he’s shaping the future one mindatatime. national academy … · 2004. 3. 24. · degrees kelvin...

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Winter/Spring 2004

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He’s shaping the future one mind at a time.

He’s an engineer.

The Power of an Idea

Through his Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program at the University of Colo-rado at Boulder, Dr. Frank Barnes has helped shape many of the finest minds workingin that field today. For his visionary efforts, Dr. Barnes has been awarded the NationalAcademy of Engineering’s 2004 Bernard M. Gordon Prize, given to an educator whosework in higher education fosters development of tomorrow’s engineering leaders.

Learn more about Dr. Barnes’ achievements –and submit your nominations for nextyear’s Gordon Prize – at our website,www.nae.edu/awards.

Keys to Recovery of Endangered Fishes

Nurses and Their Work Environment

Technologies to Boost Seat-Belt Use

A Plan for Deep Ocean Exploration

Setting the Course: A StrategicVision for Immunization — Part 4,Summary of the Washington, D.C.,WorkshopBoard on Health Care Services,Institute of Medicine (2003, 60 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09068-7; available fromNAP, $18.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Setting Priorities for Large ResearchFacility Projects Supported by theNational Science FoundationCommittee on Science, Engineering,and Public Policy, The NationalAcademies; and Board on Physicsand Astronomy, Division onEngineering and Physical Sciences(2004, approx. 200 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09084-9; available from NAP,$41.50 plus $4.50 shipping).

The Sun to the Earth — andBeyond: Panel ReportsSpace Studies Board, Division onEngineering and Physical Sciences(2003, 264 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08972-7; available from NAP,$52.25 plus $4.50 shipping).

Understanding Climate ChangeFeedbacksBoard on Atmospheric Sciences andClimate, Division on Earth and LifeStudies (2003, 166 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09072-5; available from NAP,$35.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Where the Weather Meets theRoad: A Research Agenda forImproving Road Weather ServicesBoard on Atmospheric Sciences andClimate, Division on Earth and LifeStudies; and TransportationResearch Board (2004, 134 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09136-5; available fromNAP, $35.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD (TRB) REPORTS — Approximately 100 titles issued annually. Freecatalog available on request from TRB, 500 Fifth St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 (tel. 202-334-

3213), or visit TRB’s bookstore on the Internet at <national-academies.org/trb/bookstore>.

The nation turns to the National Academies —National Academy of Sciences, National Academyof Engineering, Institute of Medicine, andNational Research Council — for independent,objective advice on issues that affect people’s livesworldwide. Additional information about the institution and its work can be found online at<national-academies.org>.

The National Academies In Focus features broadcoverage of the National Academies’ activities. We welcome your comments on the magazine; e-mail us at <[email protected]>.

In Focus (ISSN 1534-8334) is published three timesa year by the National Academies, 500 Fifth St.,N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Subscription (oneyear): $10; Canada and foreign, $12 (U.S. curren-cy only). Subscription address: In Focus, P.O. Box665, Holmes, PA 19043. Bulk-rate U.S. postage ispaid at Washington, D.C. Back issues and backvolumes can be ordered in microform fromProQuest Information and Learning, 300 NorthZeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

Postmaster: Send address changes to In Focus, P.O.Box 665, Holmes, PA 19043.

Credits:Cover: (clockwise from upper left) Atlantic salmon, ©Paul

Nicklen; ©Comstock Images; strawberry anemonescommon to deep reefs off of Vancouver Island, BritishColumbia, ©Michael Patrick O’Neill/PhotoResearchers Inc.; ©Photodisc

Page 1: (col. 1) ©Photodisc; (col. 2, from top) ©ComstockImages; Atlantic salmon, photo by William W.Hartley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

: Attendees at the first National Academies KeckFutures Initiative conference, November 2003, Irvine,Calif., photo by Laurel Hungerford Photography

Page 3: Photo by Valerie R. ChasePage 4: ©CreatasPage 5: ©PhotodiscPage 6: ©Index Stock Imagery Inc.Page 7: ©PhotodiscPage 9: ©StockbytePage 10: ©DigitalVisionPage 11: ©Alberto Ruggieri/The Image BankPage 12: Molecular model of testosterone, ©Alfred

Pasieka/Science Photo LibraryPage 13: ©Comstock ImagesPage 14: Feather duster worms in the Pacific Ocean, offshore

Hawaii, photo courtesy Office of Oceanic andAtmospheric Research/National Undersea ResearchProgram, National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration

Page 15: Deep submergence vehicle Alvin being hoisted aboardresearch vessel Atlantis following a dive, ©CraigDickson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Page 16: Upper Klamath Lake, photo by Ellen Morris Bishop,Oregon Natural Resources Council

Page 17: Atlantic salmon in Maine on journey upstream tospawn, ©Bill Curtsinger/National Geographic ImageCollection

Page 18: InterAcademy Council report release at the UnitedNations, Feb. 5, 2004, U.N. photos by ReynaldoReyes

Page 19: ©ThinkstockPage 20: Attendees of November 2003 Futures conference,

including National Academies CommunicationAward winners Joe Palca, Andrew Revkin, and CarlSafina (center photo), photos by Laurel HungerfordPhotography

HOT OFF THE PRESSDegrees KelvinA Tale of Genius, Invention, and Tragedy

David Lindley

At a time when no one really under-stood heat, light, electricity, or magnet-ism, a young scholar named WilliamThomson found key connectionsbetween them, laying the groundworkfor two of the cornerstones of 19thcentury science — the theories of elec-tromagnetism and thermodynamics.

Charismatic, confident, and boyishlyhandsome,Thomson dazzled Victoriansociety.When others were flummoxedby their inability to adapt overland tel-egraphic cables to underwater, intercontinental use,Thomsontook to the seas with new equipment that was to change theface of modern communications. And as the world’s navies tran-sitioned from wooden to iron ships, they looked to Thomson todevise a compass that would hold true. He was elevated to thepeerage by Queen Victoria for his many achievements, the firstscientist ever to be so honored.

But as the century drew to a close, the legendary scientific mindof Sir William Thomson — Lord Kelvin — began to weaken.Although his early mathematical prowess had transformed ourunderstanding of the forces of nature, he would never trulyaccept the revolutionary changes he had helped bring about —it was others who took his ideas to their logical conclusions. Inthe end Thomson came to stand for all that was complacent andold in the world of 19th century science.

Destined to become the definitive biography of one of the mostimportant figures in modern science, Degrees Kelvin presents asurprising and compelling portrait of a complex scientist.

Joseph Henry PressISBN 0-309-09073-3$27.95392 pages

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EDUCATION & SOCIAL ISSUES

4 A New Outlook for Urban HighSchoolsChanges can help improve inner-cityeducation

6 Violence and WomenA focused research effort needed

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

7 Buckle Up!Better seat-belt reminders could save lives

9 Using Science to Aid SeniorsNew technologies can ease challenges of advanced age

HEALTH & SAFETY

11 Testosterone and AgingMen’s ‘fountain of youth’ drug needsmore study

13 How Nurses WorkA key factor in patient safety

ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCES

14 Exploration of the Deep Blue SeaUnveiling the ocean’s mysteries

16 From Coast to CoastEndangered fish in Pacific Northwest andMaine face similar hurdles to recovery

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIESVolume 4 Number 1

INFOCUSinfocusmagazine.org

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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES INFOCUS2

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

National Academy of SciencesBruce M.Alberts, PresidentJames Langer,Vice PresidentE.William Colglazier, Executive OfficerKenneth R. Fulton, Executive Director

National Academy of EngineeringGeorge M.C. Fisher, ChairWm.A.Wulf, PresidentSheila E.Widnall,Vice PresidentLance Davis, Executive Officer

Institute of MedicineHarvey V. Fineberg, PresidentSusanne Stoiber, Executive Officer

National Research CouncilBruce M.Alberts, ChairWm.A.Wulf,Vice ChairE.William Colglazier, Executive Officer

18 Brief Takes• Building S&T Capacity Around the

World

• New Initiative to Improve Public Health

20 SpotlightKick-Off Conference a SuccessKeck Futures Conference draws topresearchers, announces $825,000 ingrants

21 national-academies.org

22 New Projects & Publications

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In Focus is prepared by the Office of News and PublicInformation.

