An ad hoc committee will conduct a study evaluating a publicly available report of the NSF's Geospace Section (NSF-GS) Portfolio Review Committee (PRC). The ad hoc committee’s assessment of the PRC report--which will be publicly available--will use the criteria described below to develop findings and conclusions regarding the content of the report and its consistency with decadal survey recommendations.

The committee will structure its assessment around how well the PRC report’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations:

1. Align with the science issues and priorities highlighted for NSF-GS and the Geospace scientific community in the NRC’s Decadal Survey: Solar and Space Physics – A Science for a Technological Society (hereafter called the Survey);

2. Adequately take into account issues such as:

a. actions already taken by the NSF-GS in response to the Survey priorities;

b. the current challenging outlook for the U.S. Federal budget--in particular the expected evolution of the NSF-GS budget;

c. interdisciplinary aspects and the overall scientific balance of all NSF-GS-funded activities;

d. the alignment of the capabilities of the Geospace Facilities Program with the current science needs of the community--in particular how well the Facilities Program is specifically designed to enhance educational opportunities, diversity, and international participation;

e. the integration of technology development with the NSF-GS science program; and

f. the balance of investments between the new and existing facilities, grants programs, and other activities.

3. Provide--considering the value of funded activities in terms of both intellectual merit and broader impacts--a forward-looking focus on the potential of all NSF-GS funded facilities, programs, and activities for delivering the desired science outcomes and capabilities, and;

4. Provide a clear set of recommendations on how the NSF-GS should implement the Survey’s priorities within the context of the NSF/Geosciences strategic planning process.

The committee’s report will also discuss the general readability and clarity of the PRC’s report and in particular its recommendations, as well as offering commentary on other issues relevant to the assessment of the PRC report, as determined by the committee. Any recommendations the committee may make will be focused on options and considerations for NSF's implementation of the PRC recommendations.