Science and Technology for Sustainability Program

Conference

Understanding Environmental Impacts and Sustainability as an Opportunity to Optimize Scientific Research Practices

October 21, 2025

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM (ET)

Past

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a session, titled Understanding Environmental Impacts and Sustainability as an Opportunity to Optimize Scientific Research Practices during the National Sustainability Society's Second Annual Conference on October 21, 2025 at the University of Notre Dame.
Drawing on insights from the National Academies February 2025 expert convening, this session examined the environmental impacts of scientific research and identify pathways to make research practices more sustainable. Specific focus areas included:

Innovation in sustainable research infrastructure and resource efficiency,
Development of standardized methods for assessing and reporting environmental impacts, and
Institutional and cultural changes to incentivize sustainable research practices

Agenda, October 21, 2025, 2:30-3:45 pm EDT
Introductions and Key Messages from the National Academies Meeting of Experts on Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Scientific Research
Franklin Carrero-Martínez (National Academies)
Panel: Understanding Environmental Impacts and Sustainability as an Opportunity to Optimize Scientific Research Practices
Moderator: Franklin Carrero-Martínez (National Academies)
Panelists: Ana Pinheiro Privette (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Marc Weiss (Global Urban Development and University of California, Berkeley), and Lina Constantinovici (Innovation 4.4)
Q&A and Discussion
All Participants

Organizing Project

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability

Contact

Emi Kameyama

Sustainability@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Conference

Shaping your future: Community Perspectives on AI Education, Workforce Development, and Sustainability

October 21, 2025

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM (ET)

Past

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a session, Shaping your future: Community perspectives on AI education, workforce development, and sustainability during the National Sustainability Society’s Second Annual Conference on October 21, 2025 at the University of Notre Dame.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape economies, education systems, and labor markets, the urgency to align AI-driven innovation with principles of sustainability and equity has never been greater. This session explored the intersection of AI education, workforce development, and sustainability through an inclusive, community-centered lens. Building on the National Academies 2020 report on Strengthening Sustainability Programs and Curricula at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels, participants discussed how we can build an AI-ready workforce that advances our sustainability goals.

Agenda, October 21, 2025, 10:30-11:45 am EDT
Introductions and Key Messages from the National Academies report, Strengthening Sustainability Programs and Curricula at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels
Franklin Carrero-Martínez (National Academies)
Panel: Community Perspectives on AI Education, Workforce Development, and Sustainability
Moderator: Franklin Carrero-Martínez (National Academies)
Panelists: Arun Agrawal (University of Notre Dame), Nicole Ardoin (Stanford University), and Christopher Boone (University of Southern California)
Q&A and Discussion

Organizing Project

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability

Contact

Emi Kameyama

Sustainability@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Webinar on the 4th Edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize: Advancing Global Scientific Solutions

June 5, 2025

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

Frontiers Planet Prize PPT Presentation

About

On June 5th NAS hosted a webinar introducing the 4th edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize, a prestigious award recognizing groundbreaking research that drives transformative change and sustainable solutions for the planet. The session provided an overview of the prize’s purpose, eligibility criteria, and how it supports scientists working on impactful sustainability challenges.

For follow-up questions, please contact us at sustainability@nas.edu
Webinar Agenda:

Welcome and Opening Remarks: Franklin Carrero-Martinez (NAS)
Introduction to the Frontiers Planet Prize: Gilbert De Gregorio & Jean Claude Burgelman (Frontiers Planet Prize)
Prize Details: Eligibility, Application and Selection Process: Gilbert De Gregorio (Frontiers Planet Prize)
Q&A
Closing Remarks and Next Steps

Organizing Project

Frontiers Planet Prize to Accelerate Scientific Solutions for Healthy Lives on a Healthy Planet

Contact

Contact us

sustainability@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability: June 2025 Meeting

June 4 - 5, 2025

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

A most recent meeting of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability was held on June 4-5, 2025.
On June 4, the Roundtable, in collaboration with the Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics and the Board on Human-System Integration, convened a one-day public workshop, Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: Maximizing Benefits for the United States. The workshop examined how AI can be leveraged to maximize benefits for the United States at the intersection of nature, people, and this critical technology.
On June 5, Roundtable members discussed potential ideas for sustainability science and technology activities. The session included a public webinar on the 4th Edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize: Advancing Global Scientific Solutions.

