NASEM Earth & Life Sciences

Examine the long-term operations of California’s Central Valley Project and State Water Project in a virtual meeting on Nov. 4 – 5 . This information-gathering session will support a National Academies committee biennial review of the monitoring, modeling and scientific activities that inform the operations of these coordinated federal-state water projects. Hear introductory presentations, perspectives from state and federal agencies, and share your experience directly with the committee. Register: https://ow.ly/GRpl50ZXJJ8 #WaterResources #WaterManagement

From global shipping routes to the cables that power the internet, modern life relies on understanding the ocean floor — yet nearly three-quarters of the global seafloor has yet to be mapped at high resolution. New technologies are helping close that gap. At our recent Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecture, ocean scientist Larry Mayer explored how seafloor mapping has evolved from lowering a lead weight on a rope to measure depth to using multibeam sonar to map large areas in high resolution and autonomous and remotely operated vehicles to reach difficult-to-explore places. These technologies are revealing new details about the ocean floor — from cold-water coral reefs and historic shipwrecks to seafloor features that can inform navigation, subsea internet cables, and tsunami modeling. Explore more takeaways from the lecture: https://ow.ly/y9ln50ZTiG4 #OceanScience #OceanMapping #OceanTechnology #OceanExploration

A new, fully-digital report from the National Academies provides updated assessments of marine carbon dioxide removal as research and evidence evolve. With chapters now presented as individual report modules, each module is designed to function as a stand-alone report while connecting readers to related topics through cross-references to supporting modules. This report includes a new State of Marine CDR module and updated content on the assessment framework, governance and social dimensions, and ocean alkalinity enhancement. Explore the new digital report: https://lnkd.in/eiaerbVV #MarineCDR #CarbonDioxideRemoval #OceanScience #Decarbonization #mCDR

How can small arms range training be conducted while protecting Cape Cod’s sole source aquifer? On October 7, the National Academies will hold the second information-gathering meeting for a study examining soil and groundwater contamination associated with U.S. Army National Guard small arms ranges at Joint Base Cape Cod. Members of the public can participate in person or virtually, both by listening to presentations and speak directly with the committee. The in-person meeting will be held at The Bog Tavern at Brookside Golf Club in Bourne, MA. Learn more: https://ow.ly/PAlZ50ZNQTi

How can a scientific report evolve alongside a rapidly advancing field? Join the National Academies on September 16 at 12 PM (ET) for the public release of a new, fully-digital report on marine carbon dioxide removal. Building on the 2022 report A Research Strategy for Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration, the fully-digital report is designed to incorporate peer-reviewed updates as new research and evidence emerge. The first release includes updated assessments of governance and ocean alkalinity enhancement, along with a new State of Marine CDR, 2026 component highlighting recent research, developments, and progress across the field. Register to attend: https://ow.ly/hcYT50ZLurw #MarineCDR #CarbonDioxideRemoval #OceanScience #mCDR

Congratulations to the appointees to the National Academies' Strategic Advisory Committee for Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture. This committee will guide work to better understand and support human and animal nutrition, safe and healthful food, and agricultural production and stewardship. Learn more about the committee: https://lnkd.in/eBuJ6cAh Rodolphe Barrangou (Chair), North Carolina State University Bruno Basso, Michigan State University Eric Decker, University of Massachusetts Amherst Sharon M. Donovan PhD RD DFASN, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign John Erdman, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Kaiyu Guan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Ermias Kebreab, DSc, University of California, Davis Bruce Y. Lee, The City University of New York Jayson Lusk, Oklahoma State University Susan Mayne, Yale School of Public Health Holly Mayton, John Deere Jill McCluskey, Washington State University Naima Moustaid-Moussa, Texas Tech University Anand Parekh, University of Michigan

Farmers facing PFAS contamination may be dealing with chemicals that entered their land through circumstances beyond their control. The University of Maine's Ellen Mallory, who co-authored the National Academies report PFAS in Agricultural Systems: Guidance for Conservation Programs at USDA, emphasized the importance of a practical framework to support producers and help USDA conservation programs address PFAS challenges on farms. The report also examines how existing conservation planning processes and programs—including EQIP, CSP, and CRP—could be used to identify, monitor, and mitigate PFAS contamination across agricultural lands. Read more: https://ow.ly/iJ6450ZCnpn

How can AI and machine learning help scientists better understand cascading natural hazards? Join September 15 for a meeting held in Washington, D.C. and online exploring how machine learning can contribute to assessments and reveal connections among events such as severe storms, flooding, and landslides. The discussion will also examine opportunities to better understand links between natural hazards and socioeconomic and human health impacts. Register to attend: https://ow.ly/JKtZ50ZFIEP #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #NaturalHazards

Join The National Academies for virtual open sessions on Sept. 1 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. ET and Sept. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET examining small arms ranges and potential impacts on the Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer. The meetings will cover the history of small arms training at Joint Base Cape Cod, contaminants of concern, past mitigation efforts, and potential future issues associated with the planned range. Committee members will hear from representatives of: • Massachusetts Army National Guard • US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) • Massachusetts Environmental Management Commission • Cape Cod Commission Register to attend: https://ow.ly/6jEo50ZEMnI #CapeCod #WaterQuality #Groundwater

On October 7, join the second webinar in the Global Dialogues on Laboratory Animal Science series. The discussion will explore practical approaches to strengthening scientific rigor, reproducibility, and confidence in research that involves animals. Topics will include evaluating existing evidence, planning and designing studies, accounting for key biological variables, and applying reporting practices that support transparency and reproducibility. Register to attend: https://ow.ly/qJFW50ZBZn1 #LaboratoryAnimalScience #ScientificRigor #Reproducibility #AnimalResearch