INTO THE NEW YEAR

January 3, 2007

Objectives

• Reaffirm principles– China’s interest in exploring ESIP structure

prompted review of ESIP evolution (more later)

• Pose issues for the coming year– Crossing the Valley of Death– Advocacy

ESIP Federation: Origin*• ESIP: another step forward in cooperation

– 1958 – International Geophysical Year– 1960-70s

• Global Atmospheric Research Program• International Decade of Ocean Observation• International Biological Program

– 1980s • Earth Observing System (NASA)• Global Geoscience initiative (NSF)• Climate and Global Change Program (NOAA)

*A Review of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth/Earth Observing System. National Academy Press, 1995, 96 pp.http://www.gcrio.org/USGCRP/LaJolla/cover.html

ESIP Federation: Origin*– 1990 – US Global Change Research Program

1. advancing scientific understanding of the global environment;

2. meeting agency-specific missions and responsibilities; and 3. providing reliable scientific information to support national

and international decision making

• I995 – National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Science review USGCRP – Specific focus on EOS Data Information System

(EOSDIS)

*A Review of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth/Earth Observing System. National Academy Press, 1995, 96 pp.http://www.gcrio.org/USGCRP/LaJolla/cover.html

ESIP Federation: Origin*• NRC findings: technology

– EOSDIS was based on 1980s technology• Large, complex, hardware system• Centrally controlled and operated for quality

assurance

– Multiple Distributed Active Archive Centers a compromise, but superstructure required for multiple DAACs -- too expensive

*A Review of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth/Earth Observing System. National Academy Press, 1995, 96 pp.http://www.gcrio.org/USGCRP/LaJolla/cover.html

ESIP Federation: Origin*• NRC findings: organization and

governance– “The EOS program … cannot be successful

unless EOSDIS fulfills expectations that it will empower new levels of achievement in the Earth sciences and applications, and in a wide range of activities in both the public and the private sectors.”

*A Review of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth/Earth Observing System. National Academy Press, 1995, 96 pp.http://www.gcrio.org/USGCRP/LaJolla/cover.html

ESIP Federation: Origin*• NRC findings: guidance

– “To meet these expectations, we must now embrace a revolutionary expansion of the conceptual model that governs the management and operation of the system by affording the scientific community full partnership with shared responsibility.”

*A Review of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth/Earth Observing System. National Academy Press, 1995, 96 pp.http://www.gcrio.org/USGCRP/LaJolla/cover.html

ESIP Federation: Origin*• NRC requirements: approach

1. utilize an open management approach in which key decisions are made with community leadership, and assignment of responsibilities is based on peer review; and

2. encourage innovation and creativity through wide participation of the scientific, public, and private sectors.

• NRC recommendations: create Federation– “Responsibility for product generation, publication, and

user services should be held by a federation of partners”

*A Review of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth/Earth Observing System. National Academy Press, 1995, 96 pp.http://www.gcrio.org/USGCRP/LaJolla/cover.html

NRC-proposed ESIP model:

http://www.gcrio.org/USGCRP/LaJolla/gifs/figf1.gif

ESIP evolution: FocusInitially, cooperation focused on

cross-cutting topics–Data standards and quality assurance

were a primary consideration –Technology for enhancing access to

data and information via the web a parallel concern

–Education and outreach is key initiative embedded in essentially all Federation activities.

ESIP evolution: Focus• Interest has emerged in knowledge

domains that reflect the growth of the field and parallel the interests represented in GEOSS– Decision support tool development for

national applications has been formalized in the creation of ESIP clusters pursued in collaboration with other agencies

ESIP legacy: Principles• Commitment to the advancement and

dissemination of Earth science and its application

• Cooperation within community– Shared responsibility in development and

dissemination of Earth science information products– Inclusiveness (science / public / private)

• Exploitation of latest technology (focus of this meeting)

ESIP Opportunities

• Advancing and disseminating Earth science and its application

• Representing the interests of the Earth science community

Opportunities: advancing Earth science

2000 2002

Joyce, 1993

Research life cycle

Joyce, 1993

Example: use of “climax”

Adoption of Hybrid Seed Corn

Ryan, Bryce, and N.C. Gross. 1943. The Diffusion of Hybrid Seed Corn in Two Iowa Communities,” Rural Sociology 8:15-24.

Diffusion of Innovation Adoption Life Cycle

Time

Opportunities: representing community

• NASA– Looking for community feedback (e.g., Air

quality)– Outcomes of Decadal Survey likely to call for

more community participation

• NOAA and other potential partners– All share same needs:

• Data standards and tools• Community input and interaction

Issues for the New Year

• How best to cross the chasm / valley of death and compress the adoption life cycle?– Clusters take the lead?– Direction of partners, current and future?

• How can we make ESIP a more effective advocate for the Earth science community?– Do we need to re-think organization / structure to

make ESIP more effective?