Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Meeting With National Academy of Sciences President Ralph Cicerone and National Academy of Engineering President Charles Vest

Press Release

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today met with National Academy of Sciences President Ralph Cicerone and National Academy of Engineering President Charles Vest to discuss ways to further increase the ongoing collaboration between DHS and the science and technology community to develop innovative initiatives to help protect our nation from threats.

"Cutting-edge science and technology are powerful tools in preventing, countering and responding to evolving threats," said Secretary Napolitano. "DHS is committed to working closely with our colleagues across the science and technology community to leverage private, non-profit and government expertise to help prevent and deter terrorism and recover from natural disasters."

During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano highlighted the Department's long-standing cooperation with the Academies--noting DHS' Science & Technology Directorate's support for Academy studies on a wide variety of topics ranging from biosurveillance to risk analysis--and underscored her continued commitment to supporting science programs that bolster the security of the United States.

Collaboration between the Department and the science community has led to major innovations in developing state-of-the-art screening, biothreat detection and other technologies currently deployed across the country--including equipment such as advanced imaging and explosives trace detection technologies designed to protect the traveling public from threats of terrorism at U.S. airports.

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