BPA-BLS Interface of Physical and Life Sciences

The Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences Committee (RIPLS Committee) is a joint project supported by the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, the Board on Life Sciences, and the Board on Physics and Astronomy.

A National Research Council study is proposed to examine the intersection of the physical and life sciences. A committee of about 18 members will be formed to assess the forefronts of fundamental science at the interface of the physical and life sciences. The committee will develop a conceptual framework to identify and prioritize the most compelling research opportunities and their potential benefits to society, and to explore ways to enable and enhance effective interdisciplinary collaboration. The committee will complete its work and prepare a written report over the course of about 18 months.

The committee will explore key research areas in which the interaction of physical and life sciences is needed for scientific advancement.

1. Develop a conceptual framework for research at the intersection of the physical and life sciences and conduct an assessment of current work.

2. Identify high priority research opportunities at this intersection, articulate the potential benefits to society, and recommend strategies for realizing them.

3. Explore ways to enable and enhance effective interactions between the life and physical sciences to address the most compelling opportunities. Enabling mechanisms include facilitating collaboration, education, training, instrumentation, and infrastructure.


Committee and Staff Members
Committee Membership	Erin K. O’Shea, Co-chair, Harvard University Peter G. Wolynes, Co-chair, University of California at San Diego Robert H. Austin, Princeton University Bonnie L. Bassler, Howard Hughes Medical Institute/Princeton University Charles R. Cantor, Sequenom, Inc. William F. Carroll, Jr., Occidental Chemical Corporation Thomas R. Cech, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Christopher Field, Carnegie Institution of Washington Graham R. Fleming, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Robert J. Full, University of California at Berkeley Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Laura L. Kiessling, University of Wisconsin at Madison Charles M. Lovett, Jr., Williams College Dianne K. Newman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Monica Olvera de la Cruz, Northwestern University Jose N. Onuchic, University of California at San Diego Gregory A. Petsko, Brandeis University Astrid Prinz, Emory University Charles V. Shank, Janelia Farm, HHMI Boris I. Shraiman, Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics H. Eugene Stanley, Boston University George M. Whitesides, Harvard University
NRC Staff	Donald Shapero, Director, Board on Physics and Astronomy Fran Sharples, Director, Board on Life Sciences Adam Fagen, Senior Program Officer, BLS Natalia Melcer, Senior Program Officer, BPA James Lancaster, Program Officer, BPA Caryn Knutsen, Senior Program Assistant, BPA

Future Meetings		Past Meetings
April 29-30, 2008 Keck Center of The National Academies Washington, DC Agenda		September 14-15, 2007 Keck Center of The National Academies Washington, DC Agenda — Presentations
July 30-31, 2008 Location TBD		December 19, 2007 RIPLS Symposium The National Academy of Sciences Building Washington, DC Agenda — Presentations
		December 18-20, 2007 The National Academy of Sciences Building Washington, DC Agenda — Presentations

To send comments or suggestions to the committee, please send e-mail to ripls@nas.edu. Feedback will be posted on this website as it is received.

The committee is pleased to acknowledge support from the Department of Energy, the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.