Executive Director:William Skane

In Focus Editor:Valerie Chase

Assistant Editor: Sara Frueh

Staff Writers: Bill Kearney, Heather McDonald,Maureen O’Leary, Patrice Pages, Christine Stencel,Vanee Vines

Design: Francesca Moghari

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Recognizing the Extraordinary Contributions ofEngineering

Average citizens probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking abouthow engineering has changed their lives. Yet, society’s transformationin only the last 100 years because of engineering is nothing short ofstunning. In 1904 the country was not electrified; the airplane hadjust made its first flight; Ford had just opened his assembly line mak-ing cars affordable; few people had phones; the average life span was46 — mostly due to unclean water and poor sanitation; radio, television, computers and theInternet did not exist — and the list goes on.

In conjunction with our broader program on the Public Understanding of Engineering,the National Academy of Engineering has established a set of major prizes to acknowledgeand celebrate the contributions of engineering to society. With these prizes, each now valuedat $500,000, we aim to recognize individual achievements that demonstrate the rich andprofound ways in which engineering improves the quality of life for all of us.

NAE introduced its first major prize in 1989, the Charles Stark Draper Prize. Originallyawarded every other year, the prize was made annual in 2001. This year’s team of winners— Alan Kay, Butler Lampson, Robert Taylor, and Charles Thacker — designed and devel-oped the first networked personal computer. Other accomplishments that have been recog-nized by the Draper Prize include the global positioning system, polymers for the controlledrelease of drugs, the Internet, fiber optics, the jet engine, and integrated circuits.

In 2001 NAE introduced the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ Prize. Focused on criticallyimportant newer areas of engineering, this prize is being given, at least initially, for contribu-tions to bio-engineering. The achievements that have been recognized so far are theimplantable pacemaker and the artificial kidney.

And the Bernard M. Gordon Prize was introduced in 2002 for contributions to engineer-ing education. This year, Frank S. Barnes, won the award for pioneering a program that pro-duces leaders who bridge engineering, social sciences, and public policy. Additional informa-tion on Barnes and all past winners of these prizes can be viewed on the Web at<www.nae.edu/awards>.

The contributions of engineers to society is not slowing down. Indeed, the pace of techno-logical innovation and its impact seems to be increasing — the penetration that took theradio 60 years to achieve was accomplished in 10 by the World Wide Web. The NationalAcademy of Engineering’s prizes — like the Nobel prizes — present a moment each yearwhen the public can pause and reflect on some of mankind’s truly noteworthy achievements.

WM. A. WULFPresident, National Academy of Engineering


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For many teens, school is an impersonaland uncaring place. The situation isespecially troubling in urban areas,

where high schools are often beset by lowexpectations, student alienation, under-achievement, and high dropout rates.Frequently, resources are inadequate andteachers poorly trained. Plus, curricula andinstruction seldom reflect actual studentneeds and interests — particularly for thosewho are racial minorities, who speak Englishas a second language, or who have not beenwell-prepared for high school work.

These schools are not lost causes, how-ever. Research on motivation and engage-ment provides clear guidance on the mostpromising strategies that nurture enthusi-asm for learning among all students, says anew report from the National ResearchCouncil and the Institute of Medicine.Schools do not control all of the factorsthat shape students’ eagerness to learn, but

they can be structured in a way that signifi-cantly influences attitudes and behavior.

Foremost, the academic program mustbe challenging and engaging to studentsfrom various backgrounds. Instructionshould respond to wide differences in whatstudents already know and help themacquire the skills necessary to master rigor-ous coursework. The report also encour-ages schools to abandon the practiceknown as ability “tracking,” in which stu-dents of similar achievement levels aretaught together. Studies have shown that itoften isolates low-performing or unmoti-vated schoolchildren and reinforces lowstandards and expectations.

Educating heterogeneous classroomswith demanding curricula can be done, thereport says, but only if teachers are properlytrained. Teacher-education programsshould prepare future instructors to workeffectively with academically and socially


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A NewOutlook for

Changes Can Help Improve Inner-City Education

URBAN HIGH SCHOOLS

diverse groups of students and to use teach-ing approaches that actively involve youngpeople in problem solving. And school dis-tricts should provide experienced teacherswith opportunities for ongoing professionaldevelopment, both to expand their knowl-edge of adolescent behavior and to enhancetheir mastery of subjectmatter and innovativeteaching methods.

In addition, counselingservices should be totallyrevamped. In many largehigh schools, individualguidance counselors areoverwhelmed by theresponsibility of workingwith hundreds of students.Instead, monitoring theneeds and progress of each student shouldbe a duty shared by all professional staffmembers, including teachers, administra-tors, and counselors — as well as qualifiedsupport staff, the report says.

Likewise, students need caring and stablerelationships with adult faculty and staffmembers to clear academic hurdles. Allyoung people benefit from such bonds, thereport emphasizes. One way to encourage aclose, personal atmosphere is to createsmall “learning communities” or mini-schools within large urban high schools,which often enroll more than 2,000 pupils.

When it comes to assessment, standard-ized tests commonly used to evaluate stu-dents should be better aligned with aca-demic standards that promote thoroughunderstanding and critical thinking, thereport says. Currently, standardized-testresults rarely offer teachers the feedbackthey need to improve instruction or learn-

ing. Also, educators should use variousclassroom assessments to routinely trackthe effectiveness of specific curricula andteaching practices.

Education extends beyond the school-house, as well, the report points out, andcommunity assets are important for urban

high schools. School admin-istrators should establish orstrengthen partnershipswith local groups andsocial-service providers tohelp students address healthproblems and other person-al issues that interfere withtheir education. And thebroader community shouldbe regularly mined forexperiences and resources

that can enrich classroom instruction, suchas community internships and direct inter-actions with local leaders and artists.

The ways to bring about progress inurban high schools have grown increasinglyclear, the report says. The will to use thisknowledge, integrating research findingsinto everyday school practices and educa-tion policy, is sorely needed — as is arealignment of resources to support schoolimprovement. — Vanee Vines

-Engaging Schools: Fostering High School Students’Motivation to Learn. Committee for Increasing HighSchool Students’ Engagement and Motivation to Learn,Board on Children,Youth, and Families, National ResearchCouncil and Institute of Medicine (2003, 304 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08435-0, available from the National Academies Press,tel. 1-800-624-6242; $44.95 plus $4.50 shipping for singlecopies; also on the Internet at <books.nap.edu/catalog/10421.html>).

The committee was chaired by Deborah Stipek,dean, School of Education, Stanford University, Stanford,Calif.The study was sponsored by the CarnegieCorporation of New York.


V iolenceagainstwomen

is one of the nation’smost intractable social prob-

lems. It touches people from all walks oflife. Its effects show up in emergency rooms,courtrooms, and the workplace. Each yearin the United States, more than 4 millionwomen are assaulted, often by people theyknow, and 300,000 rapes are reported.Women also account for one-fifth of allhomicide victims. Yet little is known aboutthe prevalence of such crimes or which pub-lic policies would prevent them effectively.

More research is needed to bridge persist-ent gaps in the science base, says a newreport from the National Research Council.For starters, research on violence againstwomen — and even by them — would beenriched if it were better integrated withother scientific studies of violent crime ingeneral. Focusing on women’s victimizationas well as on their own acts of aggressionhas allowed scholars to tease out uniqueaspects of the problem and to carefullyexamine how policy-makers have respond-ed. But a stronger connection to research onall violence would provide a more solid sci-entific foundation for broader efforts todetermine the causes and consequences ofviolence — and the most effective preven-tion strategies. Specific studies of violenceagainst women should continue to be car-ried out, however, to increase understandingof offenses that affect more women than men.

Scientists also should explore the influ-ence of social factors such as relationship

dynamics, neighborhood conditions, andaccess to local preventive services on violentbehavior, the report says. Both men andwomen who violently abuse intimate part-ners often have childhood histories of seri-ous behavior problems, recent studies show.But male abusers are more likely as adultsto commit violent crimes outside of inti-mate relationships.

