NAS Issues Report on Combating
Terrorism with Science and Technology
June 28, 2002- The National Academies of Science (NAS)
issued a report on June 25, titled "Making
the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering
Terrorism." In response to the September 11 terrorist
attacks, and in their advisory capacity to the nation on science,
engineering, and medicine, the NAS sought to provide guidance
to the federal government to develop "an integrated science
and technology program plan and a research strategy for combating
terrorism." More specifically, under the auspices of
the NAS, the Committee on Science and Technology for Countering
Terrorism (chaired by Drs. Lewis Branscomb and Richard Klausner)
published these guidelines as a national strategy to assist
the Executive Office of the President and the federal government
in "making the nation safer."
The committee analyzed the current threats to the nation,
the areas most vulnerable in light of those identified threats,
and both the long and near term contributions of science and
technology to counter terrorism. Their discussion was organized
into nine topical areas: nuclear and radiological threats;
human and agricultural health systems; toxic chemicals and
explosive materials; information technology; energy systems;
transportation systems; cities and fixed infrastructure; the
response of people to terrorism; and complex and interdependent
systems. Furthermore, the report delves into the following
sections: the significance of crosscutting challenges and
technologies; equipping the federal government to counter
terrorism; and, essential partners in a national strategy:
states and cities, industry, and universities.
Some of the recommendations excerpted from the report include:
- Development of new tools for the surveillance, detection,
and diagnosis of bioterrorist threat agents;
- Greatly expanded research programs to increase our
knowledge of the pathogenesis of, and immune responses
to, biological infectious agents;
- Encouragement of strategies to develop new drugs, vaccines,
and devices to address bioterrorist threats; and
- Creation of a Homeland Security Institute to serve
the organization setting priorities for homeland security.
The panel concludes that "key actions…can be undertaken
now, based on knowledge and technologies in hand" to
reduce current and future risks. The report cautions an over-reliance
on scientific and technological solutions to security issues,
however, noting that "science and technology are but
one element in a broad array of potential approaches to reducing
the threat of terrorism."
Information: Evangeline Loh,
AAMC Division of Biomedical and Health Sciences Research,
202-828-0485.
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