Books by National Research Council

A vision of mathematics expressed in essays on change, dimension, quantity, shape, and uncertainty, each of which illustrate fundamental strands for mathematics. These essays allow us to realize the importance of providing hands-on experience and the development of a curriculum that enables students to apply their knowledge to diverse problems.

What is it about the school environment - pedagogy, curriculum, climate, organization - that encourages or discourages engagement in school activities? This book reviews research on what shapes adolescents' school engagement and motivation to learn. It includes findings on students' sense of belonging.

Helps broaden our understanding of the mistreatment of the elderly and recommends specific research and funding strategies. This book includes a discussion of the conceptual, methodological, and logistical issues needed to create a solid research base as well as the ethical concerns that must be considered when working with older subjects.

Provides the managers of the MMRS program and others concerned about local capabilities to cope with Chemical, Biological or Radiological terrorism with three evaluation tools and a three-part assessment method. This work describes the management of the program and a table of preparedness indicators for 23 essential response capabilities.

Examines the potential of tools that emphasize education, information, and voluntary measures on environmental regulation. This book includes contributions that summarize the effectiveness of these tools, individually and with regulatory and economic policy instruments. It looks at what is needed to make these tools effective.

Provides analysis and recommendations in areas such as understanding the social, economic, and physical environmental factors in determining eligibility for disability benefits; developing and implementing a monitoring system to measure and track trends in work disability; improving the process for making decisions on disability claims; and more.

The diversity of marine life is affected by fishery operations, chemical pollution and eutrophication, alteration of physical habitat, exotic species invasion, and effects of other human activities. This book illustrates the undescribed marine biodiversity, explores critical environmental issues, and identifies a series of key research questions.

Offers a look at the rise of "watershed thinking" among scientists and policymakers and recommends ways to steer the nation toward improved watershed management. This volume defines terms, identifies fundamental issues, and explores reasons why it is the time to bring watersheds to the forefront of ecosystem management.

Two workshops, held in October 1999 and November 2001 at the National Academies, were successful in highlighting various developments and opportunities in environmental and biomedical applications of marine biotechnology. This report includes a synthesis of the 2001 sessions.

Describes how assessment of fishing impacts depends on gear type, number and location of bottom tows, and the physical and biological characteristics of seafloor habitats. This volume presents color maps of fishing effort for all regions with significant bottom trawl or dredge fisheries.

In November 2000, the Board on International Comparative Studies in Education (BICSE) held a symposium to evaluate improvement in the quality of the methodologies used in international studies, and to identify the most pressing methodological issues that remain to be solved. This title includes papers prepared for this symposium.

Every year, about 30,000 people die by suicide in the US, and some 650,000 receive emergency treatment after a suicide attempt. This book provides a blueprint for addressing this tragic problem: how we can build an appropriate infrastructure, conduct needed research, and improve our ability to recognize suicide risk and effectively intervene.

The longest river of US, the Missouri River and its floodplain ecosystem experienced substantial environmental and hydrologic changes during the twentieth century. This report reviews the ecological state of the river and floodplain ecosystem, scientific research of the ecosystem, and the prospects for implementing an adaptive management approach.

Summarizes a range of scientific perspectives on the goal of achieving high educational standards for all students. Based on a conference held at the request of the US Department of Education, this volume draws on the conclusions of a number of important NRC reports.

Examines the aircraft environmental control systems, the sources of chemical and biological contaminants in aircraft cabins, and the toxicity and health effects associated with these contaminants. This book provides some recommendations for potential approaches for improving cabin air quality and a surveillance and research program.

Researchers, historians, and philosophers of science have debated the nature of scientific research in education for more than 100 years. This book describes the similarities and differences between scientific inquiry in education and scientific inquiry in other fields and disciplines and provides a number of examples to illustrate these ideas.

Examines approaches to protecting children and teens from internet pornography, threats from sexual predators operating on-line, and other inappropriate material on the internet. This book discusses strategies, tools, and options for how to teach children to make safe and appropriate decisions about what they see and experience on the internet.

Provides a contemporary snapshot of technologies, strategies, and policies for improving our communications and information infrastructure. This book explores the potential benefits of broadband, existing and projected demand, progress and failures in deployment, competition in the broadband industry, and costs and who pays them.

Explains what it means to be a technologically-literate citizen. Including three case studies, this book highlights specific issues of concern such as: the state of technological studies in K-12 schools; the reach of the Internet into our homes and lives; and the crucial role of technology in economy and workforce.

Discusses concepts that undergird community life and offers recommendations for collaborative planning across space and time. This book explores livability as an ensemble concept, embracing notions such as quality of place and sustainability. It examines how to translate broad ideas about livability into guidelines for policymaking.

Addressing major controversies, this book includes a detailed look at how significantly cancer could be reduced through lifestyle changes, evaluating approaches used to alter eating, smoking, and exercise habits. It is of interest to policy analysts, cancer and public health specialists, health care administrators and providers, and researchers.

Covers the engineering practices and standards for coal waste impoundments and ways to evaluate, improve, and monitor them; the accuracy of mine maps and ways to improve surveying and mapping of mines; and alternative technologies for coal slurry disposal and utilization.

How pervasive is sex segregation in the workplace? Does the concentration of women into a few professions reflect their personal preferences, the "tastes" of employers, or sex-role socialization? This volume raises the important policy and research questions. It is aimed at policymakers, researchers, personnel directors, union leaders, and others.

The Space Station Freedom program is a major US manned space initiative. This book summarizes the findings and recommendations of a workshop that examined the space station program with a view toward identifying engineering issues related to the design and operation of the station.