The National Academies is soliciting comments from the U.S. science community on the issue of the appointment of scientists, engineers, and health professionals to presidentially appointed positions in the federal government, and to federal advisory committees charged with formulating science-based policy or reviewing research proposals. The National Academies' ad hoc Committee on Ensuring the Best S & T Presidential and Advisory Committee Appointments is charged with examining the barriers to appointment of the most qualified candidates. It will examine the appointments process and the principles that should be observed in selecting scientists, engineers, and health professionals to serve on federal advisory committees.