Organizing Project

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability

Contact

Emi Kameyama

Sustainability@nas.edu

Location

Keck Center

500 5th St NW

Washington DC 20001, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Workshop

Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: Maximizing Benefits for the United States: A Workshop

June 4, 2025

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

On June 4, 2025, the National Academies Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability, in collaboration with the Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics and Board on Human-System Integration, convened a hybrid workshop, Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: Maximizing Benefits for the United States.
The workshop examined how AI can be leveraged to maximize benefits for the United States at the intersection of nature, people, and this critical technology. The workshop reviewed AI applications that support sustainability goals, including successful case studies that demonstrate AI-driven sustainability solutions. Discussions included opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and international cooperation to maximize AI’s potential in sustainability efforts. A Proceedings of a Workshop--in Brief was prepared by a designated rapporteur and distributed broadly.
Agenda, June 4, 2025, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm EDT
Welcome from Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability
Cherry Murray (NAS/NAE, University of Arizona, Roundtable Co-Chair)
Klaus Tilmes (Senior Policy Advisor and Development Consultant, Roundtable Co-Chair)
Franklin Carrero-Martínez (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)
Welcome from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Emanuel Robinson (Board on Human-Systems Integration)
Brittany Segundo (Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics)
Goals for the Workshop
Shefali Mehta (Open Rivers Consulting Associates, Workshop Chair)
Framing Remarks: The Interrelated Benefits of AI and Sustainability
Daron Acemoglu (NAS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Panel I: Supply Chain for AI – The Inputs to AI
Moderator: Anne Roby (NAE, Formerly Linde, PLC)
Panelists: Erica Fuchs (Carnegie Mellon University), Andrés Naranjo (OrangeSpark Industrial AI and Brydon Group), and Lawrence Megan (Baldwin Richardson Foods)
Panel II: The Impact of AI on Supply Chains – The Outcomes from AI
Moderator: Meghna Tare (The University of Texas at Arlington)
Panelists: Feng Qiu (Argonne National Laboratory), Elena Naumova (Tufts University), and William Babis (Stockholm Environment Institute)
Panel III: Societal Impact of AI on Employment and Workforce
Moderator: José Lobo (Arizona State University)
Panelists: Christine Machovec (Bureau of Labor Statistics), Keolu Fox (University of California, San Diego), and Shamika Sirimanne (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)
Panel IV: The Role of Science in Advancing AI Research relating to Sustainability
Moderator: Miguel Román (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Panelists: Michael Jacobs (International Business Machines Corporation), Eric Horvitz (NAE, Microsoft Corporation on behalf of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence), Owen Gaffney (Nobel Prize Outreach), and Amy Luers (Microsoft Corporation)
Synthesis: Future Needs and Opportunities
All Participants

Organizing Project

Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: Maximizing Benefits for the United States: A Workshop

Contact

Emi Kameyama

sustainability@nas.edu

Location

Keck Center

500 5th St NW

Washington DC 20001, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 3 - The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks

April 10, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Environmental Health Matters Initiative organized a webinar series to explore human exposure to and related health effects of microplastics in the environment.

The third webinar in the series aimed to inform the public and the scientific research community about the potential hazards associated with microplastics, drawing on documented studies and scientific evidence. It explored the harmful characteristics that researchers and stakeholders may consider in future studies.

Additionally, speakers discussed established methodologies for risk assessment while examining the complexities, uncertainties, and challenges involved in evaluating risks. This webinar aimed to lay a foundation for the development of a comprehensive and standardized framework for assessing microplastic-related risks, which can inform research priorities and downstream decision-making.
The webinar featured presentations from Todd Gouin (TG Environmental Research), Philip Landrigan (Boston College), and Stephanie Wright (Imperial College London), followed by a multisectoral panel discussion between the speakers and Valerie Hanley (California Department of Toxic Substances Control).

PAST WEBINARS - The webinar series: Exploring Exposure and Related Health Effects ran between February and June 2025.

Webinar #1: Methodologies for appropriate and improved sampling, analysis, characterization, monitoring, and reporting of microplastics. Date: February 27
Webinar #2: The Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways. Date: March 20

Please submit your feedback using this post event questionnaire, we'd love to hear from you!

Organizing Project

Microplastics Webinar Series: Exploring exposure and related health effects

Contact

EHMI Staff

ehmi@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 2 – Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways

March 20, 2025

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Environmental Health Matters Initiative organized a webinar series to explore human exposure to and related health effects of microplastics in the environment.

The second webinar of the Microplastics & Health webinar series aimed to promote awareness and provide a standard baseline understanding of microplastics' distribution in the environment and the most prevalent sources or hotspots of human exposure. Specifically, speakers and panelists highlighted the major exposure pathways (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact) and identified which pathways pose the highest risk to human health. The goal was to bridge scientific findings with policy and regulatory frameworks by identifying data gaps, research priorities, and regulatory strategies that can mitigate microplastic exposure and inform downstream decision-making.

The webinar featured presentations from Bart Koelmans (Wageningen University) and Tracey Woodruff (University of California, San Francisco) followed by a multisectoral panel discussion between the speakers and Matthew MacLeod (Stockholm University) and Jane Muncke (Food Packaging Forum).

PAST WEBINARS - The webinar series: Exploring Exposure and Related Health Effects ran between February and June 2025.

