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.
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Workshop
·2022
The Earth system - the atmospheric, hydrologic, geologic, and biologic cycles that circulate energy, water, nutrients, and other trace substances - is a large, complex, multiscale system in space and time that involves human and natural system interactions. Machine learning (ML) and artificial intel...
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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.
Collaborators
Sponsors
Department of Commerce
NASA
National Science Foundation
Major units and sub-units
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
Lead
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Lead
Center for Advancing Science and Technology
Lead
Computer Science and Telecommunications Board
Lead
Ocean Studies Board
Lead
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Lead
Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics
Lead
Physical Sciences, Systems, and Infrastructure Program Area
Lead
Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
Lead
Computing Research, Technologies, and Systems Program Area
Lead
Earth Systems and Resources Program Area
Lead