Project Office News: September 2004
Congress of Regional NEON Representatives
The past year or so has seen a flurry of meetings across the country drawing together scientists and others within various regions of the country to learn about and discuss NEON. While the role of these so-called regional NEON groups, which have basically self-assembled, remains somewhat vague, enthusiasm for the meetings--which in some cases number nearly 100 people--is palpable. Next month for three days, representatives of each of 15 regional NEON groups will assemble outside of Portland, OR to consider how they groups will participate in the NEON design process.
Posted by jgoldman on Wednesday September 15, at 6PM
Committee Nominations: We Need Your Help
The real work of designing NEON will come from members of the diverse scientific, engineering, and educational communities. We are looking for committed individuals to serve on committees of the NEON Design Consortium. If you have an interest in becoming involved in the challenge of designing NEON--or you think a colleague may be--we encourage you to let us know by completing an online nomination form. Preference will be given to individuals who:
- Have relevant scientific and technical expertise
- Work well in group settings
- Can compromise to reach closure
- Respond promptly and can work according to an aggressive schedule
- Think outside the box and are not prisoners of history or fashion
- Keep the community interest foremost in mind
- Are available for each of the three committee meetings in 2005 [Jan. 3-7 (west coast tbd), Mar. 14-18 (east coast tbd), and June 6-10 (Estes Park, CO)]
Nominations will be reviewed beginning October 8, 2004.
Posted by jgoldman on Wednesday September 15, at 6PM
Off and Running
In the several years since the concept of the National Ecological Observatory Networks first captured the imagination of ecologists, we have been grappling with none-too-trivial questions such as: What are the compelling scientific questions that will remain unanswered without a national network of ecological observatories? What should such observatories look like? How can we capitalize on them to provide unique educational opportunities to students and the public? Now, with generous support from NSF, we are pleased to announce a renewed and concentrated effort to answer these questions and in so doing to create a focused, workable, and scientifically robust plan for NEON.
To this end, we have established the NEON Design Consortium--consisting of a suite of nested committees focused on science, technology, education, community organization, and the integration of the pieces into a functioning network as well as a professionally staffed NEON Project Office, headquartered at the American Institute of Biological Sciences in Washington, DC.
The committees will comprise the best and brightest scientists, engineers, and educators nominated and selected from the broad community of NEON stakeholders. Our guiding principle is to allow specific, high-priority science questions drive other aspects of the design process. Through regular meetings, including three joint committee meetings in 2005, we will identify those questions, the scientific, educational, and technological requirements that follow from them, and the optimum network design. We invite you to join us in this challenging endeavor.
Posted by jgoldman on Wednesday September 15, at 6PM