Bruce Alberts on Science Advice

Source: "The Globalization of Science" by Bruce Alberts.

Excerpt:

the United States government is well-served by an organization called the National Academies, based on three honorary organizations composed of the nation’s most distinguished scientists, engineers, and health professionals (the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine, respectively). This independent, non-governmental organization produces more than 200 reports a year, most in response to specific requests from the US government.......

The full text of some 3,000 reports by the Academies are available online (at www.nap.edu ), and each can be downloaded for free in any of 146 countries. The dangers of arsenic are the same across the globe, and in this case a US-based report can help all nations.

However, there are other important science-based issues that require study by internationally-based organizations in order to be widely accepted. To meet this need, the InterAcademy Council (IAC) in Amsterdam was founded in 2000 by a worldwide organization of science academies called the InterAcademy Panel (IAP). The IAC is governed by a Board that includes a rotating group of 15 Academy presidents from around the world, representing nations at a range of economic development levels, and its reports present a truly international perspective backed by the world’s best scientists and engineers.

The IAC provides advice on subjects requested by the United Nations and other international organizations, all of which is freely available at www.interacademycouncil.net .

Read Bruce Alberts' article.