April 22 - Today marks the 35th anniversary of Earth Day, a day of celebration and activism intended to raise awareness of environmental issues. Several National Academies reports examine how science and technology can be harnessed to protect the Earth and sustain the diversity and well-being of the life it supports.

Air Quality Management in the United States (2004) says that despite the progress made toward cleaner air, more needs to be done to improve the nation's ability to confront future air pollution challenges. The report includes five overarching, integrated recommendations that can be implemented in stages to improve U.S. air quality management.

Exploration of the Seas: Voyage into the Unknown (2003) calls for a new large-scale U.S. ocean exploration program. In addition to spurring global ocean exploration efforts, the program could accelerate the discovery of new species, ecosystems and energy sources as well as improve understanding of the role oceans play in climate change.

Other Resources:

• EarthDay.gov A Portal for U.S. Government Earth Day-related events and information