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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

Appendix A

Summary of Outreach Efforts

The committee carefully considered multiple forms of community input in addressing its Statement of Task. These included five virtual workshops, two roundtable discussions, and an online questionnaire. Information about the study and details on each of the events were also shared with the community at regular intervals via an opt-in emailed newsletter.

WORKSHOPS

Five workshop sessions were held in late 2020 and early 2021. Their goals and agenda items are outlined below.

Education and Workforce for Earth Systems Science Framing Session

This framing session brought together experts to explore issues associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Earth systems workforce to better serve the Earth and its people; creating Earth Systems Science learning and working environments for all; statistics and data on the geoscience workforce; and the future of Earth Systems Science education and training. It was intended to help set the stage for future workshops associated with this committee’s work.

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

November 13, 2020

11:00 AM	Welcome and Purpose for the Workshop
11:20 AM	DEI Issues in the Earth Systems Workforce to Better Serve the Earth and Its People Raj Pandya, Thriving Earth Exchange
11:45 AM	Panel: Creating Earth Systems Sciences Learning and Working Environments for All Moderator: Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, University of California, Merced, Committee Member Diana Dalbotten, University of Minnesota Anita Stone Marshall, University of Florida Kaatje Kraft, Whatcom Community College Lisa White, University of California Reginald Archer, Tennessee State University
12:30 PM	Break
1:00 PM	Statistics and Data on the Geoscience Workforce Sharon Mosher, The University of Texas at Austin
1:10 PM	Panel: Thinking About the Future of Earth Systems Science Education and Training Moderator: Fiamma Straneo, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Committee Member Kim Kastens, Lamont Doherty Anne Egger, Central Washington University Brandon Jones, National Science Foundation Wendy Smythe, University of Minnesota Cynthia Hall, West Chester University
1:50 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
2:00 PM	Adjourn

Integrating Earth Systems Science and Engineering

This workshop brought together experts working at the intersection of engineering and Earth Systems Science to share successful strategies and to identify important considerations for bridging these increasingly connected fields. The committee heard from researchers at the boundary of

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

engineering and Earth Systems Science about the opportunities and challenges of work at this intersection. Discussion also focused on building effective two-way partnerships between engineering and Earth Systems Science, variations in systems thinking approaches between disciplinary areas, and undertaking and operationalizing larger projects connecting Earth Systems Science and engineering.

November 20, 2020

11:00 AM	Welcome and Purpose for the Workshop
11:15 AM	Session 1: What Can Earth Systems Science and Engineering Provide for Each Other? Moderator: George Hornberger, Vanderbilt University Ana P. Barros, Duke University Jennifer Jacobs, University of New Hampshire Tom McKone, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
12:15 PM	Break
12:45 PM	Session 2: Approaches to Systems Thinking: Similarities and Differences Between the Sciences and Engineering Moderator: Royce Francis, The George Washington University Danielle Wood, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dustin Schroeder, Stanford University Wei-Ning Xiang, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
1:45 PM	Break
2:15 PM	Session 3: Lessons and Opportunities for Integrated Engineering and Earth Systems Science at Scale Moderator: Costa Samaras, Carnegie Mellon University Riley Duren, University of Arizona Joshua Fu, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Lilia Abron, PEER Consultants, P.C.
3:15 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
3:30 PM	Adjourn

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

Accelerating Integration of the Social Sciences in the Study of Earth System Interactions

This workshop sought feedback from the social science community as well as natural science researchers. Workshop discussion questions included the following: (1) What is the critical role of social science in understanding the Earth system? (2) What is the value of an integrated approach at NSF and the role of social science in studying Earth system interactions? (3) What are current/new exemplars of transdisciplinary research and where are their gaps? (4) What could/should NSF do to accelerate the integration of social science in studies of Earth system interactions? (5) How do we elevate social science?

