For those submitting a proposal in response to this NSF “Dear Colleague Letter <https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19031/nsf19031.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click>” re: Research Coordination Networks (RCNs) for driving convergent science with NEON -- the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis ( NCEAS <https://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/>) encourages all applicants to consider leveraging NCEAS' facilities and expertise for related synthesis working group meetings and activities.
As the DCL makes clear, RCN awards “will provide collaborative opportunities for NEON-enabled science communities to synthesize investigations of key ecological problems, ideas, and practices.” To that end, these awards can include funds devoted to convening research working group meetings at NCEAS <https://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/files/AboutNCEAS/NEON_NCEAS_Jan2019.pdf>, plus related activities. For 24 years, NCEAS has led and hosted collaborative synthesis research projects that tackle longstanding ecological and environmental problems at regional, continental and global scales. It remains the world’s premier synthesis science center for ecological research, and can help successful RCN projects manage collaborative open science activities in support of the DCL’s five listed science priorities. Meetings that take place at NCEAS will gain access to: 1. State-of-the-art analytical infrastructure and networked meeting space to support the in-person (and virtual) meetings required for successful RCN proposals 2. Working group research methods honed to maximize meeting effectiveness 3. On-site expertise in environmental data science and informatics 4. Training programs and related activities that can help meet the proposal requirement to “build the next generation of scientists involved in NEON-enabled science” 5. Administrative and logistical support for all travel and lodging related to working group meetings For more information about how to include research activities at NCEAS in your RCN proposal funding request, please contact NCEAS Director Ben Halpern (halp...@nceas.ucsb.edu) and/or Deputy Director Geoff Willard ( will...@nceas.ucsb.edu). Geoff Willard Deputy Director, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis ( nceas.ucsb.edu) Deputy Director, Science for Nature and People Partnership ( snappartnership.net) 735 State Street, Suite 300 | Santa Barbara, CA 93101 will...@nceas.ucsb.edu <fre...@nceas.ucsb.edu> | 805 893-7551
