“When the federal government needs the best scientific information on any subject, it turns to the National Academy of Sciences.
“Now, the state of Washington will be able to do the same thing with a group of local luminaries. … The Washington group is modeled after the National Academy of Sciences, established by President Lincoln in 1863 to ‘investigate, examine, experiment and report upon any subject of science or art.’ …
“‘An increasing number of public-policy questions require scientific input,’ UW computer scientist and founding board member Ed Lazowska said in an e-mail. ‘WSAS is a place for the governor and the legislature to turn for this advice when they need it.'”
Read the article here.
Washington State Academy of Sciences website.