Trying to figure out how well preventionand treatment strategies actually work isoften difficult, the report points out. Data-collection efforts to determine the actualscope of the problem, as well as studies toassess intervention methods, are seldomconsistent. And evaluations typically areunderfunded and short on scientific rigor.Congress should fund the development ofbetter data-collection systems and high-quality, long-term evaluations of preventionand treatment programs aimed at reducingviolence against women. The NationalInstitutes of Health and the U.S. Departmentof Justice should work together to carry outsuch a research project, with the goal ofultimately improving women’s safety inAmerican society. — Vanee Vines

-Advancing the Federal Research Agenda on ViolenceAgainst Women. Steering Committee for the Workshopon Issues in Research on Violence Against Women,Committee on Law and Justice, Division of Behavioral andSocial Sciences and Education (2004, 116 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09109-8; available from the National Academies Press,tel. 1-800-624-6242; $35.00 plus $4.50 shipping for singlecopies; also on the Internet at <books.nap.edu/catalog/10849.html>).

The steering committee was chaired by Candace M.Kruttschnitt, professor, department of sociology,University of Minnesota,Twin Cities.The study was spon-sored by the U.S. Department of Justice.


VIOLENCE and WomenA Focused Research Effort Needed

The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration estimates that $26 bil-lion could be saved annually in medical

care, lost productivity, and other injury-related costs if current non-users buckledup. It has also determined that with eachpercentage point increase in seat-belt usenationally, 250 lives could be saved every year.

NHTSA should encourage the automo-tive industry to expedite the deployment ofenhanced belt reminder systems to helpremedy the situation, says a new reportfrom the Transportation Research Board.Also, Congress should amend the law thatprohibits NHTSA from requiring remindersystems other than a 4- to 8-second beltreminder, which the report says has provedto be ineffective.

“In the short term, car manufacturersshould voluntarily provide longer or louderseat-belt reminders for front-seat occupants


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Buckle Up!Buckle Up!Better Seat-Belt Reminders Could Save LivesBetter Seat-Belt Reminders Could Save Lives

Using seat belts is one of the most

effective ways to avoid death or injury

in a car crash. Yet a quarter of

American passenger vehicle drivers still

don’t fasten their belts all the time even

though this simple act could reduce

their risks of fatal injury by about 45

percent in cars and by about 60 percent

in light trucks, according to the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

on all cars, sport utility vehicles, pickuptrucks, and vans,” said William C. Howell,an adjunct professor at Arizona StateUniversity in Gold Canyon and chair of thecommittee that wrote the report. “Also,rear-seat reminder systems should be devel-oped as soon as possible.”

Rear-seat reminder systems appear morecostly than front-seat systems because ofthe absence of rear-seat sensors on manyvehicles, installation complexities such asremovable seats and child seats, and lowrear-seat occupancy rates. For now, manu-facturers should provide cheaper systemsthat notify the driver if riders are not buck-led in, while working to develop remindersystems for rear-seat passengers themselves,the report says.

The only long-duration reminder systemcurrently deployed in the United States,called BeltMinder, was developed by FordMotor Co. It consists of warning chimesand flashing lights that operate intermit-tently for up to five minutes. Preliminaryresearch on this system has found a 7 per-cent increase in seat-belt use. Other carmanufacturers are expected to introducesimilar systems in 2004 and 2005 passen-ger vehicles.

NHTSA should monitor the introductionof new belt reminder systems in the mar-ketplace and study the effectiveness of dif-ferent systems, the report says. For exam-ple, NHTSA should examine the loudness,duration, and cycling of the chime; thedesirability of muting the radio when thechime is sounding; and whether users shouldbe allowed to disable the system. Congressshould give NHTSA about $5 million annu-ally to support this effort, which ought tohelp establish the scientific basis for regula-

tion of belt reminders, should regulationprove necessary.

Also, NHTSA and the private sectorshould encourage research and develop-ment of locking systems for specific appli-cations, the committee said. For example,systems that prevent the vehicle from beingput into gear if passengers don’t buckle upcould be considered by the courts for con-victed drunk drivers or drivers with manytickets for speeding and other offenses.Locking systems also could be made avail-able for teenage drivers, and insurancecompanies could opt to lower premiumrates for young drivers who use such sys-tems. Locking systems also could beinstalled on company fleets of vehicles.

An independent review of seat-belt-usetechnologies should be conducted in fiveyears to evaluate progress and considerrevisions in strategies to achieve furthergains, the report says.

“The modest additional costs of installingthese systems and the annual $5 millionbudget to conduct the recommended researchare a small price to pay for the lives savedand the many hundreds of thousands ofinjuries prevented,” Howell said. — Patrice Pages

-Buckling Up:Technologies to Increase Seat Belt Use— Special Report 278. Committee for the Safety BeltTechnology Study,Transportation Research Board (2003,approx. 100 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08593-4; available on theInternet at <books.nap.edu/catalog/10832.html>).

William C. Howell, adjunct professor,Arizona StateUniversity, Gold Canyon, chaired the committee.Thestudy was funded by the U.S. Department ofTransportation’s National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration.


Senior citizens have attracted intenseinterest in the scientific and engineer-ing communities, which have sought

innovative ways to apply technology toaccommodate physical and mental changesthat often mark aging. The goal is to devel-op devices that can assist older adults witheveryday tasks and activities, improvingtheir quality of life and supporting inde-pendent living. Although some products arealready on the market, more research isneeded to determine which potential appli-cations would best fit the needs of olderpeople, says a new report from theNational Research Council.

The next stage of research needs astronger focus on collaborative projectsamong experts in the fields of aging, user-friendly design, and engineering. In addition,it must take into account the specific needsof older adults when it comes to communi-cation, employment, health, education,


UsingSCIENCEto AidSENIORSNew Technologies Can EaseChallenges of Advanced Age

Your gray hair is showing, America.

The size of the nation’s elderly

population grows each year. And

millions of baby boomers are now

contemplating retirement and how their

lives will differ in old age.

housing, and transportation, the reportsays. Policy-makers and researchers alsoshould explore effective approaches to getuseful products quickly to market.

The report, which stems from a work-shop held last year at the Academies, looksat several aging-related technologies thathave moved from the lab to assembly lines,or are close to doing so. For instance, com-puter systems have been developed toallow people with severe motor impair-ments — such as those who have sufferedstrokes — to operate computers with theireyes. Tracking systems now available canhelp people locate lost objects within theirhomes. Mobile communication and com-puting devices, known as MCCDs, cancombine features currently available in cellphones and personal digital assistants, plusrun an increasingly sophisticated range ofsoftware. In the future, MCCDs will havethe power to provide geographical cues

and other information from global posi-tioning systems to make up for users’ mem-ory lapses while traveling. And some ofthese gadgets will be able to transmit datafrom medical sensors worn on a person’sbody to remote monitors, providing care-givers and older adults themselves with astream of vital information in real time.

But challenges remain in the develop-ment and use of innovative devices, thereport notes. Communication technologiestraditionally have been designed by youngengineers targeting young consumers. Also,issues of data privacy need to be tackled.

The report calls on the National Instituteon Aging to support research aimed atdesigning useful technologies for this popu-lation. NIA also should back studies thatinvestigate how aging affects the quality oflife under natural conditions — not solelystudies of people in tightly controlled labo-ratory tests. Furthermore, NIA should sup-port long-term research on how older peo-ple’s interactions with new technologieschange over time. — Vanee Vines

-Technology for Adaptive Aging: Report and Papers.Steering Committee for the Workshop on Technology forAdaptive Aging, Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, andSensory Sciences, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciencesand Education (2004, 320 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09116-0, availablefrom the National Academies Press, tel. 1-800-624-6242;$49.00 plus $4.50 shipping for single copies; also on theInternet at <books.nap.edu/catalog/10857.html>).

The steering committee was chaired by Richard W.Pew, principal scientist, BBN Technologies, Cambridge,Mass.The study was supported by the National Institutesof Health.