January 12, 2021

2:00 PM	Welcome and Purpose for the Workshop
2:05 PM	The Critical Role of Social Science in Understanding the Earth Naomi Oreskes, Harvard University
2:20 PM	Panel Conversation: The Value of an Integrated Approach for NSF Moderator: Courtney Flint, Committee Member Naomi Oreskes, Harvard University Crystal Ng, University of Minnesota Arun Agrawal, University of Michigan Susie Crate, George Mason University
2:55 PM	Break
3:00 PM	Discussion with Panelists, Committee, and Audience Moderator: Courtney Flint, Committee Member
3:50 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
4:00 PM	Adjourn

January 19, 2021

2:00 PM

Welcome and Purpose for the Workshop

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

2:05 PM	Exemplars of Transdisciplinary Research Lori Peek, University of Colorado Boulder
2:20 PM	Panel Conversation: Exemplars and Operationalizing Stronger Integration of Social Science in Studies of the Earth Moderator: Melissa Kenney, Committee Member Lori Peek, University of Colorado Boulder Margaret Palmer, SESYNC, University of Maryland Brian O’Neill, Joint Global Change Research Institute Eric Tate, University of Iowa Bilal Butt, University of Michigan
2:55 PM	Break
3:00 PM	Discussion with Panelists, Committee, and Audience Moderator: Melissa Kenney, Committee Member
3:50 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
4:00 PM	Adjourn

Computing, Data, and Cyberinfrastructure for a Systems Approach to Studying the Earth

This workshop incorporated information on computational, data, and analytic support for Earth systems research, including guidance on harnessing existing, planned, and future NSF-supported cyberinfrastructure. The workshops focused on questions such as (1) What limitations and constraints regarding computing, data, and cyberinfrastructure should a vision for a systems approach to studying the Earth be sure to take into account? (2) What are lessons learned from past cyberinfrastructure deployment efforts related to Earth systems research? (3) How do workforce needs for cyberinfrastructure interact with workforce needs for studying Earth systems broadly? (4) How can the social science dimensions of cyberinfrastructure and data management be effectively incorporated? (5) What needs to happen to ensure that computing and analytic capabilities evolve in ways that continue to meet the needs of Earth systems research? and (6) Are there foreseeable gaps and limitations that could be remedied?

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

February 4, 2021

12:00 PM	Welcome and Purpose for the Workshop
12:05 PM	Overview and Stage-Setting Remarks Dan Reed, The University of Utah
12:20 PM	Launching and Sustaining Multi-Stakeholder Consortia to Advance the Cyberinfrastructure in the Geosciences Joel Cutcher Gershenfeld, Brandeis University
12:35 PM	Hydrology, Cyberinfrastructure for Observations Systems Jeffrey Horsburgh, Utah State University
12:50 PM	Seismology, Needs of Subfields Moving Forward Jeroen Tromp, Princeton University
1:05 PM	Discussant Remarks Kerstin Lehnert, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
1:15 PM	Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A Moderator: Courtney Flint, Committee Member and Workshop Organizer
1:55 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
2:00 PM	Adjourn

February 12, 2021

12:00 PM	Welcome and Purpose for the Workshop
12:05 PM	AI for the Earth Bruno Sánchez-Andrade Nuño, Microsoft
12:25 PM	Climate Modeling William Collins, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Tapio Schneider, California Institute of Technology

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

12:55 PM	Lessons Learned from Developing a Comprehensive Cyberinfrastructure for Natural Hazards Ellen Rathje, The University of Texas at Austin
1:10 PM	Workforce Needs Susan Winter, University of Maryland
1:25 PM	Break
1:40 PM	Discussant Inez Fung, Committee Member and Workshop Organizer
1:50 PM	Discussion and Audience Q&A Moderator: Jerry Mitrovica, Committee Member and Workshop Organizer
2:50 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
3:00 PM	Adjourn

Education and Workforce for Earth Systems Science Follow-Up Discussion

This workshop brought together experts to explore issues associated with education and workforce development goals, theory of change, preparing a more equitable Earth Systems Science workforce, and partnerships and collaborations that have been successful in bridging disciplines. It was intended to help wrap-up the series of workshops associated with this committee’s work.

April 16, 2021

11:00 AM	Welcome and Purpose for the Workshop
11:10 AM	Panel 1: Addressing Systemic Issues in Education and Workforce Development for Earth Systems Science Moderator: Melissa Burt, Colorado State University, Committee Member Erika Marín-Spiotta, University of Wisconsin–Madison Marissa Vara and Brandon Jones, NSF Sharon Mosher, The University of Texas at Austin
12:25 PM	Break

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

12:35 PM	Panel 2: Highlighting Programs That Support Earth Systems Sciences Education and Workforce Development Moderator: Kristen St. John, James Madison University, Committee Member Maria Uhle, NSF (Belmont Forum) Clair Hemingway, NSF (Navigating the New Arctic) Lindsay Worthington, University of New Mexico (Scientific Exploration of the Arctic and North Pacific) Brandi Schottel, NSF (Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks)
1:45 PM	Concluding Remarks Travis York, American Association for the Advancement of Science
2:00 PM	Adjourn

In total, more than 400 individuals participated in the workshops. After each workshop, participants were provided with (1) the committee’s vision; (2) a few exemplars, which described a science topic and outlined some of the connections to social science, natural science, engineering, computation, observing and experimental facilities, and education and workforce development; and (3) a questionnaire with the following prompts:

What other input would you like to share with the committee?
What facilities or infrastructure could help support integrated [workshop theme] and Earth science topics?
How can we build a workforce capable of working on integrated Earth science problems?
Please comment on the committee’s vision.
How can the exemplars be improved to accelerate an integrative understanding of Earth systems?

ROUNDTABLES

Roundtable discussions focused on a range of NSF facilities and coordination mechanisms. These included the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), McMurdo Station, Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI), Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE), the Long-Term

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

Ecological Research (LTER) Network, and the Center for Advancement and Synthesis of Open Environmental Data and Sciences. These discussion-focused roundtables provided the committee with an opportunity hear from facilities’ principal investigators, NSF and other program leaders, and scholars, who discussed the key features of their facilities/programs and potential synergistic opportunities. Specifically, speakers addressed the successes, challenges, and barriers that they face, as well as potential next steps toward integrated Earth Systems Science.

May 14, 2021

11:00 AM	Welcome and Purpose of Roundtable
11:10 AM	Remarks from Panelists Diane McKnight, University of Colorado Boulder, Chair of the LTER Science Council Matthew Kane, NSF Program Director for the Center for Advancement and Synthesis of Open Environmental Data and Sciences John Towns, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, PI of XSEDE as well as Miron Livny, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Frank Wuerthwein, University of California, San Diego; Henry Neeman, University of Oklahoma
11:45 AM	Open Discussion and Q&A with Committee Members
12:50 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
1:00 PM	Adjourn

May 28, 2021

11:00 AM	Welcome and Purpose of Roundtable
11:10 AM	Remarks from Panelists Everette Joseph, NCAR Director Vladimir Papitashvili, NSF Program Director for Astrophysics & Geospace Sciences and Jessie Crain, Antarctic Research Support Manager (McMurdo) John Trowbridge, WHOI, OOI PI and Paul Matthias, WHOI, OOI Program Manager

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

	Roland Roberts, NSF Program Director for NEON and Kate Thibault, Battelle Lead Research Scientist for NEON Joy Pauschke, NSF Program Directorfor NHERI
12:00 PM	Open Discussion and Q&A with Committee Members
12:50 PM	Wrap Up and Closing Remarks
1:00 PM	Adjourn

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE

A questionnaire intended to gather insights on the breadth and scope of Earth systems research was distributed to a wide audience via newsletters and listservs. The questionnaire was also shared with many National Academies boards and committees, email distribution lists, scientific societies, blogs, and online networks. Recipients were asked the following questions:

Give 3 examples of urgent research questions that need to be addressed to understand how the Earth system works.
Provide 3 benefits that will be derived from expanding our systems approach to Earth science.
What new science or technological advances are enabling new approaches for tackling Earth Systems Science questions?
What are the 3 biggest barriers to achieving a systems approach for Earth science at NSF?
Provide an example of an interdisciplinary, integrative, exciting research project that serves as a successful example of a systems approach to Earth science.
Provide examples of NSF facilities, infrastructure, and/or other coordinating mechanisms that are currently (or could possibly be) leveraged for a systems approach to Earth science. Are there any underutilized items?
Provide an example of success in computation, data, and/or analytic support in Earth system research.
How might NSF improve computational, data, and analytic support for systematic approaches to Earth Systems Science?
Provide an example of success or an approach with proven outcomes in training and/or workforce development in Earth systems research.

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.

What are the new approaches to support the education and training of an inclusive and diverse workforce that will be needed to advance Earth systems research?
Are there any additional comments you would like to share with the committee?

A total of 149 responses were received from researchers covering a wide range of topics and disciplines. The committee considered the questionnaire responses during its deliberations. The anonymized responses are available in the Public Access File for this study.

Page 112 Cite

Suggested Citation: "Appendix A: Summary of Outreach Efforts." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Next Generation Earth Systems Science at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26042.