2009 SEARCH SSC Meeting Agenda

• SEARCH Science Steering Committee Meeting
• 5–6 November 2009
• Washington Plaza Hotel
• Franklin Room, Lobby Level
• 10 Thomas Circle, NW
• Washington, D.C.
• Final Agenda

Welcome, Introductions, and Overview of SEARCH Activities and Status

• (Presentation: 11.7 MB - PPT)
• Peter Schlosser
• Chair, SEARCH Science Steering Committee
• Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Observing Change

SEARCH Observing Change: Activities, Plans, and Needs

• (Presentation: 2.5 MB - PPT)
• Hajo Eicken
• Observing Change Panel (OCP) Chair

• Update on funded observing projects, AON Design and Implementation activities
• Discussion of what is needed to expand AON beyond NSF-funded AON projects:
  (1) overlapping vision for AON,
  (2) coordination with other agencies,
  (3) stakeholder involvement
• OCP Membership: Craig Lee & Taneil Uttal as new co-chairs, other member rotation
• Needs for multi-agency cooperation
• Other SSC suggestions for Observing Change needs or next steps

Understanding Change

Overview of SEARCH Understanding Change Activities, Plans, and Needs

• SEARCH and ARCSS Integration and Understanding Change Task Force
• Coordination with observing activities and AON Design and Implementation (ADI)
• Needs for multi-agency cooperation
• Other SSC suggestions for Observing Change needs or next steps

Responding to Change

Brief dicusssion on how to move forward implementation

• Need for workshop to articulate science and implementation needs for SEARCH “Responding” component?
• Responding to Change panel – what activities should they undertake? Reconstitute membership?
• Needs for multi-agency cooperation
• Other activities needed for Responding to Change?

Data Management

SEARCH Data Advisory Group

• (Presentation: 24 K - PPT)
• Steve Oberbauer (via phone), Data Group Chair

• Update on activities and plans

State of the Arctic

State of the Arctic Conference

• Update on status
• SSC recommendations for outcomes and products

SEARCH Science Highlight

SEARCH Sea Ice Outlook

• (Presentation: 2.4 MB - PPT)
• James Overland (via phone)
• Hajo Eicken

• SSC recommendations for next year and/or post-season activities

Implementing SEARCH through Multi-Agency Cooperation

• Neil Swanberg
• National Science Foundation (NSF), Chair, IPMC

1) Overview of Interagency Program Management Committee (IPMC) Activities       
Each IPMC agency will be given the opportunity to address, very briefly, its agency activities, priorities, and plans for implementing SEARCH. This can focus internally, on the agency or on interagency cooperation. The SEARCH SSC is interested in the following questions:

• What are the recent or current activities your agency has undertaken that it considers a contribution to SEARCH?
• What future activities does your agency have planned that may serve as a contribution to SEARCH?
• What does your agency view as the key priorities, needs, or next steps for multi-agency cooperation, towards full implementation of SEARCH?

2) Discussion on Multi-Agency Cooperation to Advance SEARCH Science
SEARCH is shifting from planning to implementation, changing the way panels are working (ADI, ARCSS-Understanding), and about to acquire a much more robust infrastructure to support its activities. Given these changes, all occurring at a time when there is increased focus on arctic change, this is an appropriate time to take a hard look at SEARCH, its structure, how we are supporting it, how the agencies are serving SEARCH and how SEARCH serves agency needs.

• How can SEARCH provide what agencies need for their mission?
• How can agencies help SEARCH do that, both in terms of setting goals and providing support in terms of money, people, resources?

3) Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)
Each agency will be asked to relate how influential the IARPC process is to its decision-making and how the IARPC Principals representing the agency respond to decisions taken at their meetings.
Discussion of IARPC AON subcommittee and its relationship to IPMC. There is also a new informal interagency committee on Understanding that did not derive from IARPC. How should these committees interact with the IPMC? Do we still need the IPMC?

4) SAON - John Calder
Discussion of the SAON process and the plans for a meeting of agency officials during the SOA. 

• Objectives of the meeting
• Suggestions that might improve the agenda

Review of Thursday’s Discussions, Today's Items

Related National Programs

Freshwater Integration program

• (Presentation: 3 MB - PPT)
• Charles Vörösmarty

• Update on results, activities, plans
• Discussion on linkages with SEARCH and how to integrate or coordinate with SEARCH activities?

Bering Ecosystem Study (BEST) / Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (BSIERP)

• William Wiseman, NSF

• Update on results, activities, plans
• Discussion on linkages with SEARCH and how to integrate or coordinate with SEARCH activities?

International Coordination

Developing Arctic Modeling and Observing Capabilities for Long-term Environmental Studies (DAMOCLES)

• (Presentation: 52 KB - PPT)
• Jean-Claude Gascard (Via phone)

• Update on status, activities, and plans
• Future opportunities and steps for SEARCH-DAMOCLES coordination

ArcticNet Activities and Plans

• (Presentation: 19.9 MB - PPT)
• Martin Fortier (via phone)

• Update on status, activities, and plans
• Areas of cooperation with SEARCH for MOU

International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC)

• (Presentation: 13.3 MB - PDF)
• Maribeth Murray
• International Arctic Research Center

• Update on status, activities, and plans
• Discussion on coordination with SEARCH, and transition to SEARCH as a U.S. program under ISAC

Discussion of SEARCH and OPERA

Other Business

• SSC Membership
• Panel Membership
• SSC Charge and Activities

Review of Next Steps in SEARCH Planning and Implementation

Review and final discussion: Next steps, action items, and timelines: