Policy and Global Affairs at the National Academies

Our Mission

The mission of Policy and Global Affairs is to help improve public policy, understanding, and education in matters of science, technology, and health with regard to national strategies and resources, global affairs, workforce and the economy. The division is particularly charged to identify and build synergy among the disciplines and issue areas, and to promote interaction among science, engineering, medicine and public policy. The division includes a range of standing committees and boards concerned with the vitality of the research enterprise in the US and abroad. In that connection, the units of the division focus particularly on the interaction of key institutions central to science and technology policy, on the standing of US research around the world and cooperation with Science & Engineering bodies in other countries, on the mission and organization of federal research activities, and on the sources of future manpower and funding for research.

PGA Committee (See Members)

The PGA Committee is entrusted with the oversight of the work of the division, with responsibility specifically for: (1) articulating intellectual and strategic goals for the division; (2) providing direction on emerging issues and new developments in S&T policy; (3) performing strategic reviews of the underlying Boards and standing committees on a regular basis; (4) reviewing Board composition and approving new Board member nominations; (5) strengthening connections between the Academies and the programs of the division; and (6) serving as a resource to the division staff by participating in division activities and the review process, identifying other potential participants, and interacting with relevant professional communities.

Strategic Goals

PGA's strategic direction leads to establishment of the following goals: Decisions

Promoting the integration of science and technology with the decision-making processes of governmental and international agencies

Institutions

Defining better processes within and among the federal agencies, state and local governments, universities and the private sector for the application of science and technology

Societal Needs

Contributing to improvements in the way science and technology are managed nationally, globally and in bilateral international relationships for public needs

Workforce

Ensuring an appropriate quantity and rising quality of scientists, engineers and health professionals for the 21^st century

Values

Reinforcing the highest values of the scientific, engineering, and medical communities, and promoting those values in interactions with the rest of society

Capacity

Building the capabilities of foreign partners to bring science and technology to bear on public needs and the sustainability transition

Agendas

Responding to the concerns of the scientific, engineering and health communities, both in the US and globally, to affect policy-makers’ agendas