Despite its popularity, testosteronetherapy has not been officiallyapproved to treat conditions associ-

ated with decreasing levels of the hormonein aging men. Moreover, it has not beenrigorously studied to determine if it canhave these positive effects without trigger-ing health problems.

A proposed large-scale clinical study oftestosterone therapy for treating age-relatedconditions in older men was put on hold in2002 until a committee of the Institute ofMedicine could assess what is known aboutthe therapy’s benefits and risks and offer itsguidance on the best way to proceed withsuch studies.

The verdict? “We really don’t knowmuch at all about normal levels of testos-terone at different ages, how decreasedtestosterone levels affect men’s health, and


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TESTOSTERONEAND AGING

Men’s ‘Fountain of Youth’Drug Needs More Study

Fatigued? Depressed? Flagging libido?

Is a testosterone boost all you need?

Hundreds of thousands of men think

so, as the rapidly rising number of

testosterone therapy prescriptions

written each year attests.

whether this therapy might increase therisk of prostate cancer or other healthproblems,” said committee chair DanBlazer, professor of psychiatry and behav-ioral sciences, Duke UniversityMedical Center, Durham,N.C. “There have beenonly 31 randomizedclinical trials of testos-terone therapy inmen ages 65 andolder, and just onelasted longer than ayear. Those studiessimply have not pro-vided enough evidencefor men and their physi-cians to feel certain that thetherapy really works and is safe.”

The report proposes a stepwise approachto conducting the clinical studies needed toascertain the risks and benefits. The firststep should be to firmly establish the thera-py’s effectiveness in treating age-relatedconditions, which can be done with smallertrials. The committee estimated that severalhundred older men would need to be moni-tored for one to two years. If clear efficacyis demonstrated in the initial studies, thenthe next step should be a large-scale trialinvolving several thousand men followedover a longer time frame.

The trials should involve only older men— that is, 65 and older — who have clini-cally low testosterone levels and at leastone symptom that might be related to lowtestosterone. This is the population mostlikely to benefit from the therapy. Thecommittee acknowledged that the majorityof testosterone users are middle-aged menseeking to pre-empt the effects of aging.

However, it did not recommend studiesfocused on this age group because prostatecancer is a slow-growing and often latentdisease and the death rate is lower in those

under 65, so clinical trials toassess the risks for this popu-

lation would have to bemuch larger and last

many more years thanthose focused onolder men.

Moreover, thecommittee discour-

aged healthy menfrom using the therapy

as a means of trying toprevent possible future

health conditions or to booststrength or mood, at least while the

jury is still out on the risks and benefits.“For men whose testosterone is in the nor-mal range, there is no proof that the therapymakes them better in any way,” said com-mittee member Deborah Grady, professor of epidemiology, biostatistics, and medicine,University of California, San Francisco. “If there is no proven benefit for them, they shouldn’t be taking testosterone.”— Christine Stencel

-Testosterone and Aging: Clinical Research Directions.Committee on Assessing the Need for Clinical Trials ofTestosterone Replacement Therapy, Board on HealthSciences Policy, Institute of Medicine (2004, 240 pp.; ISBN0-309- 09063-6; available from the National AcademiesPress, tel. 1-800-624-6242; $37.95 plus $4.50 shipping forsingle copies; also on the Internet at <books.nap.edu/catalog/10852.html>)

The committee was chaired by Dan Blazer, profes-sor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Duke UniversityMedical Center, Durham, N.C.The study was funded bythe National Institute on Aging and the National CancerInstitute.


Nurses serve as the front line ofdefense against medical errors, oftencatching mistakes — such as inaccu-

rate drug doses — before they reach patients.But because of inefficient work processes,inadequate staffing levels, and other systemicproblems, nurses also cause or contribute tomedical mishaps.

A great deal of attention has focused onthe nationwide nursing shortage and thehours that nurses and other health profes-sionals work. However, a recent report bythe Institute of Medicine dispels the notionthat there is a single “magic bullet” solutionto reducing errors.

“Making sure that there are enough nurseson duty and that they are not working overlylong hours certainly are important steps, butno one or two actions by themselves canimprove patient safety,” said DonaldSteinwachs, chair of the committee thatwrote the report, and chair, department ofhealth policy and management, BloombergSchool of Public Health, Johns HopkinsUniversity, Baltimore. “Keeping patients saferequires fundamental changes in the organi-zation of nurses’ work, how they aredeployed, their involvement in managementand decision-making, and how health careorganizations understand and act on safety.”

In addition to recommending that nurses’work hours be limited to no more than 12per day and that report cards on nursinghomes and hospitals include information ontheir nursing staff levels, the report calls onregulators and health care organizations todevise strategies to reduce the onerous bur-den of paperwork and documentation, which

consumes up to28 percent ofregistered nurses’time in hospitals.

To restoretrust among

nurses that was eroded during health carerestructuring initiatives begun in the mid-1980s, the report urges health care organiza-tions to involve nurse leaders in all levels ofmanagement and to solicit input from nurs-ing staff on decisions about work design andimplementation. Nurses are in prime posi-tions to help pinpoint inefficient workprocesses that could contribute to errors,identify causes of staff turnover, and deter-mine appropriate staff levels for each unit.In addition, organizations should dedicate aportion of their budget to helping nursesmaintain and acquire new knowledge andskills through ongoing training programs.

Although the nursing shortage makes itseem difficult to implement some of thereport’s recommendations, the committeeurges immediate action. “Because the supplyof nurses is unfortunately stretched thin rightnow, they must be supported by a systemthat better defends against errors and readilydetects and mitigates them when they occur.”— Christine Stencel

-Keeping Patients Safe:Transforming the WorkEnvironment for Nurses. Committee on the WorkEnvironment for Nurses and Patient Safety, Board onHealth Care Services, Institute of Medicine (2004, 488 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09067-9; available from the NationalAcademies Press, tel. 1-800-624-6242; $44.95 plus $4.50shipping for single copies; also on the Internet at<books.nap.edu/catalog/10851.html>).

The committee was chaired by Donald Steinwachs,chair, department of health policy and management,Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns HopkinsUniversity, Baltimore.The study was funded by the Agencyfor Healthcare Research and Quality of the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services.


How Nurses WorkA Key Factor in Patient Safety

T he oceans cover nearly three-quartersof the Earth’s surface, regulate ourweather and climate, and sustain a

large portion of the planet’s biodiversity, yetwe know very little about them. In fact, mostof this underwater realm remains unexplored.

Three recent reports from the NationalResearch Council propose a significantlyexpanded international infrastructure forocean exploration and research to close thisknowledge gap and unlock the many secretsof the sea.

Already a world leader in ocean research,the United States should lead a new explo-ration endeavor by example. “Given thelimited resources in many other countries, itwould be prudent to begin with a U.S.exploration program that would includeforeign representatives and serve as a modelfor other countries,” said John Orcutt, thecommittee chair for one of the reports anddeputy director, Scripps Institution of

Oceanography, University of California,San Diego. “Once programs are establishedelsewhere, groups of nations could then col-laborate on research and pool theirresources under international agreements.”

Using new and existing facilities, technolo-gies, and vehicles, proposed efforts to under-stand the oceans would follow two differentapproaches. One component dedicated toexploration would utilize ships, submersibles,and satellites in new ways to uncover theocean’s biodiversity, such as the ecosystemsassociated with deep-sea hydrothermalvents, coral reefs, and volcanic, underwatermountains.

A second component — a network ofocean “observatories” composed of mooredbuoys and a system of telecommunicationcables and nodes on the seafloor — wouldcomplement the existing fleet of researchships and satellites. The buoys would pro-vide information on weather and climate as


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THE DEEP BLUE SEAUnveiling the Ocean’s Mysteries

well as ocean biology, andthe cables would be used totransmit information fromsensors on fixed nodesabout volcanic and tectonicactivity of the seafloor,earthquakes, and life on orbelow the seafloor.

Also, a fleet of newmanned and unmanneddeep-diving vehicles wouldround out this research infrastructure.

Education and outreach should be anintegral part of new ocean science efforts bybringing discoveries to the public, informinggovernment officials, and fostering collabo-rations between educators and the pro-gram’s scientists, the reports say.

