Report Briefs & Special Products

These products summarize selected reports and provide basic information about particular areas of science. Educators, policy officials, advocacy groups, and others are encouraged to link to, download, and distribute these materials.

Browse by Topic:

• Weather & Climate
• Energy & the Environment
• Health & the Environment
• Environmental Quality
• Water & Natural Resources
• Agriculture
• Life Sciences & Ecology
• Geography & Earth Sciences
• Chemical Sciences
• Disasters & Homeland Security
• Oceans & Polar
• Nuclear & Radiation Studies
• Laboratory Animals

Unless otherwise noted, all links point to Report Briefs in PDF form.

Weather & Climate

• Global Sources of Local Pollution
• Ecological Impacts of Climate Change (Booklet)
• Restructuring Federal Climate Research to Meet the Challenges of Climate Change (2009)
• Mapping the Zone: Improving Flood Map Accuracy (2009)
• Observing Weather and Climate from the Ground Up: A National Network of Networks (2008)
• Understanding and Responding to Climate Change: 2008 edition (Booklet)
• Climate Change at the National Academies (Website)
• Earth Observations from Space (2007)
• Earth Observations from Space (Website)
• Integrating Multiscale Observations of U.S. Waters (2007)
• Environmental Data Management at NOAA (2007)
• Analysis of Global Change Assessments (2007)
• Colorado River Basin Water Management (2007)
• Completing the Forecast (2006)
• Surface Temperature Reconstructions for the Last 2,000 Years (2006)
• Toward an Integrated Arctic Observing Network (2006)
• Facing Hazards and Disasters (2006)
• Understanding and Responding to Climate Change: 2005 edition (Booklet)
• Flash Flood Forecasting Over Complex Terrain (2005)
• Where the Weather Meets the Road (2004)
• Climate Data Records from Environmental Satellites (2004)
• A Vision for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (2004)
• Critical Issues in Weather Modification Research (2003)
• Tracking and Predicting the Atmospheric Dispersion of Hazardous Release Materials (2003)
• Beyond the Molecular Frontier: Challenges for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (2003)
• Planning Climate and Global Change Research (2003)
• Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises (2002)

Energy & the Environment

• Hidden Costs of Energy: Unpriced Consequences of Energy Production and Use (2009)
• Global Sources of Local Pollution: An Assessment of Long-Range Transport of Key Air Pollutants to and from the United States (2009)
• Liquid Transportation Fuels from Coal and Biomass (2009)
• Catalysis for Energy (2009)
• Understanding and Responding to Climate Change: 2008 edition (Booklet)
• Climate Change at the National Academies (Website)
• Bioinspired Chemistry for Energy (2008)
• New Horizons in Plant Sciences for Human Health and the Environment (Booklet)
• Plant Genome Sciences (Website)
• Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States (2007)
• Coal: Research and Development to Support National Energy Policy (2007)
• Environmental Impacts of Wind Energy Projects (2007)
• Mining Safety and Health Research at NIOSH (2007)
• Managing Coal Residues in Mines (2006)
• State and Federal Standards for Mobile Source Emissions (2006)

