#VirginiaTech ➡️ National Academies This year, Robert J. Bodnar, Linsey Marr, and Shuhai Xiao received academia’s highest honor: induction into the collective scientific national academy of the United States. 👏 The mission of the National Academies is to research and advise the United States government on topics of national importance. The work of the private, nonprofit National Academies is grounded in the expertise of three academies — the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine.