NCAR

1. ISSE NCAR Climate Variability, Climate Change, and Western Water Kathleen A. Miller Environmental and Societal Impacts Group National Center for Atmospheric Research Climate-Ecosystem-Land Use Investigations of the dynamics of, and climate impacts on, human-dominatedsystems Feedbacks between natural systems and climate change

2. ISSE NCAR Climate-Ecosystem-Land Use Natural systems harbor crucial biodiversity, which provide essential ecosystem services

3. ISSE NCAR Use of Scientific Information in Decision Processes A better understanding of the interactions between science and information users is the basis for “science in the service of society.”

4. ISSE NCAR Scientific Information in Decision Processes Why this focus? • Potentially useful science often fails to benefit society because it does not link well with societal decisions • Bridging this gap requires • Fundamental research how the use of scientific information • Action-oriented research to integrate knowledge in specific decision contexts

5. ISSE NCAR Carbon cycle science Scientific Information in Decision Processes • Examples • Floods • Air pollution • Water resources • Early warning systems • Public and private use and value of weather information • Scales of carbon governance Societal Impacts and Economic Benefits of Weather Information

6. ISSE NCAR Other Knowledge Other Disciplines Societal Issues Physical Science Societal Issues Other Knowledge Other Disciplines Scientific Information in Decision Processes Facilitating a paradigm shift … Society Society Physical Science Society

7. ISSE NCAR Tools and Methods for Collaborative Learning and Problem-Solving By developing and applying computer-based learning and discovery tools we can facilitate problem-solving in integrated human-natural systems.

8. ISSE NCAR Learning & Problem-Solving Tools Why this focus? • Modeling and simulation tools help link human activity and atmospheric/environmental research • Decision-support tools are one way to make NCAR research usable • Collaborative tools help bidirectional information flow between science and decision-makers

9. ISSE NCAR Learning & Problem-Solving Tools • Disaster Dynamics: Hurricane Landfall Game • Educational Computer Game (role-playing) • Teaches future emergency managers • Systems Thinking • Human-Environment Interactions • Negotiation • Collaboration • Decision-Making under Uncertainty

10. ISSE NCAR Learning & Problem-Solving Tools • Other Examples • Customer Choice CO2 Calculator • Digital Library on Societal Impacts • Extremes Toolkit • GHG Wizard • Swiki • Climate Strategies Simulation

11. ISSE Making Connections NCAR E&O Unidata COMET

12. ISSE NCAR ISSE – Its National Center Role • Widening networks, serving the research community • Participation and leadership in international and national organization, scientific activities • Innovation, integration • Education and capacity-building • Establishing regular colloquia, workshops • Strategic educational alliances • Interdisciplinary education and curricula

13. ISSE NCAR Moving Forward – Support Needs • Establish structures that facilitate and reward problem-oriented, interdisciplinary research • Develop mechanisms to prioritize problems • Develop a coordinated hiring and visitor program • Provide strong IT and administrative support

14. ISSE NCAR Moving Forward – Support Needs • Increase funding • Remove obstacles • Funding for large collaborations • Provide early career support • Growing scientific leaders • Mentoring • Facilitate cohesion and teamwork • Creative ideas? • Organizational consulting?

15. ISSE NCAR “There is nothing inevitable about better futures. We have to create them.”James Ogilvy,GBN, 2002 Thanks to Joanie, Lisa, Olga, Susi, Rebecca M., Eric, Seth, Linda, Rebecca H., Rick, Kathy, DJan, Bob, Mickey, Dave, and Vicki … for helping to put together this presentation.