NASEM Forum on Postsecondary Response to COVID-19 (online series)

This session is offered by the NASEM Board on Higher Education and Workforce (BHEW) and is posted for informational purposes only.

As we now all too clearly understand, we are in the midst of what could become the worst infectious disease outbreak of our time—a contagion so serious that in a short time it has resulted in public health emergencies around the globe, disrupted the global economy, and has changed the very way we live. But we're not defenseless. Today, we not only understand the nature of pathogens more than ever before, but we also have unprecedented capabilities and tools to fight them.

Over the next several weeks, the Board on Higher Education of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will be hosting a series of conversations to bring together academic, industry, government, and civic leaders across the country to understand the varied facets of what has happened so far, what is currently happening, and what is expected to happen in the weeks and months ahead. Each conversation will focus on a specific topic related to how the 4,000+ colleges and universities—and the researchers who work there—are supporting the response efforts.

Please join us for the following afternoon discussions:

How can researchers help the national response efforts?

Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 12:00-1:30 PT

• Mathew Golden, University of Washington, School of Public Health (Invited)
• Trevor Bedford, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Invited)
• Michael Wells, Broad Institute
• Lisa Hirschhorn, Northwestern University
• Amy McDermott, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

How can and are laboratories shifting research agendas?

Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 12:00-1:30 PT

• Nevan Krogan, University of California, San Francisco
• Joe DeRisi, Chan Zuckerberg-BioHub, University of California, San Francisco
• Rebecca Cunningham, University of Michigan
• Clyde Brown, Florida A&M University

How can we crowd-source scientists to improve public information?

Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 12:00-1:30 PT

• Emily Landon, University of Chicago Tyrone Grandison, Data-Driven institute
• Shobita Parthasarathy, University of Michigan

How can we provide policy advice to the nation faster?

Friday, April 17, 2020 at 12:00-1:30 PT

• Greg Millett, amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research
• Pardis Sabeti, Harvard University (Invited)
• Beth Noveck, the Governance Lab Gerard Clancy, University of Tulsa

Future topics will include:

• What are models for volunteering? (expected date: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 3:00-4:30 ET)
• What are the implications of this being a truly global event? (expected date: Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 3:00-4:30 ET)
• What are possible long term implications of postsecondary responses? (expected date: Friday, April 24, 2020 at 3:00-4:30 ET)