Health & the Environment

• Global Sources of Local Pollution: An Assessment of Long-Range Transport of Key Air Pollutants to and from the United States (2009)
• Sustaining Global Surveillance and Response to Emerging Zoonotic Diseases (2009)
• Contaminated Water Supplies at Camp Lejeune (2009)
• Ocean Science Series: Oceans & Human Health (Booklet)
• Phthalates and Cumulative Risk Assessment (2008)
• Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment (2008)
• The Health Hazard Evaluation Program at NIOSH (2008)
• Desalination: A National Perspective (2008)
• Respiratory Disease Research at NIOSH (2008)
• Drinking Water (Booklet)
• Water Information Center (Website)
• Safe Drinking Water Is Essential (Website)
• Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget (2007)
• Applications of Toxicogenomic Technologies to Predictive Toxicology and Risk Assessment (2007)
• Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation (2007)
• Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century (2007)
• Sediment Dredging at Superfund Megasites (2007)
• Mining Safety and Health Research at NIOSH (2007)
• The Role of Antiviral Drugs in the Eradication of Polio (2007)
• The New Science of Metagenomics (2007)
• Understanding Our Microbial Planet: The New Science of Metagenomics (Booklet)
• Metagenomics and Our Microbial Planet (Website)
• Our Microbial Planet (Poster)
• Metagenomics: Window to the Microbial Universe (Poster)
• The Vital Role of Microbes on Earth (Brochure)
• Treating Infectious Diseases in a Microbial World (2007)
• Stem Cell Resources (Website)
• Understanding Stem Cells (Booklet)
• Managing Coal Residues in Mines (2006)
• Assessing the Human Health Risks of Trichloroethylene (2006)
• Health Risks from Dioxins (2006)
• Health Risks From Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation (2006)
• An Assessment of Potential Health Effects from Exposure to PAVE PAWS Low-Level Phased-Array Radiofrequency Energy(2006)
• Fluoride in Drinking Water (2006)
• State and Federal Standards for Mobile Source Emissions (2006)
• Going the Distance? The Safe Transport of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste in the United States (2006)
• Superfund and Mining Megasites: Lessons from the Coeur d' Alene River Basin (2005)
• Water Quality Improvement in Southwestern Pennsylvania (2005)
• Assessment of the Scientific Information for the Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (2005)
• Monsoons to Microbes: Understanding the Ocean's Role in Human Health (2004)
• Health Implications of Perchlorate (2005)
• Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods (2004)
• Confronting the Nation's Water Problems (2004)
• Air Quality Management in the United States (2004)
• Improving DOE's Characterization Program for Contact-Handled Transuranic Waste Bound for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (2004)
• Health Effects of Radiation (2003)
• One Step at a Time: The Staged Development of Geologic Repositories for High-Level Radioactive Waste (2003)
• Frontiers in Agricultural Research (2003)
• Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices (2002)
• The Promise of Stem Cells (2002)
• Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine (2002)

Environmental Quality

• Global Sources of Local Pollution: An Assessment of Long-Range Transport of Key Air Pollutants to and from the United States (2009)
• Urban Stormwater Management in the United States (2008)
• Ecological Impacts of Climate Change (Booklet)
• Ocean Science Series: Pollution in the Ocean (Booklet)
• Ocean Science Series: Marine Ecosystems & Fisheries (Booklet)
• Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades (2008)
• Urban Stormwater Management in the United States (2008)
• Tackling Marine Debris in the 21st Century (2008)
• Great Lakes Shipping, Trade, and Aquatic Invasive Species (2008)
• Hydrologic Effects of a Changing Forest Landscape (2008)
• Drinking Water (Booklet)
• Water Information Center (Website)
• Safe Drinking Water Is Essential (Website)
• Review of the Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin from the Office of Management and Budget (2007)
• Hydrology, Ecology, and Fishes of the Klamath River Basin (2007)
• Increasing Capacity for Stewardship of Oceans and Coasts (2007)
• Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Water Act (2007)
• Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States (2007)
• Integrating Multiscale Observations of U.S. Waters (2007)
• Sediment Dredging at Superfund Megasites (2007)
• Environmental Data Management at NOAA (2007)
• Assessing the Performance of Engineered Waste Containment Barriers (2007)
• The New Science of Metagenomics (2007)
• Metagenomics and Our Microbial Planet (Website)
• The Vital Role of Microbes on Earth (Brochure)
• Science and Planning on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (Booklet)
• The Science of Restoring the Everglades (Booklet)
• Toward an Integrated Arctic Observing Network (2006)
• Drawing Louisiana's New Map (2006)
• Mitigating Erosion on Sheltered Coasts (2006)
• Managing Coal Residues in Mines (2006)
• Health Risks from Dioxins (2006)
• An Assessment of Potential Health Effects from Exposure to PAVE PAWS Low-Level Phased-Array Radiofrequency Energy(2006)
• State and Federal Standards for Mobile Source Emissions (2006)
• Going the Distance? The Safe Transport of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste in the United States (2006)
• Superfund and Mining Megasites: Lessons from the Coeur d' Alene River Basin (2005)
• Water Quality Improvement in Southwestern Pennsylvania (2005)
• Valuing Ecosystem Services (2004)
• Confronting the Nation's Water Problems (2004)
• Air Quality Management in the United States (2004)
• Improving DOE's Characterization Program for Contact-Handled Transuranic Waste Bound for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (2004)
• Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects (2003)
• Cumulative Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope (2003)
• Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals (2003)
• One Step at a Time: The Staged Development of Geologic Repositories for High-Level Radioactive Waste (2003)

