AccelNet-Design: Designing a Water, Data, and Systems Science Network of Networks to Catalyze Transboundary Groundwater Resiliency Research.

跨界含水层是各国共享的重要资源，而这些国家往往有着不同的科学理解和管理方法。地下水正在以前所未有的方式枯竭，这种枯竭在跨界含水层中愈演愈烈。这个AccelNet设计跟踪项目创建了一个新的国际网络网络，将美国和国际水文学、社会科学、数据科学和系统科学网络连接起来，建立一种新的跨界地下水弹性研究方法。该项目解决了一个关键的知识缺口：为什么会发生跨界地下水枯竭，如何才能扭转这种情况？尽管以前曾试图理解这个基本问题，但它在很大程度上仍未得到解答。该项目的成果将为这种超越学科思维的新方法奠定基础，以理解地下水枯竭的原因以及如何改变。加深对系统动态的了解的最终影响可能是变革性的：改善饮用水的获取，跨界地下水资源的可持续性，加强水安全，增加透明度和信任，降低冲突风险。该设计项目将连接跨界地下水系统数据驱动系统动力学建模所必需的网络。这些新的联系将为跨界地下水弹性研究提供基础设施，并提供概念上的进步，下一代水科学家领导人可以在未来的基础上继续发展。这种新方法认为，确定关键数据和系统驱动因素将在促进跨界地下水系统变革的研究方面取得重大进展。该项目的目标是：1)促进跨界地下水弹性研究，以解决地下水短缺及其对自然和社会的影响；2)确定融合方法的能力，以确定关键问题并填补知识和资源方面的关键空白；3)支持学生和早期职业研究人员的发展，他们将领导下一代协作整合水、数据和系统科学，以解决跨界地下水短缺问题。这套虚拟活动包括年度研讨会、两年一次的协调会议、同侪指导、免费的在线跨界水模型课程，以及为成员提供的强大而活跃的交流论坛。该设计项目将使用调查来评估活动的质量并记录所吸取的经验教训。通过国际网络对网络合作加速研究（AccelNet）计划旨在加速科学发现的进程，并为下一代美国研究人员进行多团队国际合作做好准备。AccelNet项目支持美国研究网络与国外互补网络之间的战略联系，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。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

Transboundary aquifers serve as vital resources shared between countries that oftentimes have distinctive scientific understandings and management approaches. Groundwater is being depleted in an unprecedented way that is intensified in transboundary aquifers. This AccelNet design-track project creates a new international network of networks that connects U.S. and international networks of hydrology, social science, data science, and systems science to establish a novel transboundary groundwater resiliency research approach. The project addresses a key knowledge gap: Why is transboundary groundwater depletion happening and how can it be reversed? Despite previous attempts to understand this fundamental question, it remains largely unanswered. Outcomes from this project will set the foundation for this novel approach that transcends disciplinary thinking to understand why groundwater depletion occurs and how it can be changed. The ultimate impacts of the increased understanding of the systems’ dynamics could be transformational: improved access to drinking water, sustainability of transboundary groundwater resources, enhanced water security, increased transparency and trust, and lower risk of conflicts.This design project will link the networks essential to data-driven system dynamics modeling of transboundary groundwater systems. These new linkages will enable the infrastructure for transboundary groundwater resilience research and deliver conceptual advances that the next generation of water scientist leaders can build on in the future. The novel approach posits that identifying key data and system drivers would make significant progress towards producing research that catalyzes transformative change for transboundary groundwater systems. Objectives of the project are to: 1) catalyze transboundary ground water resilience research to address groundwater scarcity and its natural and societal impacts, 2) identify the capabilities of the convergence approach to determine key questions and fill critical gaps in knowledge and resources, and 3) support the development of students and early-career researchers who will lead the next generation to collaboratively integrate water, data, and systems science to address transboundary groundwater scarcity. The suite of virtual activities includes annual workshops, biannual coordination meetings, peer mentoring, a free online transboundary water modeling course, and a strong and active communication forum for the members. This design project will use surveys to evaluate the quality of the activities and document the lessons learned.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.