the original 1863 Congressional charter, the three academies serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." Program units The program units, formerly known as the National Research Council, are collectively the operating arm of the three academies for the purpose of providing objective policy advice. Although separately chartered (see above), it falls legally under the overall charter of the National Academy of Sciences, whose ultimate fiduciary body is the NAS Council. In actual practice, the NAS Council delegates governing authority to a Governing Board of the National Research Council that is chaired jointly by the presidents of the three academies, with additional members chosen by them or specified in the charters of the academies. Under this three-academy umbrella, the program units produce reports that shape policies, inform public opinion, and advance the pursuit of science, engineering, and medicine. There are seven major divisions: Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Division of Earth and Life Studies, Division of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Health and Medicine Division, Policy and Global Affairs Division, Transportation Research Board, and the Gulf Research Program. Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE) Units of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education Board on Children, Youth, and Families (BCYF) Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences (BBCSS) Board on Human-Systems Integration (BOHSI) Board on Environmental Change and Society (BECS) Board on Science Education (BOSE) Committee on Law and Justice (CLAJ) Board on Testing and Assessment (BOTA) Committee on Population (CPOP) Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) Division on Earth and Life Studies (DELS) Units of the Division on Earth and Life Studies Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources (BANR) Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology (BCST) Board on Earth Sciences and Resources (BESR) Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology (BEST) Board on Life Sciences (BLS) Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board (NRSB) Ocean Studies Board (OSB) Polar Research Board (PRB) Water Science and Technology Board (WSTB) Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences (DEPS) The Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences has activities organized around: Government missions in defense, space, and aerospace National infrastructure challenges such as energy and environmental systems, information and telecommunications, manufacturing and engineering design, civil engineering, and the built or constructed environment inclusive of its Board on Infrastructure and Constructed Environment or BICE