Projects

Analysis of Global Change Assessments

This committee will seek to identify lessons learned from past assessments to guide future global change assessment activities of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). The study will be approached in two steps.
1. The committee will conduct a comparative analysis of past assessments that have stated objectives similar to those of the CCSP. Specifically, the committee will examine the strengths and weaknesses of selected past assessments in the following areas:
a. establishing clear rationales and appropriate institutional structures;
b. designing and scheduling assessment activities;
c. involving the scientific community and other relevant experts in the preparation and review of assessment products;
d. engaging the potential users of assessment products;
e. accurately and effectively communicating scientific knowledge, uncertainty, and confidence limits;
f. guiding plans for future global change research activities, including observation, monitoring, and modeling of past and future changes; and
g. creating assessment products that are valued by their target audiences.
2. The committee will identify approaches (in terms of geographic scale, scope, assessment entity, and timing) and products that are most effective for meeting the CCSP's stated objectives for assessments.

Committee Membership

Dr. Guy P. Brasseur (Chair), National Center for Atmospheric Research
Dr. Eric J. Barron, Pennsylvania State University
Ambassador Richard Benedick, Joint Global Change Research Institute
Dr. William L. Chameides, Environmental Defense
Dr. Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University
Ms. Katharine L. Jacobs, Arizona Water Institute
Dr. Patricia Romero Lankao, Autonomous Metropolitan University
Dr. Mack McFarland, DuPont Fluoroproducts
Dr. Harold A. Mooney, Stanford University
Dr. Ravi V. Nathan, ACE USA Global Weather
Dr. Edward A. Parson, University of Michigan
Dr. Richard Richels, Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.

Board Liaison:
Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, University of Michigan

Study Schedule

February 27-28, 2006: 1st meeting (Washington, DC).
March 30-31, 2006: 2nd meeting (Washington, DC).
May 25-26, 2006: 3rd meeting (Washington, DC)
August 15-17, 2006: 4th meeting (Boulder)
September 21-22, 2006: 5th meeting (location TBD)
January, 2007: Deliver report to CCSP and conduct briefings (Prepublication available)
April, 2007: Published report available.