GeoPRISMS - a Decadal Framework to Support Strong Interdisciplinary Science and a Vibrant Diverse Community

Abstract:

GeoPRISMS (www.geoprisms.org) is a unique NSF-funded research program that brings together scientists with different backgrounds and perspectives to develop a holistic understanding of the origin and evolution of continental margins through focused studies that cross the shoreline. By bridging the Earth and Ocean Sciences, traditional research platforms, and scientific cultures, GeoPRISMS enables substantial progress on long-standing scientific questions about Earth’s most active tectonic, mass transfer, and sedimentary systems, all relevant to geohazards affecting population centers.

Essential to the success of the program, GeoPRISMS is managed by an office whose core missions are to support the community of scientists engaged in GeoPRISMS research and disseminate new findings to a wide audience, including the broad geoscience community, educators, policymakers, and general public. Activities facilitated by the office have been particularly effective at engaging students and early career researchers and contribute to building a diverse, gender-balanced group of investigators.

GeoPRISMS is now coming to completion and its community is actively synthesizing 10 years of science results. As part of this effort, the office is developing a series of legacy products that will help build upon and advance the GeoPRISMS Community; these legacy products will be outlined in the first part of this presentation. The second part will provide a critical review of the GeoPRISMS research program model, highlighting the successes and challenges of such an interdisciplinary community-driven initiative, with the ultimate goal of building a long-term template to be used by other science communities within and outside of Earth Sciences.

The GeoPRISMS Office is supported by the National Science Foundation under the grant 1606738.