U.S. National Academy of Sciences Joins Academies Worldwide to Address Global Drinking Water Crisis
10/09/2007 22:55
PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, September 10 /PRNewswire/ --
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Global Health and Education
Foundation are joining with science, engineering, and medical academies
worldwide to take action on the drinking water crisis facing many countries
by launching "Safe Drinking Water Is Essential" (
http://www.drinking-water.org). This Web resource will be the first tool of
its kind to provide international decision makers with peer-reviewed
scientific information about enhancing the safety of drinking water supplies.
More than a billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water.
Diseases caused by unsafe drinking water are among the world's most serious
public health threats.
The Global Health and Education Foundation provided funding to the Marian
Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences to develop the
web resource in collaboration with the National Research Council's Water
Sciences and Technology Board and the Office of International Programs.
More than 125 academies worldwide are disseminating information about the
Web resource, which is available in five languages. In addition, 10,000 free
DVD versions will be distributed.
On Wednesday, Sept. 12, a briefing will be held from 11 a.m. to noon EDT
in the Murrow Room of the National Press Club, 529 14th St., N.W. A live
audio webcast of the briefing will be run at
http://www.national-academies.org, where reporters will be able to submit
questions for panelists. Reporters interested in attending the briefing
should register in advance (contacts listed below).
The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering,
Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National
Academies. They are private, nonprofit institutions that provide science,
technology, and health policy advice under a congressional charter. For more
information, visit http://www.national-academies.org.
The Marian Koshland Science Museum brings current scientific issues to
life for the general public through interactive, dynamic exhibits based on
reports by the National Academies. For more information, visit
http://www.koshland-science.org.
The Global Health and Education Foundation strives to advance the health,
education, social and economic well-being of people around the world. The
foundation's inaugural operating foundation, WaterLeaders, is dedicated to
alleviating the drinking water crisis. For more information, visit
http://www.waterleaders.org.
Contacts: Amy K. Shaw
Koshland Science Museum
+1-202-334-1612; e-mail akshaw@nas.edu
Maureen O'Leary
Office of News and Public Information
The National Academies
+1-202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu
Web site: http://www.koshland-science-museum.org
http://www.waterleaders.org
http://www.national-academies.org
Amy K. Shaw of the Koshland Science Museum, +1-202-334-1612, akshaw@nas.edu, or Maureen O'Leary of the The National Academies, +1-202-334-2138, news@nas.edu