AccelNet-Implementation: Crustal Ocean Biosphere Research Accelerator (COBRA)

深海海底覆盖了地球三分之二的表面积，但人们对深海生态系统和资源以及这些生态系统承受人类冲击的能力的了解有限。深海采矿和碳封存等人类用途将从根本上改变海底和周围环境的物理、化学和生物条件。这些活动有可能与底层捕捞和其他人类影响对深海的负面影响相抗衡，但缺乏通报和评估这些新产业影响的科学。地壳海洋生物圈研究加速器(COBRA)项目通过虚拟会议将不同的利益攸关方和专家--跨学科的学术和政府科学家、私营机构、决策者、行业专家和其他利益攸关方--联系起来，以协调努力。其目标是产生与深海紧急工业用途有关的新知识并为决策提供信息，减少对环境造成严重损害的可能性，同时保持社会目前享有的广泛利益。眼镜蛇网络网络有九个关键合作伙伴，它们提供国际科学和地壳海洋勘探资产(海洋探索信托基金、施密特海洋研究所、加拿大海洋网络、MARUM海底集群和C-DeepSea)，向决策者(深海管理倡议工作组，包括挑战者150计划)、向负责评估地壳海洋资源的政府组织(USGS全球海洋矿产小组)提供基于科学的建议，以及团队科学(学分计划)方面的专家。眼镜蛇将这些合作伙伴团结在一个共同的使命中，加快对地壳海洋生物圈的结构、功能、复原力和生态系统服务的研究，为决策提供信息。眼镜蛇将通过促进专门和协调的考察和观测工作，结合紧急定性方法，帮助弥合知识差距。与此同时，眼镜蛇将通过创新的虚拟探险领导力培训，在海洋探索、科学和政策方面培训至少50名分布在全球的早期研究人员，并支持20多个国际研究交流，促进团队科学合作、多样性、公平和包容性。眼镜蛇还将建立一个基于网络的搜索门户网站，指向存放在适当的国际可访问数据库中的所有数据类型，以促进数据发现和加速知识转移与合作。通过国际网络到网络合作加速研究(AccelNet)计划旨在加快科学发现的进程，并为多团队国际合作培养下一代美国研究人员。AccelNet计划支持美国研究网络和海外互补网络之间的战略联系，这些网络将利用研究和教育资源来应对需要重大国际协调努力的重大科学挑战。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The deep seafloor covers two-thirds of Earth’s surface area, but there is limited understanding of the deep-ocean ecosystems and resources and the ability of these ecosystems to withstand human impacts. Human uses such as deep-sea mining and carbon sequestration are poised to fundamentally alter physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the seafloor and surrounding environments. These activities have the potential to rival negative effects from bottom fishing and other human impacts to the deep sea, yet the science to inform and evaluate the impacts of these new industries is lacking. The Crustal Ocean Biosphere Research Accelerator (COBRA) project connects diverse stakeholders and experts – interdisciplinary academic and government scientists, private institutions, policy makers, industry experts and other stakeholders – through virtual meetings to coordinate efforts. The goal is to generate new knowledge and inform decision-making relating to emergent industrial uses of the deep ocean and decrease the likelihood of serious harm to the environment while maintaining the broad benefits that society currently enjoys.The COBRA network of networks has nine key partners that bring access to international science and crustal ocean exploration assets (Ocean Exploration Trust, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Ocean Networks Canada, Cluster Ocean Floor at MARUM, and C-DeepSea), to experts that provide science-based recommendations to policy makers (Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative working groups, including the Challenger 150 program), to governmental groups responsible for assessing crustal ocean resources (USGS Global Marine Minerals Group), and to experts in team science (CREDITS program). COBRA unites these partners in a common mission to accelerate research on the structure, function, resilience, and ecosystem services of the crustal ocean biosphere to inform decision making. COBRA will help to close knowledge gaps by facilitating dedicated and coordinated expedition and observatory efforts combined with emergent characterization approaches. In parallel, COBRA will train at least 50 globally distributed early-career researchers in ocean exploration, science, and policy through innovative virtual expedition leadership training and support two dozen international research exchanges that promote team science collaboration, diversity, equity, and inclusivity. COBRA will also establish a web-based search portal that points to all data types deposited in appropriate internationally accessible data repositories to promote data discovery and accelerate knowledge transfer and collaboration.The Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) program is designed to accelerate the process of scientific discovery and prepare the next generation of U.S. researchers for multiteam international collaborations. The AccelNet program supports strategic linkages among U.S. research networks and complementary networks abroad that will leverage research and educational resources to tackle grand scientific challenges that require significant coordinated international efforts.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.