New Releases

	Predicting Outcomes from Investments in Maintenance and Repair for Federal Facilities Predicting Outcomes of Investments in Maintenance and Repair of Federal Facilities identifies processes and practices for transforming the current portfolio of federal facilities into one that is more economically, physically, and environmentally sustainable. This report addresses ways to predict or quantify the outcomes that can be expected from a given level of maintenance and repair investments in federal facilities or facilities' systems, and what strategies, measures, and data should be in place to determine the actual outcomes of facilities maintenance and repair investments.
	Strategies and Priorities for Information Technology at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is the agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing health coverage for almost 100 million beneficiaries, including seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income children and adults. Recent legislation places CMS at the center of efforts to increase the efficiency of U.S. health care services, move toward value-based purchasing, improve health care quality, reduce health disparities, increase adoption of health information technology, and collect and analyze data to promote health and wellness. CMS's ongoing operational requirements are currently being met with a very large and complex set of hardware, software, and communications systems that vary considerably in age, capability, and sophistication. In light of these challenges, CMS asked the National Research Council (NRC) to review the centers' plans for modernizing and developing its information systems.
	Review of the 21st Century Truck Partnership, Second Report In July 2010, the National Research Council (NRC) appointed the Committee on Review of the 21st Century Truck Partnership, Phase 2 to conduct an independent review of the 21st Century Truck Partnership (21CTP). The 21CTP is a cooperative research and development (R&D) partnership including four federal agencies-the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-and 15 industrial partners. The purpose of this Partnership is to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, increase heavy-duty vehicle safety, and support research, development, and demonstration to initiate commercially viable products and systems. This is the NRC's second report on the topic and it includes the committee's review of the Partnership as a whole, its major areas of focus, 21CTP's management and priority setting, efficient operations, and the new SuperTruck program.
	Review Sharing the Adventure with the Public--The Value of Excitement: Summary of a Workshop On November 8-10, 2010, the National Research Council's Space Studies Board (SSB) held a public workshop on how NASA and its associated science and exploration communities communicate with the public about major NASA activities and programs. The concept or, and planning of, the workshop developed over a period of two years. In conjunction with the SSB, the workshop planning committee identified five "Grand Questions" in space science and exploration around which the event was organized. As outlined in the summary, the workshop concluded with sessions on communicating space research and exploration to the public.

Committee Chair Interviewed on CSTB Report
 

CSTB

163rd SSB Meeting, Fall 2011

The SSB convened on November 8-9, 2011 at the Beckman Center in Irvine, California to receive updates from NASA, representatives of different scientific disciplines, and NRC staff and committee chairs on the progress of current SSB studies. In addition, staff and board members welcomed four new members to the board. The first day included information on NASA's views on access to space for space science, hosted payloads and the planning for the upcoming review of NASA's Human Spaceflight Program requested in the 2010 NASA Authorization Act. The final day was dedicated to life and physical sciences research in space. The next SSB Board Meeting will take place in Washington, DC in April 4-5, 2012. Read more...

148^th ASEB Board Meeting, Fall 2011

The ASEB recently held their Fall Board Meeting at the Beckman Center in Irvine, CA on October 18-19, where the focus on the first day centered on the upcoming Aeronautics Decadal Survey, including the potential charge, key deliverables and timing of the study. The second day focused on current and upcoming space studies, including overviews and responses from the sponsors of the recently released Orbital Debris and Human Spaceflight Crew Operations studies. It concluded with brief updates on the current NASA Technology Roadmaps study and the planning for the upcoming review of NASA's Human Spaceflight Program requested in the 2010 NASA Authorization Act. The ASEB Spring Board Meeting will be held in Washington, DC on April 3-4, 2012. Read more...

Upcoming Meetings

December 1-2
Committee on Solid-State Lighting
Board on Energy and Environmental Systems
Washington, DC

December 5-6
Committee On US Drive 
Board on Energy and Environmental Systems
Washington, DC

December 12-13
Committee to Assess Marine Hydrokinetic Systems
Board on Energy and Environmental Systems
Irvine, CA

 December 12-14
Committee to Review the Conduct of Operations for Remediation of Recovered Chemical Warfare Materiel from Burial Sites
Board on Army Science and Technology
Washington, DC