These activities will expand previousinternational programs. For example, theobservatory network will build on currentattempts to understand the weather, climate,and seafloor, such as the Hawaii-2Observatory — which consists of marinetelephone cables running between Oahu andHawaii and the California coast — and theTropical Atmosphere Ocean Array, whichcontains about 70 moorings in the Pacificand was key to predicting interannual cli-mate events such as El Niño.

The National Oceanographic PartnershipProgram, an existing collaboration of 14federal agencies, would be the most appro-priate organization to house the oceanexploration program, which would costapproximately $270 million the first year,and about $100 million annually thereafter,according to the Research Council. TheNational Science Foundation is expected tofund the observatory network program,which would cost about $25 million per

year, and provide funds forthe construction and oper-ation of at least one newmanned submersible andpossibly several remotelyoperated vehicles.

“Over the next decade,new international collabo-rations dedicated to oceanexploration and researchwill most likely lead to

new discoveries that could increase publicawareness of the oceans as a common global bond, highlighting their importancein our lives,” Orcutt said. — Patrice Pages & Bill Kearney

-Enabling Ocean Research in the 21st Century:Implementation of a Network of Ocean Observatories.Committee on Implementation of a Seafloor ObservatoryNetwork for Oceanographic Research, Ocean StudiesBoard, Division on Earth and Life Studies (ISBN 0-309-08990-5; $49.00 plus $4.50 shipping for single copies).Thecommittee was chaired by Robert S. Detrick Jr., chair,department of geology and geophysics,Woods HoleOceanographic Institution,Woods Hole, Mass.The studywas funded by the National Science Foundation.

-Exploration of the Seas:Voyage Into the Unknown.Committee on Exploration of the Seas, Ocean StudiesBoard, Division on Earth and Life Studies (ISBN 0-309-08927-1; $45.00 plus $4.50 shipping for single copies).Thecommittee was chaired by John Orcutt, professor ofgeophysics and deputy director, Scripps Institution ofOceanography, San Diego.The study was funded by theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

-Future Needs in Deep Submergence Science:Occupied and Unoccupied Vehicles in Basic OceanResearch. Committee on Future Needs in DeepSubmergence Science, Ocean Studies Board, Division onEarth and Life Studies (ISBN 0-309-09114-4; $27.00 plus$4.50 shipping for single copies). John Armstrong,retired vice president of science and technology at IBM,Amherst, Mass., chaired the committee.The study wasfunded by the National Science Foundation, NOAA, andthe U.S. Navy.

The reports are available from the National AcademiesPress, tel. 1-800-624-6242; also on the Internet at<books.nap.edu>.


ANational ResearchCouncil committee hasweighed in for the sec-

ond time on one of thenation’s most contentious bat-tles over water rights. A fewyears ago, federal officials became con-cerned that the water levels in Oregon’sUpper Klamath Lake and low flows on theKlamath River, which runs from the lakethrough northern California, were causingfurther harm to already endangered andthreatened fish. Subsequently, water forirrigation was severely restricted, pittingfarmers who depend on the water for cropsagainst the tribes of the upper and lowerKlamath basins who have fished the lakeand river for centuries. The decision tolimit water for farming was reversed twoyears ago, however, when the ResearchCouncil committee’s first report foundinsufficient scientific evidence to back theneed for higher water levels or flows.

In a second report issued last fall, thecommittee maintained its skepticism of morestringent restrictions on irrigation water asan effective means to protect the fish —two species of suckers in the lake and cohosalmon in the river. It said the federal agencies involved should instead focus more

on other causes of harm, suchas excessive algae growth thatdepletes oxygen in the lake,dams that block spawningmigrations, competition fromhatchery fish, and high sum-

mer water temperatures.The committee called for a new fish

recovery plan that takes a broader ecosys-tem-wide approach, to be issued by thefederal government within two years. The12-foot-high Chiloquin Dam, in particular,should be removed because it blocks accessto as much as 90 percent of the spawninghabitat for suckers above the lake. Thesuckers may also benefit from adding oxy-gen to the lake, which should be tried on atrial basis, the report says. To lower thetemperature of tributary water in the sum-mer, which is probably the biggest threat tocoho salmon, cool water should be pro-cured through the purchase, trading, orleasing of groundwater, and woody vegeta-tion should be restored along banks to pro-vide shade. And hatcheries may need toalter their operations or even close if it isshown that hatchery fish lower the wildcoho’s chances of survival.

To guide recovery teams that will administer research and monitoring efforts,


FROM COAST TO COAST

Endangered Fish in Pacific Northwest

and Maine Face Similar Hurdles

to Recovery

a master plan should be developed and bereviewed periodically by outside experts.The committee estimated that it will costbetween $25 million and $35 million overthe next five years to implement thereport’s recommendations, excluding costsfor major projects like dam removal.

Looking to the opposite side of the coun-try, another Research Council committeehas issued a report that says urgent actionis needed if Maine’s seriously depletedAtlantic salmon are to rehabilitated. As isthe case in the Klamath basin, removingdams would help, especially where removalwould make the most spawning and rear-ing habitat available. And scientists shouldexperiment with adding lime to rivers tooffset acidity that may be killing youngsalmon trying to reach the ocean.

The committee questioned whetherhatcheries in Maine are doing more harm

than good. It said that using hatcheries toboost the salmon population remains anunproven strategy and they should be usedsparingly until more is known. Hatcheriesshould mainly provide a secure environ-ment for wild salmon, which remain geneti-cally distinct despite years of mingling withmillions of hatchery salmon and anunknown number of escaped farm salmon,the report says. In addition, streams shouldnot be stocked with hatchery salmon ornon-native fish that crowd out wild salmonor deplete their food supply.

The state’s current prohibitions on com-mercial and recreational salmon fishing needto continue, added the committee, whichalso recommended a decision-makingapproach for the state to follow in whichstakeholders participate. — Bill Kearney

-Endangered and Threatened Fishes in the KlamathRiver Basin: Causes of Decline and Strategies forRecovery. Committee on Endangered and ThreatenedFishes in the Klamath River Basin, Board on EnvironmentalStudies and Toxicology, Division on Earth and Life Studies(ISBN 0-309-09097-0; $54.95 plus $4.50 shipping for sin-gle copies).The committee was chaired by William M.Lewis Jr., professor and director, Center for Limnology,Cooperative Institute for Research in EnvironmentalSciences, University of Colorado, Boulder.The study wasfunded by the Bureau of Reclamation and Fish and WildlifeService at the U.S. Department of the Interior, and theNational Marine Fisheries Service at the U.S. Departmentof Commerce.

-Atlantic Salmon in Maine. Committee on AtlanticSalmon in Maine, Board on Environmental Studies andToxicology and Ocean Studies Board, Division on Earthand Life Studies (ISBN 0-309-09135-7; $55.00 plus $4.50shipping for single copies).The committee was chaired by M.T. Clegg, professor of genetics, University ofCalifornia, Riverside.The study was funded by the U.S.Department of the Interior and the National Fish andWildlife Foundation.

Both reports are available from the National AcademiesPress, tel. 1-800-624-6242; also on the Internet at<books.nap.edu>.


Building S&T CapacityAround the World

The InterAcademy Council (IAC), anorganization created by 90 of the world’sscience academies, released its first study inFebruary at a United Nations ceremonyhosted by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.The report, Inventing a Better Future: AStrategy for Building Worldwide Capacitiesin Science and Technology, recommendsthat every nation, whether industrialized ordeveloping, work to enhance its own S&T

capacity in consultation with national scien-tific, engineering, medical, and industrialcommunities.

Challenges such as stimulating economicgrowth, mitigating environmental problems,and responding quickly to sudden outbreaksof new diseases all require that such capaci-ty already be in place, the report says. In thecase of developing countries, national strate-gies need to reflect local priorities, spell out

adequate sources of funding, and emphasizeregional cooperation.

These and other findings were laid outby Jacob Palis, a professor at the InstitutoNacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada inBrazil, and Ismail Serageldin, director of theBibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, who co-chaired a study panel of experts from 11countries that wrotethe report.

