Strategic Plan review page

From Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP)
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Members of the Strategic Planning Working Group are invited to post their comments related to the progress made during the period 2004-2007. The last Strategic Plan's Goals and Strategies are posted below.

WOW... editing a table on the wiki is not as straightforward as one might like... perhaps we should consider another CMS for this kind of activity... hmmmm [BC]

Goal Strategy Accomplished Comments
Be the primary facilitator, coordinating body and advisor to promote the use of Earth science data and information. Who decides that the Federation is the 'primary facilitator'? 'Coordinating body and advisor' to whom? [WCL]|
Provide strong leadership for the Earth science data and information community. Yes – established stronger ties to ES agencies (NASA, NOAA, EPA) and provided a forum for interagency dialogue to advance field; Became an observer to GEO; became active in supporting applications & societal benefits clusters; {ESIP organization also allows/promotes leadership to emerge from within the community [BC]} Not sure what GEO is referring to in above sentence-do you mean GEOSS? [JLM]
Develop a long-range planning capability that proactively positions the Federation to influence the evolution of future Earth science data systems and their use. {How is "influence" built and supported by the membership? For the leadership of the Federation to speak for its members we need to have much stronger internal communication [bc] I think this is what we are trying to do right now with this strategic planning exercise so this is not done [JLM]}
Promote the efficient integration and flow of Earth science data from collection and analysis to end-use. {We have the whole range of players in the room, so the task is to facilitate the links, fill the gaps, find the funding to patch the problems [bc] ...and also make sure we don't have conflicts within our membership over pursuing funding opportunities[JLM]}
Encourage the development, testing, promotion and dissemination of interoperable systems. Yes – Facilitated linkages between NASA and NOAA on metadata standards, operationalized portal for info dissemination. I think we need to either develop a better metric here or reword this goal-facilitating linkages how? [JLM]
Position the Federation as an organization on the cutting edge of developing technologies that aid the discovery and sharing of scientific data, information, and knowledge for Earth science purposes. Yes – Formed Semantic Web & Web Services Clusters, IT&I Committee-sponsored workshops at semi-annual meetings, co-locating some NASA DSWG meetings at ESIP meetings; support to USGEO NTOs through clusters {do we want to devote resources in the future for actual technology research or are we better suited to remaining as a facilitator of committees?[JLM]
Improve the quality and usability of Earth science data and information systems. {The education folks have been improving the quality of metadata for education [bc] but I haven't seen any evidence that any other improvements are occuring as a result of ESIP activities [JLM]}
Facilitate user input into data and information systems. No-Maybe – limited success by AQ & Water Mgt Clusters {"end users" are a problem for the Federation... each ESIP has its own users and should be concerned with their needs... as an "organizations of organizations" we might want to focus on common technologies and practices that can help individual ESIPs deal with their users, rather than try to bring in flocks of end users directly [bc]I personally still find these science cluster meetings/activities to be somewhat disjointed and without clear goals established - wearing my ESIP member hat I can say that I'm never sure exactly what we are supposed to be doing when in one of these cluster meetings..however, I wasn't able to attend the January meeting so if this has improved, you can disregard my comment [JLM]}
Develop and implement a mechanism for assessing data quality. {we could certainly develop a scientist-based rating system for data, I know Peter Cornillon has contemplated a "Peter's Picks" for ocean data.[bc]} {Maybe we want to pursue the notion that Chris has been promoting that the understanding of the data is more than just knowing how to get it and use it [ch]}
Improve the discovery, ordering and acquisition of data products through proliferation of successful data and information systems and the capabilities they offer. Yes-EIE portlets for specific topics are operational but still limited.
Increase the use of Earth science data and information.
Advance Earth system science by providing data and information to relevant scientific disciplines. Yes in the applied sciences through clusters and Shenandoah testbed. I'd like to hear more about what is actually happening in the Shenandoah case-[JLM]
Establish the Federation as an important resource for networking with other scientists, learning about new technologies, presenting research, and pursuing funding opportunities. Yes, the ESIP Federation has been linking partners and others together to pursue collaborative projects. We have been co-I on several applications. In addition, NOAA’s Climate Program Office is engaging us to link science & technology to climate stakeholders through RISA. {If nothing else we have definitely accomplished this![JLM]}
Incorporate Earth science data into Earth system science education. Yes, ESIP Federation partners continue to infuse data into educational materials. Leadership from TERC on educational data access involves many ESIP partners.
Incorporate Earth science data into operations and decision support systems. Yes, AQ and Water Management Clusters & the formation of Carbon Cluster.
Expand public awareness about the importance and value of Earth science and Earth science information systems.
Conduct a targeted public awareness campaign about how data generated by Federation members can be used to understand the Earth’s environment. Yes, limited – published Observations (stories brochure) in 2005 {Are these on the website? [ch]}
Market Federation partners’ products and services. Yes, ESIP Federation Education Center and EIE portlets. Also, connection to GOS ESIP Federation community
Target new members selectively and encourage active involvement and retention of current members.
Develop an effective internal communications program to inform members about Federation operations, member updates, opportunities for collaboration, funding and other Federation support services. Yes, 30 new members were added during 2004-2007; began distributing digest of grant opportunities at meetings; provided more breakout time for networking/collaboration that is member-driven
Facilitate collaboration and networking among Federation members. Yes, provided more breakout time for networking/collaboration that is member-driven; developed system to track partner expertise to be used as a collaboration finder
Solidify a stable funding base for the Federation and the Earth science data management and information community.
Create an effective resource development program for the Federation. Well…diversified to include NOAA & progress toward EPA has been made.