Water & Natural Resources

• Mapping the Zone: Summary of Technical Findings (Booklet)
• The New Orleans Hurricane Protection System: Assessing Pre-Katrina Vulnerability and Improving Mitigation and Preparedness(2009)
• Mapping the Zone: Improving Flood Map Accuracy (2009)
• Drinking Water (Booklet)
• Water Information Center (Website)
• Safe Drinking Water Is Essential (Website)
• Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades (2008)
• Urban Stormwater Management in the United States (2008)
• Hydrologic Effects of a Changing Forest Landscape (2008)
• Desalination: A National Perspective (2008)
• Prospects for Managed Underground Storage of Recoverable Water (2007)
• Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Water Act (2007)
• Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States (2007)
• Minerals, Critical Minerals, and the U.S. Economy (2007)
• Integrating Multiscale Observations of U.S. Waters (2007)
• Mining Safety and Health Research at NIOSH (2007)
• Colorado River Basin Water Management (2007)
• Science and Planning on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (Booklet)
• The Science of Restoring the Everglades (Booklet)
• Managing Coal Residues in Mines (2006)
• Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods (2006)
• Water Quality Improvement in Southwestern Pennsylvania (2005)
• Valuing Ecosystem Services (2004)
• Non-Native Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay (2004)
• Confronting the Nation's Water Problems (2004)
• Water and Sustainable Development: Opportunities for the Chemical Sciences (2004)

Agriculture

• Sustaining Global Surveillance and Response to Emerging Zoonotic Diseases (2009)
• Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World (2009)
• New Horizons in Plant Sciences for Human Health and the Environment (Booklet)
• Plant Genome Sciences (Website)
• Safety of Dietary Supplements for Horses, Dogs, and Cats (2008)
• Emerging Technologies to Benefit Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (2008)
• Changes in the Sheep Industry in the United States (2008)
• Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology (2008)
• Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry Research at NIOSH (2007)
• Status of Pollinators in North America (2007)
• Pollinator Garden Wheel (Educational Tool)
• Pollinators (Website)
• Mississippi River Water Quality and the Clean Water Act (2007)
• Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States (2007)
• Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods (2006)
• Critical Needs for Research in Veterinary Science (2005)
• Animal Health at the Crossroads (2005)
• Non-Native Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay (2004)
• California Agriculture Priorities: Pierce's Disease (2004)
• Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods (2004)
• Exploring a Vision: Integrating Knowledge for Food and Health (2004)
• Frontiers in Agricultural Research (2003)
• Diagnosis and Control of Johne's Disease (2003)
• National Capacity in Forestry (2002)

