Creating a Community of Practice through scientific teams and support: NASA Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) and Arctic Boreal and Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)

Abstract:

This talk brings examples from two existing programs on how the AGU can practically advance scientific discovery and address societal challenges simultaneously. Evaluating 521 research papers produced through support from NASA, we show the thematic diversity of research themes and methods used in the CMS and ABoVE programs. We found that the support and engagement provided by NASA through funding, website building, organizing meetings and providing direct and continuous support to encourage stakeholder engagement has engendered a vibrant and active social network and community of practice across the CMS and ABoVE programs. Although significant effort has been made to create and distribute satellite-derived data products in both programs, more work is needed in documenting the use of these data products and their impact on policy and decision making to result in significant societal impact. To create the most useful information, data products need to be created using repeated, iterative feedback from stakeholders. Efforts to engage with scholars across multiple fields, such as decision science, political science, legal fields and others would enhance the AGU's ability to ensure both scientific advancement and societal impact.