Science and engineering disciplines such as physics, astronomy, computer science and engineering, materials science and engineering, and the mathematical sciences and their applications. Continuing assessments of federal government laboratories and research programs. Units of the Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB) Air Force Studies Board (AFSB) Board on Army Research and Development (BOARD) Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES) Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment (BICE) Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics (BMSA) Board on Physics and Astronomy (BPA) Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB) Intelligence Community Studies Board (ICSB) Laboratory Assessments Board (LAB) National Materials and Manufacturing Board (NMMB) Naval Studies Board (NSB) Space Studies Board (SSB) Gulf Research Program (GRP) Health and Medicine Division (HMD) Units of the Health and Medicine Division Board on Children, Youth, and Families (BCYF) Board on Global Health (BGH) Board on Health Care Services (HCS) Board on Health Sciences Policy (HSP) Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice (BPH) Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) Policy and Global Affairs Division (PGA) Units of the Policy and Global Affairs Division Board on Higher Education and Workforce (BHEW) Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO) Board on Research Data and Information (BRDI) Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP) Committee on Human Rights (CHR) Committee on International Security and Arms Control (CISAC) Committee on Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Public Policy (COSEMPUP) Committee on Science, Technology, and Law (CSTL) Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine (CWSEM) Fellowships Office Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) Resilient America Program Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS) Transportation Research Board (TRB) Units of the Transportation Research Board Consensus and Advisory Studies Division Cooperative Research Programs Division Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program (BTSCRP) National Cooperative Research and Evaluation Program (NCREP) Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) National Cooperative Freight Research Program (NCFRP) National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP) Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP) The study process The National Academies attempt to obtain authoritative, objective, and scientifically balanced answers to difficult questions of national importance. Top scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other experts (not limited to those in academies membership) are enlisted to address the scientific and technical aspects of some of society's problems. These experts are volunteers who serve on study committees that are convened to answer specific sets of questions.