Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation (2022) / Chapter Skim
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4 Implementing Next Generation Earth Systems Science at NSF
4 Implementing Next Generation Earth Systems Science at NSF
Pages 81-100
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From page 81... ...
Given the breadth and scope of the subject, the report and recommendations take a high-level approach that provides NSF with several options and the leeway to develop a feasible implementation plan. 4.1 AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO STUDYING THE EARTH'S SYSTEMS AT NSF The committee's first task was to describe the potential value and key characteristics of a robust, integrated approach for studying the Earth's systems.
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From page 82... ...
An integrated initiative that incorporates the six key characteristics requires sustaining and expanding NSF's current practices. The objective is to harness existing capabilities and create new approaches by placing increased emphasis on use-inspired and convergence research while maintaining strengths in curiosity-driven Earth Systems Science; enhancing the participation of social, engineering, computational, and data scientists; and strengthening efforts to include diverse perspectives in the research and engage with stakeholders.
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From page 83... ...
Other barriers to next generation Earth Systems Science include all of the circumstances that impede interdisciplinary and convergence research, such as the disciplinary organization of universities and federal agencies, the organization of professional societies and journals, and career paths and incentives for early career social and natural scientists and engineers (NRC, 2013; NASEM, 2019a)
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From page 84... ...
(2021) developed a conceptual model for conducting convergence research, including collaboration or communication at all phases (see Figure 4.2)
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From page 85... ...
IMPLEMENTING NEXT GENERATION EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE 85 FIGURE 4.2 Conceptual model for transdisciplinary or convergence research, based on a survey of people around the world who have engaged in such research projects. SOURCE: Reprinted with permission from Elsevier from Steger, C., J.A.
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From page 86... ...
Convergence research for next generation Earth Systems Science requires new modes of interaction across directorates, between scientists, within research teams, and with stakeholder partners. Transdisciplinary teams and relationships with stakeholders develop over longer time frames than a typical research project and may have to be maintained for many years.
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From page 87... ...
Several programs at NSF have made progress in addressing the problem. For example, an evaluation of the NSF-funded Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences program found that minority-majority institution collaborations, financial support, mentoring of cohorts, authentic research experiences, and placing of the science in a meaningful cultural context are effective in recruiting and retaining people from marginalized and excluded groups in the geosciences (Karsten, 2019)
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From page 88... ...
88 NEXT GENERATION EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE AT NSF FIGURE 4.3 Twenty action steps to build a robust anti-racist organization. NOTE: Each action step is associated with an essential construct.
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From page 89... ...
Issues with access to physical spaces4 such as field stations and sites can lead to a lack of participation by disabled scientists. Several programs are exploring how to remove barriers and increase opportunities for people with disabilities by providing innovative accommodations.5 In addition to improving diversity and inclusion in the scientific community, NSF can improve equity and justice in Earth Systems Science by increasing the participation of individuals with diverse perspectives in many aspects of NSF's operations, as administrative leaders, program managers, review panels, and research teams.
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From page 90... ...
Multiuser facilities supported by NSF can play an important role in fostering convergence research,7 and further synergies can be sought among existing multiuser facilities or across fields of study. An example of a synergy among facilities is that identified by the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
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From page 91... ...
include the wide breadth of relevant data, different languages and cultures, different units of analysis, lack of shared norms and practices, insufficient computational and informatics skills, lack of data standards or incentives to use them, and an ad hoc and varied approach to data archiving. Examples of mechanisms that could help lower these barriers include joint programs between NSF cyberinfrastructure and observing facilities (e.g., Center for Advancement and Synthesis of Open Environmental Data and Sciences)
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From page 92... ...
In addition to these existing, traditional facilities and infrastructure investments, new approaches that support collaboration and networks among scientists and stakeholders are critical to advancing the collaboration, ideation, and the qualitative and quantitative data development and integration that are essential to advance convergence approaches. Established NSF-supported institutions for synthesis and integration of ecological, environmental, and sociocultural data, such as the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and the National SocioEnvironmental Synthesis Center, provide models of "best practices" to achieve large-scale, cross-system transdisciplinary synthesis and to advance convergence research in Earth Systems Science.
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From page 93... ...
This creates an opportunity to fundamentally rethink existing Earth systems software -- retaining what is well designed and modernizing what is not -- and to build community codes that are easy enough to use to attract a broad developer and user base, flexible enough to allow a range of different applications, and adaptable to continuously evolving hardware architectures. These community codes typically involve tens of thousands to millions of lines of code, requiring a shift from the "small group, graduate-student-as-programmer" model to one that also involves highly trained research software engineers as part of the research team.
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From page 94... ...
Proactive planning to harness this revolution requires engaging computational and data scientists and research software engineers as critical members of the Earth systems scientific community and ensuring the provision of sufficient computing resources. The above advances in computing and observing infrastructure have improved the collection and processing of data from many sources.
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From page 95... ...
. Growing Convergence Research14 provides support for the intentional development of multidisciplinary teams to conduct research that are societal and/or scientific grand challenges and do not fall under other current solicitations.
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From page 96... ...
For example, exposure to system engineering methodologies and practices that deal with developing requirements, system design, and understanding critical pathways and vulnerabilities has proven useful for applications such as integrating climate science into transportation infrastructure engineering.17 The NSF Future of Work: Human-Technology Frontier programs, housed within the Directorate for Engineering, are structured to provide intentional cross-disciplinary support for convergent research and could offer a model for supporting convergent research in Earth Systems Science.18 An example of skillfocused training is the early career petrophysics workshop program at the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Bremen Core Repository.19 Incentives, including time and funding to develop skills and networks, could be provided to the current workforce to speed advancement of Earth Systems Science. For example, a program similar to the Mid-Career Advancement program,20 which supports skills building of researchers at the associate professor rank (or equivalent)
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From page 97... ...
FIGURE 4.4 Example interventions for transforming the ways scientists are developed, supported, and trained to have the skills and ambition to engage in socially relevant research. Interventions encompass funding, training, and fostering a community of 97 practice around engaged science in the graduate to professional career stages.
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From page 98... ...
Exposure to convergence research, transdisciplinary teams, and a diversity of perspectives in undergraduate and graduate training would foster the development of the current and future workforce. Research software engineers and system engineers should also be considered a part of the Earth Systems Science workforce.
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From page 99... ...
2020. Building capacity for societally engaged climate science by transforming science train ing.
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From page 100... ...
100 NEXT GENERATION EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE AT NSF Voosen, P
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