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Reference.org
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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<p>The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), also known as the National Academies, is a <a href="/facts/Congressional_charter/Uco8JY31">congressionally chartered</a> organization that serves as the collective scientific <a href="/facts/National_academy/IezwTm4l">national academy</a> of the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>. The name is used interchangeably in two senses: (1) as an umbrella term or parent organization for its three sub-divisions that operate as quasi-independent honorific <a href="/facts/Learned_society/37g9gYTw">learned society</a> member organizations known as the <a href="/facts/National_Academy_of_Sciences/M3oePVeG">National Academy of Sciences</a> (NAS), the <a href="/facts/National_Academy_of_Engineering/6RCqfvXM">National Academy of Engineering</a> (NAE), and the <a href="/facts/National_Academy_of_Medicine/FdIo0Nd4">National Academy of Medicine</a> (NAM); and (2) as the brand for studies and reports issued by the unified operating arm of the three academies originally known as the National Research Council (NRC). The National Academies also serve as <a href="/facts/Public_policy/fYl7gXaC">public policy</a> advisors, <a href="/facts/Research_institute/h1CjvE4X">research institutes</a>, <a href="/facts/Think_tank/xl9t8HmC">think tanks</a>, and <a href="/facts/Public_administration/e5bgqajN">public administration</a> <a href="/facts/Consultant/D0Ta30QV">consultants</a> on issues of public importance or on request by the government. </p><p>The National Research Council, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine began as activities of the National Academy of Sciences until they were reorganized in 2015 into units of the current National Academies while maintaining the charter status and corporate successorship of the original National Academy of Sciences. </p><p>Now jointly governed by all three academies, the NRC produces some 200 publications annually which are published by the <a href="/facts/National_Academies_Press/5Raau7U8">National Academies Press</a>. The reports produced by the National Academies have been characterized as reflective of scientific consensus. </p>