Today, Americans are feeling the gradual and subtle effects of globalization that challenge the economic and strategic leadership that the United States has enjoyed since World War II. A substantial portion of our workforce finds itself in direct competition for jobs with lower-wage workers around the globe, and leading-edge scientific and engineering work is being accomplished in many parts of the world. The National Academy of Sciences has produced a number of reports that examine this problem and make recommendations to enhance the science and technology enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete, prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st century.

The newly released Research Universities and the Future of America presents critically important strategies for ensuring that our nation’s research universities contribute strongly to America’s prosperity, security, and national goals. Widely considered the best in the world, our nation’s research universities today confront significant financial pressures, important advances in technology, a changing demographic landscape, and increased international competition. This report provides a course of action for ensuring our universities continue to produce the knowledge, ideas, and talent the United States needs to be a global leader in the 21st century.

Research Universities and the Future of America examines trends in university finance, prospects for improving university operations, opportunities for deploying technology, and improvement in the regulation of higher education institutions. It also explores ways to improve pathways to graduate education, take advantage of opportunities to increase student diversity, and realign doctoral education for the careers new doctorates will follow. In the first video below, members of the authoring committee share their insights. The second video is a recording of the release event, with more in-depth perspectives from the committee.

Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads explores the role of diversity in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce and its value in keeping America innovative and competitive. The video below is of the report release event.

Both of these titles follow up on the findings of the landmark study Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Published in 2007, that congressionally requested report made four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts to maintain America’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. A podcast and videos of Congressional hearing about this report are available:

These reports and others are available to read or download at no charge at our website.