The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit, self-governing organization that is responsibility for advising the U.S. federal government, upon request and without fee, on questions of science and technology that affect policy decisions. NAS was created in 1863 by a congressional charter approved by President Abraham Lincoln. Under this same charter, the institution was expanded to include sister organizations: in 1916 the National Research Council was established, in 1964 the National Academy of Engineering, and in 1970 the Institute of Medicine. Collectively these organizations are called the National Academies.

NAS publishes a scholarly journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, organizes symposia, and calls meetings on issues of national importance and urgency. Most of its study projects are conducted by the National Research Council rather than by committees within NAS. However, NAS sponsors two committees, the the Committee on International Security...