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Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to Advance Earth System Science: Opportunities and Challenges – A Workshop

Completed

The National Academies will hold a workshop on the opportunities and challenges, including the ethical development and use, of using machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI) to advance Earth system science. The workshop will convene Earth system science experts, ML and AI researchers, social and behavioral scientists, ethicists, and decision-makers across sectors to explore how these approaches can contribute to improving understanding, analysis, modeling, prediction, and decision making.

Description

An ad hoc committee will plan a workshop to bring together experts to explore the opportunities and challenges of machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI) to advance Earth system science. The workshop will explore how these approaches can contribute to improving understanding, analysis, modeling, prediction, and decision making. Specific topics to be addressed could include:

  • Review current applications of ML/AI to Earth system science.
  • Survey emerging ML/AI technologies and approaches that could be useful for Earth system science, such as:

- Integrating physics, expert knowledge, and ML/AI techniques to enrich models and forecasts;

- Understanding and interpreting results produced by ML models; and

- Bridging research and operations to support decision-making.

  • Consider challenges and risks of using ML/AI for Earth system science, and discuss ways to mitigate these risks, such as:

- Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and ethical implications;

- The interface of ML/AI with existing and emerging hardware, software, tools, and approaches;

- Workforce capacity and skillsets; and

- Data requirements and limitations.

  • Identify future opportunities to accelerate progress, such as:

- Novel funding mechanisms and partnerships; and

- Potential disruptions that could lead to rapid scientific, societal, and/or institutional progress.

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