Science for Environmental Protection

Science for Environmental Protection

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2012-12-21

Total Pages: 188

ISBN-13: 0309264898

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In anticipation of future environmental science and engineering challenges and technologic advances, EPA asked the National Research Council (NRC) to assess the overall capabilities of the agency to develop, obtain, and use the best available scientific and technologic information and tools to meet persistent, emerging, and future mission challenges and opportunities. Although the committee cannot predict with certainty what new environmental problems EPA will face in the next 10 years or more, it worked to identify some of the common drivers and common characteristics of problems that are likely to occur. Tensions inherent to the structure of EPA's work contribute to the current and persistent challenges faced by the agency, and meeting those challenges will require development of leading-edge scientific methods, tools, and technologies, and a more deliberate approach to systems thinking and interdisciplinary science. Science for Environmental Protection: The Road Ahead outlines a framework for building science for environmental protection in the 21st century and identified key areas where enhanced leadership and capacity can strengthen the agency's abilities to address current and emerging environmental challenges as well as take advantage of new tools and technologies to address them. The foundation of EPA science is strong, but the agency needs to continue to address numerous present and future challenges if it is to maintain its science leadership and meet its expanding mandates.


Building Science, Technology and Innovation Systems in Africa

Building Science, Technology and Innovation Systems in Africa

Author: Abdelkader DJEFL

Publisher: Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd

Published: 2010-06-30

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 1912234238

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The book discusses the policies and strategies for Science and Technology (S&T) and Innovation capability building put up by Maghreb states (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco) in the last three decades. The application of structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) in recent years, the opening up of their economies and liberalisation of trade have confronted firms with largely innovation-based competition and the attempt to reduce this impact are far from effective, particularly in the face of the era of knowledge economy and sustainability requirements. The work is articulated around three major themes: the difficult path to S&T capacity building, the attempts to put up National Systems of Innovation (NSI) and the prospects for a more innovation driven growth at the territorial level, notably through intermediate institutions and science and technology poles. While pointing out the difficulties of building NSI, the book examines how the context of an innovation- driven competition put local firms, especially SMEs, in a difficult position. It notes that universities, which are prone to internal politics and rent-seeking, are not producing the necessary human capital. The knowledge economy era challenges raise some hopes for better access to innovation and knowledge assets in the world while at the territorial level, new innovation dynamics are taking place. Based on extensive research and consultancy work done on the analysis of policies in the Maghreb, the book also raises the issue of the neighborhood of the European Union, and argues that unless Europe integrates the Maghreb in a real neighborhood Innovation System, the prospects for innovation take -off in the region are limited.


Communicating Science Effectively

Communicating Science Effectively

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2017-03-08

Total Pages: 153

ISBN-13: 0309451051

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Science and technology are embedded in virtually every aspect of modern life. As a result, people face an increasing need to integrate information from science with their personal values and other considerations as they make important life decisions about medical care, the safety of foods, what to do about climate change, and many other issues. Communicating science effectively, however, is a complex task and an acquired skill. Moreover, the approaches to communicating science that will be most effective for specific audiences and circumstances are not obvious. Fortunately, there is an expanding science base from diverse disciplines that can support science communicators in making these determinations. Communicating Science Effectively offers a research agenda for science communicators and researchers seeking to apply this research and fill gaps in knowledge about how to communicate effectively about science, focusing in particular on issues that are contentious in the public sphere. To inform this research agenda, this publication identifies important influences â€" psychological, economic, political, social, cultural, and media-related â€" on how science related to such issues is understood, perceived, and used.


Measuring the Science and Engineering Enterprise

Measuring the Science and Engineering Enterprise

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2000-03-14

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 0309068924

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The science and engineering enterprise has continued to evolve, responding over the last decade to increased economic globalization, a post-cold war military, federal budget fluctuations, and structural changes in the way science and engineering are conducted and innovations are adopted. This report suggests ways to revise the data collection activities of the Science Resources Studies Division (SRS) of the National Science Foundation to better capture the current realities of R&D funding and S&E human resources. The report's recommendations would improve the relevance of the data on graduate education, the labor market for scientists and engineers, and the funding and conduct of research and development, and thus better meet the data needs of policymakers, managers, and researchers.