Life Sciences & Ecology

• Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins (2009)
• A New Biology for the 21st Century: Ensuring the United States Leads the Coming Biology Revolution (2009)
• Ecological Impacts of Climate Change (Booklet)
• Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades: The Second Biennial Review (2008)
• New Horizons in Plant Sciences for Human Health and the Environment (Booklet)
• Plant Genome Sciences (Website)
• Ocean Science Series: Oceans & Human Health (Booklet)
• Ocean Science Series: Marine Ecosystems & Fisheries (Booklet)
• Phthalates and Cumulative Risk Assessment (2008)
• Great Lakes Shipping, Trade, and Aquatic Invasive Species (2008)
• Hydrologic Effects of a Changing Forest Landscape (2008)
• Achievements of the National Plant Genome Initiative and New Horizons in Plant Biology (2008)
• Understanding Interventions that Encourage Minorities to Pursue Research Careers (2007)
• Agriculture, Fishing, and Forestry Research at NIOSH (2007)
• Hydrology, Ecology, and Fishes of the Klamath River Basin (2007)
• Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals (2007)
• Protecting Building Occupants and Operations From Biological and Chemical Airborne Threats (2007)
• Petdoor: Cat and Dog Nutrition (Website)
• Your Cat's Nutritional Needs (Booklet)
• Your Dog's Nutritional Needs (Booklet)
• Status of Pollinators in North America (2007)
• Pollinator Garden Wheel (Educational Tool)
• Pollinators (Website)
• The Role of Theory in Advancing 21st Century Biology (2007)
• Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation (2007)
• The Role of Antiviral Drugs in the Eradication of Polio (2007)
• Exploration of Antarctic Sublacial Aquatic Environments (2007)
• The New Science of Metagenomics (2007)
• Metagenomics and Our Microbial Planet (Website)
• Our Microbial Planet (Poster)
• Metagenomics: Window to the Microbial Universe (Poster)
• The Vital Role of Microbes on Earth (Brochure)
• Treating Infectious Diseases in a Microbial World (2007)
• Toward an Integrated Arctic Observing Network (2006)
• Stem Cell Resources (Website)
• Understanding Stem Cells (Booklet)
• Science and Planning on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway (Booklet)
• The Science of Restoring the Everglades (Booklet)
• Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods (2006)
• Teacher's Guide: Science, Medicine, and Animals (Booklet)
• ILAR Journal (Website)
• Critical Needs for Research in Veterinary Science (2005)
• Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo: Final Report (2005)
• Animal Health at the Crossroads (2005)
• Monsoons to Microbes: Understanding the Ocean's Role in Human Health (2004)
• Non-Native Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay (2004)
• California Agriculture Priorities: Pierce's Disease (2004)
• Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods (2004)
• Animal Care and Management at the National Zoo: Interim Report (2004)
• Exploration of the Seas: Voyage into the Unknown (2003)
• Frontiers in Agricultural Research (2003)
• Diagnosis and Control of Johne's Disease (2003)
• Bio2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists (2003)
• Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects (2003)
• Cumulative Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope (2003)
• Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals (2003)
• Frontiers in Polar Biology (2003)
• The Promise of Stem Cells (2002)
• Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine (2002)

Geography & Earth Sciences

• Landscapes on the Edge: New Horizons for Research on Earth's Surface Book (2009)
• Mapping the Zone: Summary of Technical Findings (Booklet)
• Mapping the Zone: Improving Flood Map Accuracy (2009)
• Origin and Evolution of Earth (2008)
• Successful Response Starts with a Map (2007)
• Minerals, Critical Minerals, and the U.S. Economy (2007)
• National Land Parcel Data: A Vision for the Future (2007)
• Coal: Research and Development to Support National Energy Policy (2007)
• Mining Safety and Health Research at NIOSH (2007)
• Assessing the Performance of Engineered Waste Containment Barriers (2007)
• Tools and Methods for Estimating Populations at Risk (2007)
• Elevation Data for Floodplain Mapping (2007)
• Learning to Think Spatially: GIS as a Support System in the K-12 Curriculum (2006)
• Drawing Louisiana's New Map: A review of restoration plans in coastal Louisiana (2006)
• Managing Coal Residues in Mines (2006)
• A Geospatial Framework for the Coastal Zone (2004)
• Living on an Active Earth (Poster)
• Planning Climate and Global Change Research (2003)
• Down to Earth: Geographic Information for Sustainable Development in Africa (2002)

Chemical Sciences

• Strengthening High School Chemistry Education Through Teacher Outreach Programs (2009)
• Catalysis for Energy (2009)
• Bioinspired Chemistry for Energy (2008)
• Soldier Protective Clothing and Equipment (2007)
• Benchmarking the Competitiveness of the United States in Mechanical Engineering Basic Research (2007)
• International Benchmarking of U.S. Chemical Engineering Research Competitiveness (2007)
• The Future of U.S. Chemistry Research (2007)
• Protecting Building Occupants and Operations From Biological and Chemical Airborne Threats (2007)
• Visualizing Chemistry (2006)
• Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure (2006)
• Are Chemical Journals Too Expensive and Inaccessible? (2005)
• Forensic Analysis: Weighing Bullet Lead Evidence (2004)
• Water and Sustainable Development: Opportunities for the Chemical Sciences (2004)
• Preparing Chemists and Chemical Engineers for a Globally Oriented Workforce (Brochure)
• Beyond the Molecular Frontier: Challenges for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (2003)