Webinar #1: Methodologies for appropriate and improved sampling, analysis, characterization, monitoring, and reporting of microplastics. Date: February 27
Webinar #3: The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks. Date: April 10

Please submit your feedback using this post event questionnaire, we'd love to hear from you!

Organizing Project

Microplastics Webinar Series: Exploring exposure and related health effects

Contact

EHMI Staff

ehmi@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 1 – Methodologies for Appropriate and Improved Sampling, Analysis, Characterization, Monitoring, and Reporting of Microplastics

February 27, 2025

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

Dr. Walker-Franklin and Dr. Hankett Presentation

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Environmental Health Matters Initiative organized a webinar series to explore human exposure to and related health effects of microplastics in the environment.

The first webinar promoted awareness and provide a standard baseline understanding of microplastics' critical characteristics and associated future research direction. Specifically, speakers and panelists highlighted best practices and considerations for the collection, measurement, and characterization of microplastics in different media. They also explored the latest scientific findings that could enhance the comparability, reproducibility, and transparency of future microplastic research, providing crucial insights to inform downstream decision-making.

The webinar featured two presentations from Jeanne Hankett (BASF Corporation) and Imari Walker-Franklin (RTI International) followed by a multisectoral panel discussion between the speakers and Alessio Gomiero (NORCE Microplastics Center) and Leah Thornton Hampton (Southern California Coastal Water Research Project).

PAST WEBINARS - The webinar series: Exploring Exposure and Related Health Effects ran between February and June 2025.

Webinar #2: The Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways. Date: March 20
Webinar #3: The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks. Date: April 10

Please submit your feedback using this post event questionnaire, we'd love to hear from you!

Organizing Project

Microplastics Webinar Series: Exploring exposure and related health effects

Contact

EHMI Staff

ehmi@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Scientific Research: A Meeting of Experts

February 19 - 21, 2025

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a virtual meeting of experts on February 19 and February 21 to discuss the landscape of and gaps in research on the environmental impacts of scientific research.

Organizing Project

Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Scientific Research: A Meeting of Experts

Contact

Emi Kameyama

sustainability@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability: December 2024 Meeting

December 13, 2024

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (ET)

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

About

A virtual meeting of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability was held on December 13, 2024. Building on the May 2024 workshop discussions on Artificial Intelligence in Education and Mental Health for a Sustainable Future, a session focused on the use of AI in addressing sustainability challenges. Roundtable members also discussed potential ideas for sustainability science and technology activities for 2025.

Organizing Project

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability

Contact

Emi Kameyama

Sustainability@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting

Research to Policy: National Academies Sustainability Roundtable

September 11, 2024

3:15 PM - 4:30 PM (ET)

Past

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability convened a panel, Research to Policy: National Academies Sustainability Roundtable on September 11, 2024 from 3:15-4:30 pm PDT in Seattle, WA. The session was held during the National Sustainability Society Conference on Innovation, Implementation, and Workforce Development for Sustainability.

Discussions included an overview of the Sustainability Roundtable, including its approaches to sustainability and recent accomplishments. Presentations focused on perspectives from industry and nongovernmental organizations, including key messages from the National Academies 2020 report, Strengthening Sustainability Programs and Curricula at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels and opportunities for engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions also included possible strategies to engage youth, civil society, and local governments and foster partnerships among sectors, regions, and nations in addressing sustainability.

Agenda - Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 3:15 to 4:30 pm PDT

Introductions and an Overview of the National Academies Sustainability Roundtable
Franklin Carrero-Martínez, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Panel: Research to Policy: National Academies Sustainability Roundtable
Moderator: Franklin Carrero-Martínez, National Academies
Panelists: Marilu Hastings (Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation), Jeff Martin, and Shefali Mehta (Open Rivers Consulting Associates)

Q&A and Discussion
All Participants

Organizing Project

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability

Contact

Emi Kameyama

Sustainability@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Conference

Harnessing Biodiversity for a Thriving Sustainable Future

September 9, 2024

4:15 PM - 5:30 PM (ET)

Past

About

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Science and Technology for Sustainability Program convened a panel, Harnessing Biodiversity for a Thriving Sustainable Future, on Monday September 9, 2024 from 4:15-5:30 pm PDT in Seattle, WA. The session was held during the National Sustainability Society Conference on Innovation, Implementation, and Workforce Development for Sustainability.

The loss of biodiversity poses significant risks to human populations and economies, with approximately half of the world's annual economic output, around $44 trillion, threatened by the depletion of natural resources. The World Bank estimates that the decline of wild pollinators, marine fisheries, and tropical timber could reduce global GDP by $2.7 trillion annually by 2030. Additionally, the disappearance of coastal habitats puts 100-300 million people at greater risk of floods and hurricanes. Despite its crucial role, biodiversity loss does not receive the same level of attention as climate change, partly due to its complexity. However, recovery is possible with ambitious targets that accelerate conservation and address the drivers of biodiversity loss.

