From what I can work out, the US National Academy of Sciences is an independent advisory organisation which receives no funding for services from the US government (it is thus pretty well independent of direct funding bias). It consists of about 2,100 members and 380 foreign associates.
It employs 1,110 staff (in 2005). It has nearly 200 members who have won a Nobel Prize. Election to membership is considered to be one of the highest honours, (not quite outranking a Nobel Prize).
So, it has recently published a report which is intended as a guide for NASA plans over the next 10 years.
The purpose is to provide NASA with direction for next 10 years of space research.
Report provides NASA with direction for next 10 years of space research
So, the priorities ? ….
Quote:
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The first quest is to discover and explore the physical laws governing matter, space and time. The second quest is to discover and understand how complex systems are organized. For example, ferns grow with a distinct symmetry and structure to their leaves that are similar to the overall shape of the whole plant. This is an example of "self-similarity" in nature, which could be explored in greater detail in space.
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Good to see a body, in a place of honour, acknowledging the importance of the study of Chaos and Complex Systems …. (more or less in alignment with our recent discussions about this area of Science).
The specific research areas they prioritise for NASA in the next 10 years are:
1) Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Complex Fluids
2) Precision Measurements of Fundamental Forces and Symmetries
3) Quantum Gases
4) Condensed Matter.
Comments welcome.
Cheers