Improving the health of developing nations requires increased commitment and collaboration by U.S. agencies, philanthropic groups, universities, and nongovernmental organizations, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. It details ways these groups can boost research and health care delivery in resource-limited countries and establish effective partnerships.

The National Academy of Engineering announced today the winners of its EngineerGirl! national essay contest. Students were given images and asked to imagine potential purposes and functions using engineering creativity. More than 400 students submitted original essays. Winning essays were on decreasing space junk orbiting the Earth, a magnetic levitation type of transportation, and an organic light-emitting diode.

The National Research Council this week hosted a three-day symposium that explored how to apply new approaches in testing the safety of chemicals recommended in its 2007 report . That report urged a shift away from testing chemicals in animals and toward the use of lab tests that use cells and cell lines, preferably from humans.

The National Academy of Engineering has elected C. Dan Mote Jr. as its new treasurer. Mote will work with the NAE president and Council to pursue the mission of the Academy to support the technological welfare of the nation. Corale L. Brierley and Arnold F. Stancell have been newly elected to the NAE governing Council, and G. Wayne Clough and Robert F. Sproull were re-elected to second terms on the Council. All terms begin July 1.

A symposium held today co-sponsored by the National Research Council and the American Academy of Political and Social Science examined why the nation’s statistical system is important and how to make it better.

The National Academies have announced the recipients of its 2008 Futures grants for 23 projects to support interdisciplinary research on complex systems such as financial markets, communication networks, and ecosystems. The grant recipients participated in the conference “Complex Systems,” held last November.

A new report from the National Research Council finds a lack of evidence that the current level of oyster farming has major adverse effects on the ecosystem of Drakes Estero — a body of water north of San Francisco within Point Reyes National Seashore. Furthermore, National Park Service reports never achieved a rigorous and balanced synthesis of the impacts from oyster farming in the estero.