A Framework for K-12 Science Education

A Framework for K-12 Science Education

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2012-02-28

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 0309214459

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Science, engineering, and technology permeate nearly every facet of modern life and hold the key to solving many of humanity's most pressing current and future challenges. The United States' position in the global economy is declining, in part because U.S. workers lack fundamental knowledge in these fields. To address the critical issues of U.S. competitiveness and to better prepare the workforce, A Framework for K-12 Science Education proposes a new approach to K-12 science education that will capture students' interest and provide them with the necessary foundational knowledge in the field. A Framework for K-12 Science Education outlines a broad set of expectations for students in science and engineering in grades K-12. These expectations will inform the development of new standards for K-12 science education and, subsequently, revisions to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development for educators. This book identifies three dimensions that convey the core ideas and practices around which science and engineering education in these grades should be built. These three dimensions are: crosscutting concepts that unify the study of science through their common application across science and engineering; scientific and engineering practices; and disciplinary core ideas in the physical sciences, life sciences, and earth and space sciences and for engineering, technology, and the applications of science. The overarching goal is for all high school graduates to have sufficient knowledge of science and engineering to engage in public discussions on science-related issues, be careful consumers of scientific and technical information, and enter the careers of their choice. A Framework for K-12 Science Education is the first step in a process that can inform state-level decisions and achieve a research-grounded basis for improving science instruction and learning across the country. The book will guide standards developers, teachers, curriculum designers, assessment developers, state and district science administrators, and educators who teach science in informal environments.


Urban Construction and Management Engineering IV

Urban Construction and Management Engineering IV

Author: Seyed Mohammadreza Ghadiri

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2024-03-07

Total Pages: 1124

ISBN-13: 1040042694

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Urban Construction and Management Engineering IV focuses on the research of construction technology and the engineering management in urban construction. This proceedings gathers the most cutting-edge research and achievements, and will provide scholars and engineers with preferable research directions and engineering solutions as reference. Subjects in this proceedings include: Civil Engineering Engineering Structure Engineering Management Low Carbon City Urban Management The works of this proceedings encourages development of civil engineering and construction technology. Thereby, the work promotes scientific information interchange between scholars from the top universities, research centers and high-tech enterprises working all around the world.


Moisture Control Handbook

Moisture Control Handbook

Author: Joseph Lstiburek

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 1996-01-15

Total Pages: 230

ISBN-13: 0471318639

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In the climate-controlled buildings of today, moisture problemsaffect not only the useable life expectancy of the structure, butthe comfort and health of the occupants. This reference is thefirst to apply up-to-date moisture control and treatment techniquesin a problem/solution format. Opening with an introductoryexplanation of the nature and causes of mold, mildew, andcondensation, the book gives specific advice on heated, cooled, andcombination environments, plus a short course in the dynamics ofmoisture movement within buildings. Other invaluable coverageincludes: * clear, detailed recommended practices for all United Statesclimates * practices for cooling as well as heating climates (often, heatingclimate solutions are applied in cooling climates, where problemsand solutions are completely different) * an overall, systematic view of moisture problems--including howmechanical systems and occupant lifestyles can create and alsoresolve moisture problems * actual case studies of buildings with moisture problems thatillustrate the principles and practices presented in the book This detailed, no-nonsense exploration of moisture cause andeffect--as well as its protection and remediation--will expandreaders' knowledge on this crucial subject. Moisture ControlHandbook will be welcomed by building contractors, architects,mechanical engineers, building science researchers, buildingproduct manufacturers, homeowners, and small commercial buildingowners.