About the Board
Vision
Mission
What We Do
How We Operate
Board Staff
About The Academies
Vision
The National Materials Advisory Board is the principal source of objective, independent, and informed scientific, technological, and policy assessments of materials, processes, and applications for use by U.S. industry, government agencies, and universities. The Materials Board strives to focus on those materials and systems issues that have the greatest importance to the nation's security, health, and welfare.
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Mission
The National Materials Advisory Board is the pre-eminent source of independent materials assessments for the nation.
- Board studies deal with the entire life cycle of materials, from mining and synthesis to manufacturing, service performance and recycling/disposal.
- Board achieves a balanced view by having access to the expertise of all sectors of society concerned with materials.
- The Board's structure and mode of operation enhance the quality of its output while minimizing the influence of vested interests.
- Board assessments of new materials and processing methods focus attention policy issues with significant technology content.
- Board activities should create broader awareness and advocacy for materials issues.
- Board output can assist decision makers in setting priorities for optimum deployment of the available resources.
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What We Do
The Board has four major functions:
- Meets twice annually to examine issues of national importance to materials science, and to determine Board direction.
- Provides a public forum for issues of importance to the field of materials science:
- disseminates results of Board studies and other activities
- provides user-friendly Web pages as a gateway to reliable information
- writes op-ed and policy articles based on Board activities
- provides requested information to the Administration and Congress
- participates in materials science coordination activities
- Coordinates with overall activities of the National Academies in areas of education, innovation, and awareness. Ensures that materials issues are considered in studies and activities carried out by other Boards in the National Academies.
- Studies pressing issues of the day. The following general categories constitute most of the Materials Board's programmatic activities. Other activities are also possible under the guidelines of the Academies that are pursuant to the goals of advising the nation and facilitating high-level discussion. How we carry out these activities is governed by the Academies' guidelines.
- Holds Topical Workshops (as well as similar meetings which may be called research briefings, symposia, conferences, or forums) to increase visibility and awareness for materials science issues. These may be organized in as little as a month, may or may not include a proceedings or a summary report, or may use an appointed committee and produce a consensus report with NRC recommendations.
- Performs Narrow-Focus Studies to answer a specific technical or policy question, or to provide a fast response to a pressing issue. This activity includes appointing a knowledgeable committee as well as some degree of research and other fact-finding to support the committee's findings. Full activity reporting is required, as well as a full-consensus report review. The standard timeframe for such a study is 6-12 months.
- Performs In-Depth Studies to thoroughly address an overarching, multifaceted question with diligence and rigor. This activity includes appointing a distinguished committee as well as comprehensive research and analysis. Full activity reporting is required, as well as a full-consensus report review. The products of such an activity may also include interim reports, letter reports, and one or more 'open' meetings, similar to workshops. The standard timeframe for such a study is 12-18 months.
- Facilitates Topical Roundtables to bring together policy makers, technical experts, and practitioners for discussion. The Roundtable may set any schedule for meetings or workshops, and produces no reports or recommendations. No activity reporting is required. Committee members are appointed by standard Academies procedure, except for government members who are appointed by virtue of their position title rather than their personal resume.
- Assesses Technical Programs to provide advisory guidance to federal initiatives and organizations. This may be a one-time or on-going activity. Full activity reporting is required, as well as a full-consensus report review.
- Empanels Standing Committees to maintain awareness of issues of continuing importance. Standing committees may issue letter reports or sponsor other NRC activities listed above. Committee members are appointed, and full activity reporting is required for all committee activities.
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HOW WE OPERATE
A little on our processes and procedures is presented here. For more detailed information, please contact the board director.
All committee members for Board activities are appointed by the Chair of the National Research Council based on their qualification for service. The only exception to this would be for federal employees on roundtables, who are appointed by virtue of their position rather than personal resume.
A project timeline refers to the length of time between project start and delivery of final product. The actual work may extend before and after these milestones, to include project development and dissemination of results.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act, or FACA, governs any committee formed to advise the federal government. The NRC is exempt from FACA except for Section 15 of that law. Applied under this section, this law governs the interactions between sponsors and the Academies, and especially describes the public release of information concerning the study activities and results. The law is not applied when there is no advice given to the government, such as workshop summaries or roundtable discussions.
The NRC report review process consists, at a minimum, of editing for consistency and readability. In the case of consensus reports, a team of internal editors and external reviewers examine reports for clarity, accuracy, logical consistency, substantiation, and relevance to stated objectives.
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Contact the Board Staff
Mailing & FedEx Address/Office Location:
The National Academies
National Materials Advisory Board (NMAB)
500 Fifth Street, NW – Keck W938
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 334-3505
Fax: (202) 334-3718
E-mail: nmab@nas.edu
Staff
Gary Fischman, Director
gfischman@nas.edu
Michael H. Moloney, Senior Program Officer
mmoloney@nas.edu
Emily Ann Meyer, Program Officer
emeyer@nas.edu
Erik Svedberg, Program Officer
esvedberg@nas.edu
Heather Lozowski, Financial Associate
hlozowski@nas.edu
Teri Thorowgood, Administrative Coordinator
tthorowg@nas.edu
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About The Academies
Carrying out the responsibilities assigned by Congress to the National Academy of Sciences in its Act of Incorporation, the National Research Council reports to the government whenever called upon. By Executive Order of the President, the NRC promotes the development of new knowledge in the natural, social, and applied sciences and the use of this knowledge to benefit the public welfare by
- strengthening the national security,
- contributing to economic growth,
- ensuring the health of people,
- fostering improved education, and
- aiding in the advancement of environmental and other national goals.
The NRC surveys the broad possibilities of science, engineering, and medicine, promoting cooperation in research, at home and abroad, and directing the attention of scientific and technical communities to the value of their knowledge to the achievement of national goals. It assesses the state of current understanding that helps to illuminate public policy decision-making and broadly disseminates its works throughout the world.
The core values of the National Research Council include:
- independence from sponsors’ influence
- balanced approach and objectivity
- distinguished experts serving pro bono in the nation’s interest.
- high quality work products based upon careful deliberation and analysis in a neutral forum
- evidence-based findings and consensus recommendations subject to rigorous peer review by independent experts
- intellectual honesty and respect for ideas.
You can find more information on other boards of the National Academies by visiting the main Academies website.
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