Future directions for synthesis in ecological and environmental science: Learning from the past 25 years to chart the next generation of synthesis

生态学和环境科学的综合实践现在通常用于解决许多最紧迫的科学和社会环境研究问题。大数据的快速增长正在加速综合方面的进步，为新的研究问题、学科、观点和数据技术创造了新的机会，以应对各种生态和环境挑战。该奖项将支持一个研讨会，旨在反思综合科学的现状，并通过促进广泛和趋同的话语来探索生态综合中的新需求，机遇和前沿。一个多元化的科学家社区将共同确定优先研究方向，并制定未来十年的研究议程，其中包括大胆的新思维和战略优先级。在这个综合研讨会上，一个由近100名专家组成的多学科，多元化的小组将在加州圣巴巴拉召开，集思广益的机会和需求，并为生态和环境科学的综合制定前瞻性议程。参与者将参加夏雷特式的分组会议，分享结构化的想法，重点是扩展思维与成果目标。全体讨论将穿插进行，主旨发言人的选择将优先考虑多项措施的多样性，特别是性别平等和职业阶段的代表性。研讨会将讨论一系列与环境科学综合未来相关的主题，包括生态预测，综合网络基础设施，数据驱动的保护决策，人工智能（AI）在生态学中的作用和未来，与利益相关者共同生产综合科学，以及综合在社会生态系统研究中的作用，促进多样性和包容性。在研讨会结束时，这些想法将被综合成一份关于生态和环境综合科学前沿的同行评审出版物，以向更广泛的受众传达重要的见解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

The practice of synthesis in ecology and environmental science is now routinely used to address many of the most pressing scientific and societal environmental research questions. The rapid growth in big data is accelerating advances in synthesis, creating new opportunities for novel research questions, disciplines, perspectives, and data techniques to address a variety of ecological and environmental challenges. This award will support a workshop aimed at reflecting on the current status of synthesis science and exploring emerging needs, opportunities and frontiers in ecological synthesis by facilitating expansive and convergent discourse. A diverse community of scientists will collectively identify priority research directions and develop a research agenda for the next decade that incorporates bold new thinking and strategic prioritization.In this synthesis workshop, a multidisciplinary, diverse group of nearly 100 experts will convene in Santa Barbara, CA to brainstorm opportunities and needs and produce a forward-looking agenda for synthesis in ecology and environmental science. Participants will engage in charrette-style breakout sessions of structured idea sharing that focus on expansive thinking with an outcome objective. Plenary discussions will be interspersed, and the selection of keynote speakers will prioritize diversity across a number of measures, particularly gender equity and career stage representation. The workshop will address a range of topics that are relevant to the future of synthesis in environmental science including ecological forecasting, cyberinfrastructure for synthesis, data-driven conservation decision making, the role and future of artificial intelligence (AI) in ecology, coproduction of synthesis science with stakeholders, and the role of synthesis in social-ecological systems research and promoting diversity and inclusion. At the conclusion of the workshop, ideas will be synthesized into a peer-reviewed publication on the frontiers of ecological and environmental synthesis science to communicate important insights to a broader audience.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.