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.