November 2 -- The current means for managing the radio frequency spectrum -- which is used by researchers for myriad purposes, including weather forecasting and astronomical investigations, and by consumers for such technologies as cellular phones and wireless Internet -- must be changed, says a new report from the National Research Council. The current policies threaten to thwart scientific discovery, diminish the utility of critical environmental observations, and limit economic growth because of inefficient use of these resources.
October 30 -- A great deal of science learning takes place outside of school -- in museums and after-school programs, for example, and through TV programs, books, and online activities. A new guide based on an earlier National Research Council report describes how museum professionals, media specialists, and educators can create experiences that foster science learning for people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures.
October 28 -- Data from NASA's National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (NAOMS) project, a survey administered to pilots in order to track safety-related incidents during air travel, should not be used to measure rates or trends in safety in the National Airspace System, says a new report from the National Research Council. Deficiencies in several aspects of the survey design make the data gathered unreliable.
October 26 -- The National Research Council's Board on Life Sciences -- which oversees studies on topics that include genomics, bioterrorism, stem cells, and other areas of interest in the life sciences -- hosted a one-day symposium to mark its achievements of the past 25 years and look forward to future research.
October 21 -- Several actions are needed to help make voter registration databases capable of sharing information within state agencies and across state lines, says a new report from the National Research Council. These include short-term changes to improve education, dissemination of information, and administrative processes, and long-term changes to make improvements in data collection and entry, matching procedures, and ensure privacy and security.