Dr. Ann Maest has been serving on the National Academies’ National Research Council Committee on Earth Resources. She chaired the morning session of a committee meeting this month. The Committee on Earth Resources serves as the focal point within the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources for activities relevant to mineral and energy resources. The committee is responsible for organizing and overseeing studies on issues relevant to the supply, delivery, and associated impacts of hydrocarbon, metallic, and nonmetallic mineral resources, and mineral and nonmineral energy resource systems. The committee:

• monitors the status of mineral and energy resource issues;
• identifies study opportunities and responds to requests from federal agencies; and
• provides a unique forum for discussion and exchange of information among scientists, engineers, and policy makers from government, universities, and industry.

Dr. Maest is honored to have the opportunity to serve on this committee for a period of three years with 11 other nationally recognized scientists.

A Managing Scientist at Stratus Consulting, Dr. Maest is an aqueous geochemist who designs, conducts, and manages groundwater and surface water hydrogeochemistry studies at mining and other industrial sites. She also works on independent monitoring and capacity building projects with community and indigenous groups in North and South America. With expertise in the fate and transport of natural and anthropogenic contaminants in groundwater, surface water, and sediment, her work has focused on the environmental effects of mining and petroleum extraction and production, and, more recently, on the effects of climate change on water quality.

Click on these links, or see below, for information about the National Academies, the National Research Council, and the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources.

The National Academies

The National Academies perform an unparalleled public service by bringing together committees of experts in all areas of scientific and technological endeavor. These experts serve pro bono to address critical national issues and give advice to the federal government and the public. Four organizations comprise the Academies: the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.

The National Academies is a private, nonprofit institution that provides science, technology and health policy advice under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln that was originally granted to the NAS in 1863. Under this charter, the NRC was established in 1916. The mission of the NRC is to improve government decision making and public policy, increase public education and understanding, and promote the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in matters involving science, engineering, technology, and health. The institution takes this charge seriously and works to inform policies and actions that have the power to improve the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world.

The National Research Council

The NRC is committed to providing elected leaders, policy makers, and the public with expert advice based on sound scientific evidence. The NRC does not receive direct federal appropriations for its work. Individual projects are funded by federal agencies, foundations, other governmental and private sources, and the institution’s endowment. The work is made possible by 6,000 of the world’s top scientists, engineers, and other professionals who volunteer their time without compensation to serve on committees and participate in activities.

The Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

The Board on Earth Sciences and Resources coordinates the National Research Council’s activities on solid-earth science issues and organizes and oversees studies of important national issues in the earth sciences. The Board oversees the following standing committees:

• Committee on Earth Resources
• Geographical Sciences Committee
• Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering
• Committee on Geophysical and Environmental Data
• Mapping Science Committee
• Committee on Seismology and Geodynamics

The Board and its standing committees serve as the focus for interaction with agencies; as a consequence of this interaction, multidisciplinary ad hoc study committees are established under the auspices of the Board or its standing committees to provide advice as identified by statements of task.

Through its activities, the Board identifies opportunities for advancing basic research and understanding of earth science information for policy decisions, reports on the applications of earth sciences to important societal issues, and addresses the overall health of research and education programs related to earth sciences and resources issues. The Board and its committees also serve as fora for discussions and exchange of information among scientists, engineers, and policy makers from government, universities, and industry.