Transcript Introducing…

ISSE
NCAR
Climate-Ecosystem-Land Use
Investigations of the dynamics
of, and climate impacts on,
human-dominated systems
 Feedbacks between natural
systems and climate change
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Climate Variability,
Climate Change, and
Western Water
Kathleen A. Miller
Environmental and
Societal Impacts Group
National Center for
Atmospheric Research
ISSE
NCAR
Climate-Ecosystem-Land Use
Natural systems harbor crucial
biodiversity, which provide
essential ecosystem services
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NCAR
Use of Scientific Information in
Decision Processes
A better understanding of the interactions
between science and information users is the
basis for “science in the service of society.”
ISSE
NCAR
Scientific Information in Decision
Processes
Why this focus?
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Potentially useful science often fails to benefit
society because it does not link well with societal
decisions
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Bridging this gap requires
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Fundamental research how the use of scientific
information
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Action-oriented research to integrate knowledge in
specific decision contexts
ISSE
NCAR
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Scientific Information in Decision
Processes
ISSE
Examples
 Floods
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Air pollution
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Water resources
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Early warning systems
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Public and private use and
value of weather information
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Scales of carbon governance
Carbon cycle science
Societal Impacts and
Economic Benefits of
Weather Information
ISSE
NCAR
Scientific Information in Decision
Processes
Facilitating a paradigm shift …
Society
Society
Other
Knowledge
Other
Disciplines Societal
Issues
Physical
Science
Physical
Science
Societal
Other
Issues Knowledge
Society
Other
Disciplines
ISSE
NCAR
Tools and Methods for Collaborative
Learning and Problem-Solving
By developing and applying computer-based
learning and discovery tools we can facilitate
problem-solving in integrated human-natural
systems.
ISSE
NCAR
Learning & Problem-Solving Tools
Why this focus?
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Modeling and simulation tools help link human
activity and atmospheric/environmental research
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Decision-support tools are one way to make
NCAR research usable
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Collaborative tools help bidirectional information
flow between science and decision-makers
ISSE
NCAR
Learning & Problem-Solving Tools
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Disaster Dynamics:
Hurricane Landfall Game
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Educational Computer
Game (role-playing)
Teaches future emergency
managers
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Systems Thinking
Human-Environment
Interactions
Negotiation
Collaboration
Decision-Making under
Uncertainty
ISSE
NCAR
Learning & Problem-Solving Tools
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Other Examples
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Customer Choice CO2
Calculator
Digital Library on Societal
Impacts
Extremes Toolkit
GHG Wizard
Swiki
Climate Strategies
Simulation
NCAR
Making Connections
E&O
Unidata
COMET
ISSE
ISSE
NCAR
ISSE – Its National Center Role
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Widening networks, serving the research
community
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Participation and leadership in international
and national organization, scientific activities
Innovation, integration
Education and capacity-building
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Establishing regular colloquia, workshops
Strategic educational alliances
Interdisciplinary education
and curricula
ISSE
NCAR
Moving Forward – Support Needs
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Establish structures that facilitate and reward
problem-oriented, interdisciplinary research
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Develop mechanisms to prioritize problems
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Develop a coordinated hiring and visitor program
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Provide strong IT and administrative support
ISSE
NCAR
Moving Forward – Support Needs
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Increase funding
Remove obstacles
 Funding for large collaborations
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Provide early career support
Growing scientific leaders
 Mentoring
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Facilitate cohesion and teamwork
Creative ideas?
 Organizational consulting?
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ISSE
NCAR
“There is nothing inevitable about better futures.
We have to create them.”
James Ogilvy, GBN, 2002
Thanks to Joanie, Lisa, Olga, Susi, Rebecca M., Eric, Seth, Linda,
Rebecca H., Rick, Kathy, DJan, Bob, Mickey, Dave, and Vicki … for
helping to put together this presentation.