At the ceremonyin New York City,NAS President BruceAlberts — who co-chairs the IAC withGoverdhan Mehta,past president of theIndian Academy ofSciences — formally presented the report tothe secretary-general. Mark Malloch Brown,administrator of United NationsDevelopment Programme, moderated aquestion-and-answer session with represen-tatives from the U.N. member delegations.And Mamphela Ramphele, managing direc-tor at the World Bank and a member of thestudy panel, spoke about next steps toimplement the report’s findings.

The InterAcademy Council, headquar-tered at the Royal Netherlands Academy ofArts and Sciences in Amsterdam, wasformed in 2000 to mobilize the world’sbest scientists to provide expert knowledgeto international bodies. Future IAC reportswill focus on such topics as agriculturalproductivity in Africa and global transi-tions to sustainable energy systems.Inventing a Better Future is available freeonline at <www.interacademycouncil.net>.— William Skane


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While the Institute of Medicine is well-known for its expert advice and scholarlyreports on health issues, much of this infor-mation is only distributed to a limitedgroup of policy-makers and interested par-ties. Many recommendationsthat would help underservedand disadvantaged communi-ties are often not readily acces-sible to the very communitiesthey strive to help.

To change this, the Instituteof Medicine has initiated theKellogg Health of the PublicFund. The fund was madepossible by an initial grant of$2.5 million from the W.K.Kellogg Foundation, as well asa commitment to match up to$2.5 million in additional funds raised bythe Institute.

The $7.5 million endowed fund willallow IOM to develop pamphlets, CD-ROMs, videos, online publications, andother tools to increase the accessibility of awealth of health information. The endow-ment will also enable the Institute to organ-ize regional and local forums, training pro-grams, community meetings, and otherevents in partnership with communityhealth organizations.

“The Kellogg Health of the Public Fundwill support Institute communication anddissemination activities that will have thegreatest impact in creating healthy commu-nities, particularly in areas that traditionallyhave been underserved and have had little

access to high-quality health services andinformation about public health,” saidIOM President Harvey V. Fineberg.

“A public that is fully informed andempowered to make decisions about healthand health care is essential for the nation’swell-being, and the Institute of Medicine isthe ideal organization to take a leading rolein getting scientifically validated health

information out to public health profes-sionals and communities,” said WilliamRichardson, president and CEO of theKellogg Foundation.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation of BattleCreek, Mich., was established in 1930 tohelp people help themselves through thepractical application of knowledge andresources to improve their quality of lifeand that of future generations. For infor-mation on how to make a gift in support of IOM’s Kellogg initiative, contact BruceG. Flynn at tel. 202-334-2431 or e-mail <[email protected]>. —Heather A. McDonald


More than 100 researchers gatheredat the first National AcademiesKeck Futures Initiative conference.

Titled “Signals, Decisions, and Meaning inBiology, Chemistry, Physics, andEngineering,” the conference attracted scien-tists, engineers, and medical researchers toexplore the theme of signaling, its diverse

manifestations in avariety of fields, andinterdisciplinaryconnections. Toencourage furtheractivity in this direc-tion, the Academiesannounced theavailability of seedgrants — up to$75,000 each —that will be award-ed to nearly a dozenof the researcherswho attended theconference.

“Interdisciplinarycollaborations thatbring together theperspectives andapproaches fromdifferent fields ofscience and engi-neering will spurnew kinds of dis-

coveries,” said NAS President Bruce Alberts.“It is at gatherings such as the Futures con-ference that the barriers between disciplinesare broken down, transforming the land-scape of future research. The theme for our

next conference will be nanotechnology.”The conference, held last November in

Irvine, Calif., was the first of a series toaddress topics where disciplines intersect. Inaddition to discussions led by expert panels,the conference featured sessions whereresearchers, along with representatives fromfunding agencies, universities, and the newsmedia, explored ways to stimulate newinterdisciplinary research.

Also, to support signaling research thatmight not otherwise happen, the newlyavailable $825,000 in grant money will bedistributed among up to 11 conference par-ticipants. A total of $135,000 is available aswell, to support up to three follow-up con-ferences. Grant recipients will be announcedin April 2004.

During the conference, the NationalAcademies held an awards ceremony for thefirst recipients of the National AcademiesCommunication Awards — Eye of theAlbatross author Carl Safina, New YorkTimes reporter Andrew Revkin, andNational Public Radio correspondent JoePalca. The awards recognize excellence incommunicating science, engineering, andmedicine to the public.

The National Academies Keck FuturesInitiative, which was launched last year, is a15-year effort to catalyze interdisciplinaryinquiry and research, and enhance commu-nication among researchers, funding agen-cies, universities, and the general public. For more information on the initiative, visit<www.national-academies.org/keck.> — Maureen O’Leary


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Keck Futures Conference Draws Top Researchers,Announces $825,000 in Grants

Strong Web PresenceEach month, the National Academies hosthundreds of thousands of online visitors,and the numbers continue rising. Both theNational Academies and the NationalAcademies Press home pages recentlyattained Google PageRanks of 10 out of apossible 10. This perfect score is key tobeing listed on or near the first page inGoogle’s search results, and it is determinedby a site’s online significance, respectability,and value. The Academies attribute thisachievement to exceptionally valuable con-tent that is constantly refreshed; an opti-mized search engine; strong site-wide link-ing initiatives; and increased Web visibility.<www.national-academies.org> and<www.nap.edu>

Science Museum OpensThe Marian Koshland Science Museum, anew museum exploring the links between sci-entific research and everyday life, will openon April 23 at the National Academies’Keck Center in Washington, D.C. The muse-um will be the only one in the nation’s capi-tal solely dedicated to exploring science atthe core of public policy decisions, withinaugural exhibits offering a glimpse oftoday’s scientific frontiers. <www.koshland-science-museum.org>

Internet SafetyThe Academies has launched NetSafeKids,an authoritative Web site that examines theissues surrounding pornography and sexualpredators on the Internet. The site offersessential information and practical tips thatwill help parents and adults make moreinformed decisions about how childrenspend time online. <www.netsafekids.org>

Science JournalProceedings of the National Academy ofSciences is one of the world’s most-citedmultidisciplinary scientific serials. Since1914, it has published cutting-edgeresearch, commentaries, reviews, perspec-tives, colloquium papers, and actions of theAcademy. The journal spans the biological,physical, and social sciences. PNAS is pub-lished biweekly in print, and daily online inPNAS Early Edition. PNAS Online receivesnearly 4 million hits per month. <www.pnas.org>

Staying CurrentKeep up with the National Academies bysubscribing to one or more of our electronicnewsletters. From a weekly guide of newWeb content to updates from numerous pro-grams and offices, you can stay on top ofyour interests at the Academies. <www.national-academies.org/subscribe.html>


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ProjectsThe following projects have beenrecently undertaken by units of theNational Academies. The latestinformation about all current com-mittee activities — including projectdescriptions, committee rosters, andmeeting information — is availablein “Current Projects” on theNational Academies’ Web site.

Advances in Technology and thePrevention of Their Application toNext Generation Biowarfare Agents.Board on Development, Security,and Cooperation, Division onPolicy and Global Affairs; andBoard on Global Health, Instituteof Medicine. Project director:Eileen Choffnes. Co-chairs: StanleyLemon, dean, School of Medicine,University of Texas MedicalBranch, Galveston; and DavidRelman, associate professor ofmedicine and of microbiology andimmunology, Stanford University,Stanford, Calif. Sponsors:Information TechnologyInnovation Center, NationalScience Foundation, Food andDrug Administration, NationalInstitute of Allergy and InfectiousDiseases, and the U.S. Departmentof Homeland Security.

Assessing the Nation’s Frameworkfor Addressing Animal Diseases. Board on Agriculture and NaturalResources, Division on Earth andLife Studies. Project director: TinaRouse. Chair: Lonnie J. King,dean, College of VeterinaryMedicine, Michigan StateUniversity, East Lansing. Vicechair: Margaret A. Hamburg, vicepresident for biological programs,Nuclear Threat Initiative,Washington, D.C. Sponsor: TheNational Academies, with fundsfrom an endowment from theW.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Assessing Technological Literacyin the United States. National Academy of Engineering,and Board on Testing andAssessment, Division of Behavioraland Social Sciences and Education.Project director: Greg Pearson.Chair: Elsa Garmire, Sydney E.Junkins Professor of Engineering,Thayer School of Engineering,Dartmouth College, Hanover,N.H. Sponsor: National ScienceFoundation.

