effects_of_DEPS

The following are reports released over the past two years have influenced the direction and implementation of science and technology-based public policy:

Avoiding Surprise in an Era of Global Technology Advances provides a methodology that 1) offered the prospect of a more disciplined intelligence community approach to technology warning considerations, and 2) established a foundation for an enduring NRC relationship with the Defense Intelligence Agency through the establishment of a standing committee and the development of follow-on studies.

Alternatives to the Indian Point Energy Center for Meeting New York Electric Power Needs (2006) provides a rich factual and credible view of possible technologies to make up for the absence of electrical generating capacity of Indian Point and the complex tradeoffs needed if Indian Point were to close. It has shaped the debate about closure, and will continue to do so as the issue arises in various forums.

Earth Science and Applications from Science from Space: Urgent Needs and Opportunities to Serve the Nation drew attention to the Nation's system of environmental satellite systems, which were categorized as "at risk of collapse." NASA and NOAA officials have stated in Congressional testimony and at other public forums that they use the report recommendations to inform their decision-making.

The Naval Studies Board reports Navy's Needs in Space for Providing Future Capabilities (2005) and C4ISR for Future Naval Strike Groups (2006) were accepted enthusiastically by the Department of the Navy. In response to the NSB's Space Report, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations released a memo directing Navy commands to "take as an action" many of the reports' recommendations.

C4ISR for Future Naval Strike Groups (2006) has drawn early praise for its description of a forward path for adapting future naval strike groups with evolving C4ISR capabilities and has been recommended for briefing to the Chief of Naval Operations.

IDs-Not That Easy (2002) and Who Goes There? (2003) formed the basis for testimony presented at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Committee on Ways and Means. The hearing addressed expanding the use of the Social Security Number card and measures to prevent SSN card fraud.

The Letter Report on Electronic Voting, which examines the current state of readiness for the use of electronic voting in the November elections, was the subject of a July 26, 2006 Washington Post article titled "Tech Trouble in the Voting Booth: Jurisdictions May Not Be Ready for New Gear, Analysis Says."

Effects of Nuclear Earth-Penetrator and Other Weapons provided congressional staff with a clear picture of the likely consequences of using nuclear weapons to achieve the goal of destroying underground, hardened bunkers. The report was instrumental in congressional action to discontinue the program.

Research and Development Program Assessments

Reports that influence R&D funding priorities and programs of selected Federal agencies:

Assessment of Department of Defense Basic Research (2005) shows that DOD basic research funding was appropriately applied by the department to perform fundamental research. The primary effect was that congressional staff on the Armed Services Committees now have evidence to dispute inaccurate and unfounded claims to the contrary.

Prospective Evaluation of Applied Energy Research and Development at DOE: A First Look Forward (2005) introduced much needed realism into the assessment of potential benefits of these programs and has influenced the Department of Energy's thinking on how to conduct realistic benefits evaluations. As part of its overall R&D portfolio development, DOE has an inter-laboratory working group that addresses benefits evaluation and the committee chair attends some of their meetings.

Basic Research in Information Science and Technology for Air Force Needs (2006) led to a 30 percent increase in the information science and technology budget at Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the release of a Broad Area (RFP) that closely mirrored the topics recommended in the report.

Revealing the Hidden Nature of Space and Time: Charting the Course for Elementary Particle Physics (2006) attracted substantial media attention in national and international venues. The report has been affirmed by the domestic scientific community, has influenced the development of European strategies in similar science areas, and has elevated the level of discussion about the potential U.S. role in the International Linear Collider.

Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics - Foundation for the Future (2006) demonstrated that a target-rich environment exists for civil aeronautics research and technology (countering the mature technology argument) and prioritizes R&T using a quantitative basis for assigning priorities with the flexibility to adjust to future considerations.

Network Science for Future Army Applications (2005) will enable the Army to play a leading Department of Defense role in science and technology for network-centric warfare and operations. Based on the report the sponsor has invested $10 million in fiscal year 2007 and funding continues to rise in the out years.

Technology-based Program Assessments

Reports that influenced the content and direction of technology-based programs at selected Federal agencies:

Assessment of Options for Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope (2005) gained exposure in the nation's press and resulted in Congress directing NASA to retain the option of a shuttle servicing mission. NASA agreed to launch a shuttle servicing mission to Hubble if it is determined to be sufficiently safe.

An Assessment of Balance in NASA's Science Programs (2006) garnered widespread print and broadcast coverage, and was embraced by the Science Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council. The report's conclusions are reflected in adjustments made by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to NASA's FY2007 budget request.

A Review of United States Air Force Aerospace Propulsion Needs provides a better mapping between the propulsion technology base programs and more clearly defined future needs. Continued uncertainties and resultant inefficiencies in an era of reduced funding for propulsion will produce less than optimum results without these programs.

An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Measurement and Standards Laboratories: Fiscal Years 2004-2005 (2005) along with previous biennial reviews have stimulated continuous improvement at NIST and ensured its relevance to industry. NIST has reported that these studies form the basis for continuous improvement in each area of evaluation and for reporting to key stakeholders on the quality, relevance, and performance of the NIST Laboratories.

The 2003-2004 Assessment of the Army Research Laboratory (2005), along with previous biennial assessments, form the basis of Army Research Laboratory Technical Assessment Board's assessment of the quality of its scientific and technical work, the extent to which the work is tailored to meet Army needs and R&D niches, and the contributions of ARL staff to the broader scientific community.

Review of the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership, Phase 1 (2005) offered a wide-range of specific recommendations about the program that the Department of Energy has adopted. The NRC will review the program on a biennial basis.

Maintaining High Scientific Quality at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (2004) provided several recommendations that were mirrored in the request for proposal issued by DOE that was released late in 2004. The scientific community appears satisfied with the resulting re-competition of Los Alamos's management and operations contract.

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA): Implications of a Potential Descope (2005) resulted in the National Science Board's approval of the project with a reduction in scope while retaining confidence in the overall scientific value of the reduced-size facility's capability.

Assessment of the Army Plan for the Pine Bluff Non-Stockpile Facility (2004) was influential in the Army's decision to abandon a complex and congested design and adopt a more effective approach that became the basis for the currently operating Pine Bluff Non-Stockpile Facility. This recommendation saved the Army $20 million.

Monitoring at Chemical Agent Disposal Facilities (2005) caused the U.S. Army's Chemical Materials Agency to apply Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry as a real- time detection method for their field operation of both their non-stockpile and stockpile programs. This action will improve agent monitoring and warn of potential agent release.

System Integration for Project Constellation (2004) developed a process and a methodology for making significant programmatic decisions. We propose adapting this process and methodology to solve significant problems in the future.

DEPS Reports in Action

Science and Technology-based Policy

Research and Development Program Assessments

Technology-based Program Assessments