Disasters & Homeland Security

• Mapping the Zone: Summary of Technical Findings (Booklet)
• Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins (2009)
• Sustaining Global Surveillance and Response to Emerging Zoonotic Diseases (2009)
• The New Orleans Hurricane Protection System: Assessing Pre-Katrina Vulnerability and Improving Mitigation and Preparedness(2009)
• Mapping the Zone: Improving Flood Map Accuracy (2009)
• Ocean Science Series: Coastal Hazards (Booklet)
• Science and Decisions: Advancing Risk Assessment (2008)
• Successful Response Starts with a Map (2007)
• Soldier Protective Clothing and Equipment (2007)
• Tools and Methods for Estimating Populations at Risk (2007)
• Treating Infectious Diseases in a Microbial World (2007)
• Protecting Building Occupants and Operations From Biological and Chemical Airborne Threats (2007)
• Drawing Louisiana's New Map: A review of restoration plans in coastal Louisiana (2006)
• Mitigating Erosion on Sheltered Coasts (2006)
• Completing the Forecast (2006)
• Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure (2006)
• Facing Hazards and Disasters (2006)
• Flash Flood Forecasting Over Complex Terrain (2005)
• Where the Weather Meets the Road (2004)
• A Geospatial Framework for the Coastal Zone (2004)
• Living on an Active Earth (Poster)
• Tracking and Predicting the Atmospheric Dispersion of Hazardous Release Materials (2003)
• Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects (2003)

Oceans & Polar

• Science at Sea: Meeting Future Oceanographic Goals with a Robust Academic Research Fleet (2008)
• Ecological Impacts of Climate Change (Booklet)
• Ocean Science & Stewardship (Website)
• Ocean Science Series: Coastal Hazards (Booklet)
• Ocean Science Series: Oceans & Human Health (Booklet)
• Ocean Science Series: Pollution in the Ocean (Booklet)
• Ocean Science Series: Marine Ecosystems & Fisheries (Booklet)
• Tackling Marine Debris in the 21st Century (2008)
• Desalination: A National Perspective (2008)
• International Polar Year 2007-2008 (Brochure)
• Earth Observations from Space (2007)
• Increasing Capacity for Stewardship of Oceans and Coasts (2007)
• Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World (2007)
• Exploration of Antarctic Sublacial Aquatic Environments (2007)
• Toward an Integrated Arctic Observing Network (2006)
• Drawing Louisiana's New Map: A review of restoration plans in coastal Louisiana (2006)
• Mitigating Erosion on Sheltered Coasts (2006)
• Surface Temperature Reconstructions for the Last 2,000 Years (2006)
• Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods (2006)
• Monsoons to Microbes: Understanding the Ocean's Role in Human Health (2004)
• Non-Native Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay (2004)
• A Vision for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (2004)
• Exploration of the Seas: Voyage into the Unknown (2003)
• Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects (2003)
• Ocean Noise and Marine Mammals (2003)
• Frontiers in Polar Biology (2003)
• The Decline of the Steller Sea Lion in Alaskan Waters (2003)
• Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable Surprises (2002)

Nuclear & Radiation Studies

• Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation (2007)
• Health Risks From Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation (2006)
• An Assessment of Potential Health Effects from Exposure to PAVE PAWS Low-Level Phased-Array Radiofrequency Energy (2006)
• Going the Distance? The Safe Transport of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste in the United States (2006)
• Assessment of the Scientific Information for the Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (2005)
• Improving DOE's Characterization Program for Contact-Handled Transuranic Waste Bound for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (2004)
• Health Effects of Radiation (2003)
• Review of the Dose Reconstruction Program of the Defense Treat Reduction Agency (2003)
• One Step at a Time: The Staged Development of Geologic Repositories for High-Level Radioactive Waste (2003)

Laboratory Animals

• ILAR Journal: Current Issue
• Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats (2009)
• Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009)
• Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals (2007)
• Science, Medicine, and Animals (Booklet)
• Teacher's Guide: Science, Medicine, and Animals (Booklet)

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For a complete listing of all of our booklets, posters, and other educational materials (not including report briefs), please visit our Teacher Resources Website.