Cancer Control in Low- andMiddle-Income Countries. Board on Global Health, Instituteof Medicine; and National CancerPolicy Board, Institute of Medicineand National Research Council.Project director: Hellen Gelband.Chair: To be selected. Sponsors:National Cancer Institute andAmerican Cancer Society.

Health Implications of PerchlorateIngestion. Board on Environmental Studiesand Toxicology, Division on Earthand Life Studies; and Board onHealth Sciences Policy, Institute ofMedicine. Project director: EllenMantus. Chair: Richard JohnstonJr., associate dean for researchdevelopment, and professor,department of pediatrics,University of Colorado School ofMedicine and National JewishMedical and Research Center,Denver. Sponsors: U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,U.S. Department of Defense, U.S.Department of Energy, and NASA.

Standards and Policies forDecontaminating Public FacilitiesAffected by Exposure to HarmfulBiological Agents: How Clean isSafe? Board on Life Sciences, Divisionon Earth and Life Studies. Projectdirector: Kerry Brenner. Chair:Kenneth Berns, director, Genetics

Institute, and professor of molecu-lar genetics and microbiology,University of Florida, Gainesville.Sponsor: U.S. Department ofHomeland Security.

Test Design for K-12 ScienceAchievement. Board on Testing and Assessment,Division of Behavioral and SocialSciences and Education. Projectdirector: Meryl Bertenthal. Chair:Mark Wilson, professor of policy,organization, measurement, andevaluation, Graduate School ofEducation, University ofCalifornia, Berkeley. Sponsors:National Science Foundation andU.S. Department of Education.

PublicationsFor documents shown as availablefrom the National Academies Press(NAP), write to 500 Fifth St., N.W.,Lockbox 285, Washington, D.C.20055; tel. 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242; or order on the Internetat <www.nap.edu>. Documentsfrom a specific unit of the NationalAcademies are available from thesource as noted. Prices and avail-ability of all documents are subjectto change. Charges listed are forsingle copies; discounts are avail-able for bulk orders.

Advancing Prion Science:Guidance for the National PrionResearch Program Medical Follow-Up Agency,Institute of Medicine (2003,approx. 250 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09060-1; available from NAP,$40.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Assessing Research-DoctoratePrograms: A Methodology StudyDivision on Policy and GlobalAffairs (2003, 164 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09058-X; available from NAP,$35.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Assessment of Processing GelledGB M55 Rockets at AnnistonBoard on Army Science andTechnology, Division onEngineering and Physical Sciences(2003, 70 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08997-2; available from NAP, $18.00plus $4.50 shipping).

Biological Confinement ofGenetically Engineered OrganismsBoard on Agriculture and NaturalResources and Board on LifeSciences, Division on Earth and LifeStudies (2004, approx. 236 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09085-7; available fromNAP, $42.95 plus $4.50 shipping).

Biotechnology Research in an Ageof TerrorismBoard on Development, Security,and Cooperation, Division onPolicy and Global Affairs (2003,180 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08977-8;available from NAP, $36.00 plus$4.50 shipping).

Conflict and Reconstruction inMultiethnic Societies — Proceedingsof a Russian-American WorkshopOffice for Central Europe andEurasia, Board on Development,Security, and Cooperation,Division on Policy and GlobalAffairs (2003, 236 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08939-5; available from NAP,$47.50 plus $4.50 shipping).

Critical Issues in WeatherModification ResearchBoard on Atmospheric Sciences andClimate, Division on Earth and LifeStudies (2003, 144 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09053-9; available from NAP,$35.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Dietary Reference Intakes: GuidingPrinciples for Nutrition Labelingand FortificationFood and Nutrition Board, Instituteof Medicine (2003, approx. 170 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09143-8; available fromNAP, $39.95 plus $4.50 shipping).

Distribution and Administrationof Potassium Iodide in the Eventof a Nuclear IncidentBoard on Radiation EffectsResearch, Division on Earth andLife Studies (2004, 262 pp.; ISBN0-309-09098-9; available fromNAP, $39.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Elements of a Science Plan for theNorth Pacific Research Board —Interim ReportOcean Studies Board and PolarResearch Board, Division on Earthand Life Studies (2004, approx.126 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09144-6;available from NAP, $28.75 plus$4.50 shipping).

Ensuring Environmental Health inPostindustrial Cities — WorkshopSummaryRoundtable on EnvironmentalHealth Sciences, Research, andMedicine, Board on HealthSciences Policy, Institute ofMedicine (2003, 96 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09061-X; available fromNAP, $18.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Evaluating Military Advertisingand Recruiting: Theory andMethodologyBoard on Behavioral, Cognitive,and Sensory Sciences, Division ofBehavioral and Social Sciences andEducation (2004, approx. 300 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09127-6; availablefrom NAP, $14.00 plus $4.50shipping).

Future Challenges for the U.S.Geological Survey’s MineralResources ProgramBoard on Earth Sciences andResources and Committee onEarth Resources, Division onEarth and Life Studies (2003,approx. 158 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08993-X; available from NAP,$34.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Immunization Safety Review:Influenza Vaccines andNeurological ComplicationsBoard on Health Promotion andDisease Prevention, Institute ofMedicine (2004, 190 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09086-5; available from NAP,$39.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Improving Birth Outcomes:Meeting the Challenge in theDeveloping WorldBoard on Global Health, Instituteof Medicine (2003, 372 pp.; ISBN0-309-08614-0; available fromNAP, $49.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Improving Racial and Ethnic Dataon Health — Report of a WorkshopCommittee on National Statistics,Division of Behavioral and SocialSciences and Education (2004, 58pp.; ISBN 0-309-09094-6; avail-able from NAP, $18.00 plus $4.50shipping).

Improving the CharacterizationProgram for Contact-HandledTransuranic Waste Bound for theWaste Isolation Pilot PlantBoard on Radioactive WasteManagement, Division on Earth andLife Studies (2004, 144 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09090-3; available from NAP,$39.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Improving the Regulation andManagement of Low-ActivityRadioactive Wastes — InterimReport on Current Regulations,Inventories, and PracticesBoard on Radioactive WasteManagement, Division on Earthand Life Studies (2003, 88 pp.;ISBN 0-309-52787-2; available at<www.nap.edu> as PDF file only,$10.80).


Insuring America’s Health:Principles and RecommendationsBoard on Health Care Services,Institute of Medicine (2004, 224pp.; ISBN 0-309-09105-5; avail-able from NAP, $27.00 plus $4.50shipping).

Issues and Opportunities Regardingthe U.S. Space Program — A Summary Report of a Workshopon National Space PolicySpace Studies Board andAeronautics and SpaceEngineering Board, Division onEngineering and Physical Sciences(2004, 92 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09146-2; available from NAP,$18.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Learning and Instruction: A SERPResearch AgendaPanel on Learning and Instruction,Strategic Education ResearchPartnership, Division ofBehavioral and Social Sciences andEducation (2004, 176 pp.; ISBN0-309-09081-4; available fromNAP, $39.95 plus $4.50 shipping).

Measuring What Matters:Allocation, Planning, and QualityAssessment for the Ryan WhiteCARE ActBoard on Health Promotion andDisease Prevention, Institute ofMedicine (2004, 190 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09115-2; available from NAP,$38.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

National Need and Priorities forVeterinarians in BiomedicalResearchInstitute for Laboratory AnimalResearch, Division on Earth andLife Studies (2004, 102 pp.; ISBN0-309-09083-0; available fromNAP, $24.75 plus $4.50 shipping).