This panel session explored the intersection of biodiversity loss with other Sustainable Development Goals, such as climate action, and discussed innovative technological and data solutions for monitoring and preserving biodiversity. It also examined nature-based solutions as tools for addressing both climate and biodiversity crises and strategies for building a sustainable and equitable workforce skilled in these areas. The session focused on mainstreaming biodiversity into the plans, strategies, and policies of key economic sectors.

Agenda - Monday, September 9, 2024, 4:15 to 5:30 pm PDT

Introductions and an Overview of the National Academies Science and Technology for Sustainability Program
Franklin Carrero-Martínez, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Panel: Harnessing Biodiversity for a Thriving Sustainable Future
Moderator: Franklin Carrero-Martínez, National Academies
Panelists: Rachel Gallery (University of Arizona), Meghna Tare (UT Arlington), Jeannine Cavender-Bares (Harvard University)

Q&A and Discussion
All Participants

Contact

Franklin Carrero-Martínez

sustainability@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Environmental Health Matters Initiative: Introduction to Microplastics and Health Implications: Where are we and where are we going?

August 28, 2024

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

Thank you for joining us for an interactive discussion on human exposure to and related health effects of microplastics in the environment

This event was organized by the Environmental Health Matters Initiative in collaboration with the Roundtable on Plastics.

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long and have a variety of sources, including from the breakdown of larger plastic products, personal care products, and industrial processes. They are persistent in the environment and contribute to soil, land, and water pollution. Recent studies have detected microplastics in many human tissues and have been linked to systemic health effects such as inflammation and other health issues, but how dangerous they are still lacks evidence-based answers. This webinar is intended to provide a baseline of information on microplastics, the concerns, how complex this issue is, and our starting point for assessing human health risks.

A moderated discussion between Margaret Spring (Monterey Bay Aquarium) and Robert Ellis-Hutchings (The Dow Chemical Company) covered what we know about microplastics and their health implications. This conversation was followed by a multisectoral panel discussion with Susanne Brander (Oregon State University) Imari Walker-Franklin (RTI International), Anil Patri (FDA), and Scott Coffin (CA OEHHA). This conversation brought to bear what has been tried worldwide, successfully or not, the lessons to draw upon, and the path forward to bridging research gaps in science and data to inform hazard, exposure, and health risks from microplastics.

The conversation was recorded and is available below. Please also see our program news covering significant takeaways from this webinar.

The Environmental Health Matters Initiative is a forum that aims to equitably improve the health of all people through evidence-based solutions to environmental health issues. The Roundtable on Plastics explores and advances systemic solutions and interventions across each stage of the life cycle to catalyze the development of innovative solutions to the plastic pollution and waste problem.

Contact

Christl Saunders

ehmi@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Low Fixed-Cost Green Energy for All: from Sweden to the U.S.

As part of Climate Week NYC, Franklin Carrero-Martínez, Senior Director of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS) Program, participated in a panel discussion on September 22, 2025*. The session focused on the recent publication, EnergyNet Explained: A How-To Guide for the 21st Century Energy System* with co-authors from Sweden and the United States. Panelists described recent developments and future large-scale implementation of the EnergyNet in Sweden and throughout the European Union, and discussed efforts to bring the EnergyNet to the United States, particularly on college and university campuses, and in states, cities, and communities.

*This resource is not produced by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and may not represent the views of the institution.

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Science and Technology for Sustainability Program

News and Updates

Understanding Environmental Impacts and Sustainability as an Opportunity to Optimize Scientific Research Practices

Shaping your future: Community Perspectives on AI Education, Workforce Development, and Sustainability

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 4 - Research Priorities, Mitigation Strategies, and Public Communication in the Face of Uncertainties

Webinar on the 4th Edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize: Advancing Global Scientific Solutions

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability: June 2025 Meeting

Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability: Maximizing Benefits for the United States: A Workshop

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 3 - The Potential Hazards to Human Health and The Environment from Microplastics and the Complexity of Assessing Risks

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 2 – Distribution of Microplastics in the Environment and Human Exposure Pathways

Microplastics and Health Webinar Series: Webinar 1 – Methodologies for Appropriate and Improved Sampling, Analysis, Characterization, Monitoring, and Reporting of Microplastics

Understanding the Environmental Impacts of Scientific Research: A Meeting of Experts

Roundtable on Science and Technology for Sustainability: December 2024 Meeting

China-U.S. Scientific Engagement on Sustainability: Food Systems and Sustainability - Workshop III

Research to Policy: National Academies Sustainability Roundtable

Harnessing Biodiversity for a Thriving Sustainable Future

Environmental Health Matters Initiative: Introduction to Microplastics and Health Implications: Where are we and where are we going?