to assure that the statement of task has been addressed, that conclusions are adequately supported, and that all important issues raised by the reviewers are addressed. Thus, while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy.
Determining Core Capabilities in Chemical and Biological Defense Science and Technology (2012)
With the goal of providing world-class capabilities to allow the nation's armed forces to fight chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack, the U.S. Department of Defense's Chemical and Biological Defense Program must continuously evolve to keep up with the changing nature of conflict and rapid advances in science and technology. This report identifies the core capabilities that must be supported by the program, and identifie... More >>
Transforming Glycoscience: A Roadmap for the Future (2012)
A new focus on glycoscience, a field that explores the structures and functions of sugars, promises great advances in areas as diverse as medicine, energy generation, and materials science, this report finds. Glycans—also known as carbohydrates, saccharides, or simply as sugars—play central roles in many biological processes and have properties useful in an array of applications. However, glycans have received little attention from the researc... More >>
Report in Brief
Transforming Combustion Research through Cyberinfrastructure (2011)
Combustion has provided society with most of its energy needs for millenia, from igniting the fires of cave dwellers to propelling the rockets that traveled to the Moon. Even in the face of climate change and the increasing availability of alternative energy sources, fossil fuels will continue to be used for many decades. However, they will likely become more expensive, and pressure to minimize undesired combustion by-products (pollutants) wil... More >>
Benchmarking the Competitiveness of the United States in Mechanical Engineering Basic Research (2007)
Mechanical engineering is critical to the design, manufacture, and operation of small and large mechanical systems throughout the U.S. economy. This report highlights the main findings of a benchmarking exercise to rate the standing of U.S. mechanical engineering basic research relative to other regions or countries, key factors that influence U.S. performance in mechanical engineering research, and near- and longer-term projections of researc... More >>
Report in Brief
International Benchmarking of U.S. Chemical Engineering Research Competitiveness (2007)
More than $400 billion worth of products rely on innovations in chemistry. Chemical engineering, as an academic discipline and profession, has enabled this achievement. In response to growing concerns over the future of the discipline, the National Science Foundation asked the National Research Council to conduct an in-depth benchmarking analysis to gauge the standing of the U.S. chemical engineering enterprise in the world, based on measure... More >>
Report in Brief