New Treatments for Addiction:Behavioral, Ethical, Legal, andSocial QuestionsBoard on Behavioral, Cognitive,and Sensory Sciences, Division ofBehavioral and Social Sciencesand Education; and Board onHealth Promotion and DiseasePrevention and Board onNeuroscience and BehavioralHealth, Institute of Medicine(2004, 324 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09128-4; available from NAP,$47.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Owner-Authorized Handguns —A Workshop SummaryNational Academy of Engineering(2003, 68 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08975-1; available from NAP,$18.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Patient Safety: Achieving a NewStandard for CareBoard on Health Care Services,Institute of Medicine (2004,approx. 400 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09077-6; available from NAP,$44.95 plus $4.50 shipping).

Reducing Birth Defects: Meetingthe Challenge in the DevelopingWorldBoard on Global Health, Instituteof Medicine (2003, 253 pp.; ISBN0-309-08608-6; available fromNAP, $39.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Research Training in PsychiatryResidency: Strategies for ReformBoard on Neuroscience andBehavioral Health, Institute ofMedicine (2003, 272 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09071-7; available from NAP,$42.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Review of EPA Homeland SecurityEfforts: Safe Buildings ProgramResearch Implementation PlanBoard on Chemical Sciences andTechnology, Division on Earth andLife Studies (2003, 38 pp.; ISBN0-309-09104-7; available fromNAP, $12.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Review of NASA’s AerospaceTechnology Enterprise: An Assessment of NASA’sAeronautics Technology ProgramsAeronautics and SpaceEngineering Board, Division onEngineering and Physical Sciences(2004, 144 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09119-5; available from NAP,$32.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Review of the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention’sSmallpox Vaccination ProgramImplementation: Letter Report #5Board on Health Promotion andDisease Prevention, Institute ofMedicine (2003, 42 pp.; availableonly online at <www.nap.edu>).

Review of the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers Upper Mississippi-Illinois Waterway RestructuredFeasibility Study — Interim ReportWater Science and TechnologyBoard, Division on Earth and LifeStudies; and TransportationResearch Board (2003, 45 pp.; ISBN0-309-09133-0; available from NAP,$12.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

The Role of EnvironmentalHazards in Premature Birth —Workshop SummaryRoundtable on EnvironmentalHealth Sciences, Research, andMedicine, Board on HealthSciences Policy, Institute ofMedicine (2003, 148 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09065-2; available from NAP,$35.00 plus $4.50 shipping).


Setting the Course: A StrategicVision for Immunization — Part 4,Summary of the Washington, D.C.,WorkshopBoard on Health Care Services,Institute of Medicine (2003, 60 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09068-7; available fromNAP, $18.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Setting Priorities for Large ResearchFacility Projects Supported by theNational Science FoundationCommittee on Science, Engineering,and Public Policy, The NationalAcademies; and Board on Physicsand Astronomy, Division onEngineering and Physical Sciences(2004, approx. 200 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09084-9; available from NAP,$41.50 plus $4.50 shipping).

The Sun to the Earth — andBeyond: Panel ReportsSpace Studies Board, Division onEngineering and Physical Sciences(2003, 264 pp.; ISBN 0-309-08972-7; available from NAP,$52.25 plus $4.50 shipping).

Understanding Climate ChangeFeedbacksBoard on Atmospheric Sciences andClimate, Division on Earth and LifeStudies (2003, 166 pp.; ISBN 0-309-09072-5; available from NAP,$35.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

Where the Weather Meets theRoad: A Research Agenda forImproving Road Weather ServicesBoard on Atmospheric Sciences andClimate, Division on Earth and LifeStudies; and TransportationResearch Board (2004, 134 pp.;ISBN 0-309-09136-5; available fromNAP, $35.00 plus $4.50 shipping).

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In Focus (ISSN 1534-8334) is published three timesa year by the National Academies, 500 Fifth St.,N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Subscription (oneyear): $10; Canada and foreign, $12 (U.S. curren-cy only). Subscription address: In Focus, P.O. Box665, Holmes, PA 19043. Bulk-rate U.S. postage ispaid at Washington, D.C. Back issues and backvolumes can be ordered in microform fromProQuest Information and Learning, 300 NorthZeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

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Credits:Cover: (clockwise from upper left) Atlantic salmon, ©Paul

Nicklen; ©Comstock Images; strawberry anemonescommon to deep reefs off of Vancouver Island, BritishColumbia, ©Michael Patrick O’Neill/PhotoResearchers Inc.; ©Photodisc

Page 1: (col. 1) ©Photodisc; (col. 2, from top) ©ComstockImages; Atlantic salmon, photo by William W.Hartley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Page 2: Attendees at the first National Academies KeckFutures Initiative conference, November 2003, Irvine,Calif., photo by Laurel Hungerford Photography

Page 3: Photo by Valerie R. ChasePage 4: ©CreatasPage 5: ©PhotodiscPage 6: ©Index Stock Imagery Inc.Page 7: ©PhotodiscPage 9: ©StockbytePage 10: ©DigitalVisionPage 11: ©Alberto Ruggieri/The Image BankPage 12: Molecular model of testosterone, ©Alfred

Pasieka/Science Photo LibraryPage 13: ©Comstock ImagesPage 14: Feather duster worms in the Pacific Ocean, offshore

Hawaii, photo courtesy Office of Oceanic andAtmospheric Research/National Undersea ResearchProgram, National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration

Page 15: Deep submergence vehicle Alvin being hoisted aboardresearch vessel Atlantis following a dive, ©CraigDickson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Page 16: Upper Klamath Lake, photo by Ellen Morris Bishop,Oregon Natural Resources Council

Page 17: Atlantic salmon in Maine on journey upstream tospawn, ©Bill Curtsinger/National Geographic ImageCollection

Page 18: InterAcademy Council report release at the UnitedNations, Feb. 5, 2004, U.N. photos by ReynaldoReyes

Page 19: ©ThinkstockPage 20: Attendees of November 2003 Futures conference,

including National Academies CommunicationAward winners Joe Palca, Andrew Revkin, and CarlSafina (center photo), photos by Laurel HungerfordPhotography

HOT OFF THE PRESSDegrees KelvinA Tale of Genius, Invention, and Tragedy

David Lindley

At a time when no one really under-stood heat, light, electricity, or magnet-ism, a young scholar named WilliamThomson found key connectionsbetween them, laying the groundworkfor two of the cornerstones of 19thcentury science — the theories of elec-tromagnetism and thermodynamics.

Charismatic, confident, and boyishlyhandsome,Thomson dazzled Victoriansociety.When others were flummoxedby their inability to adapt overland tel-egraphic cables to underwater, intercontinental use,Thomsontook to the seas with new equipment that was to change theface of modern communications. And as the world’s navies tran-sitioned from wooden to iron ships, they looked to Thomson todevise a compass that would hold true. He was elevated to thepeerage by Queen Victoria for his many achievements, the firstscientist ever to be so honored.

But as the century drew to a close, the legendary scientific mindof Sir William Thomson — Lord Kelvin — began to weaken.Although his early mathematical prowess had transformed ourunderstanding of the forces of nature, he would never trulyaccept the revolutionary changes he had helped bring about —it was others who took his ideas to their logical conclusions. Inthe end Thomson came to stand for all that was complacent andold in the world of 19th century science.

Destined to become the definitive biography of one of the mostimportant figures in modern science, Degrees Kelvin presents asurprising and compelling portrait of a complex scientist.

Joseph Henry PressISBN 0-309-09073-3$27.95392 pages

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Winter/Spring 2004

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He’s shaping the future one mind at a time.

He’s an engineer.

The Power of an Idea

Through his Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program at the University of Colo-rado at Boulder, Dr. Frank Barnes has helped shape many of the finest minds workingin that field today. For his visionary efforts, Dr. Barnes has been awarded the NationalAcademy of Engineering’s 2004 Bernard M. Gordon Prize, given to an educator whosework in higher education fosters development of tomorrow’s engineering leaders.

Learn more about Dr. Barnes’ achievements –and submit your nominations for nextyear’s Gordon Prize – at our website,www.nae.edu/awards.

Keys to Recovery of Endangered Fishes

Nurses and Their Work Environment

Technologies to Boost Seat-Belt Use

A Plan for Deep Ocean Exploration