New Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences at the National Science Foundation

自从十年前NRC发布了“地球科学的基础研究机会”报告以来，地质科学发生了很大的变化。这个名为“美国国家科学基金会的地球科学新研究机会”的新项目，目标和方法与之前的研究相同，将确定并建议美国国家科学基金会EAR的下一代基础研究机会。将要求一个专家委员会就新的研究机会达成协商一致意见，并将通过发表的文献、委员会会议上科学家的投入以及在主要地球科学会议上举行的专题讨论会，例如AGU和GSA的年度会议，来协助其审议。地球科学家倾向于在专门的分支学科中从事高度具体的项目。这些项目背后的基本研究问题通常是用技术术语暗示或陈述的。这将是一个挑战，超越这些分支学科，发展下一代的研究机会，可能推动整个领域。这项研究将通过精心挑选一个地球科学专家委员会来克服这一挑战。委员会成员将是受人尊敬的个人，他们以广泛思考和超越个人专业而闻名。其中一些人将成为美国国家科学院的成员。这份报告更广泛的影响是向包括国会议员、大学管理人员和普通公众在内的非专业人士传达地球科学的重要性。这些小组的成员可能对地球科学的复杂性和令人兴奋的事情没有深刻的理解。NRC最终报告的广泛传播可能会增加该领域的知名度和资金。

Much has changed in the geological sciences since the NRC's report "Basic Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences" which started ten years ago. This new project, "New Earth Science Research Opportunities at the National Science Foundation," has the same objectives and will use the same methods as the previous study to identify and make recommendations about the next generation of basic research opportunities at the NSF's EAR. A committee of experts will be asked to come to a consensus on new research opportunities and it will be aided in its deliberations by published literature, input from scientists at committee meetings, as well as through symposia held at major Earth science meetings, e.g., annual meetings of the AGU and GSA. Earth scientists tend to work on highly specific projects in specialized subdisciplines. The fundamental research questions underlying these projects are often implied or stated in technical terms. It will be challenging to think beyond these subdisciplines to develop the next generation of research opportunities likely to drive the field as a whole. This study will seek to overcome this challenge by careful choice of a committee of experts in the Earth sciences. Committee members will be well-respected individuals who have a reputation of thinking broadly and beyond their individual specialties. Some will be members of the National Academy of Sciences. The broader impact of this report is to communicate the importance of Earth science to nonspecialists, including members of Congress, university administrators, and the general public. Members of these groups may not have a sophisticated understanding of the complexity and excitement of Earth science. A wide dissemination of the final NRC report may increase the visibility of and funding for the field.