Where are we now and where are we going? : Where are we now and where are we going? “…in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.”
Rachel Carson
A Troubled River Mirrors China’s Path to Modernity By JIM YARDLEY The polluted Yellow River is being sucked dry by factories, growing cities and farming — with still more growth planned. : Annan Faults ‘Frightening Lack of Leadership’ for Global Warming
By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan also said the poorest people in the world bear the brunt of rising temperatures. A Troubled River Mirrors China’s Path to Modernity By JIM YARDLEY The polluted Yellow River is being sucked dry by factories, growing cities and farming — with still more growth planned. For Clues on Climate, Seeing What Packrats Kept
By ELIZABETH SVOBODA
Published: November 14, 2006
Geoffrey Spaulding and Kenneth L. Cole lifted off from a high plateau in the Grand Canyon, their helicopter laden with so many packrat nests that it could barely climb. Reforestation and Deforestation
Published: November 20, 2006
Almost anyone who lives in the rural Northeast can attest that the forest has expanded its range in the past century. That is why all those stone walls — the edges of cleared fields once upon a time — are now orphaned deep in the woods. A new study published by the National Academy of Sciences and based on a recent international assessment of forests confirms that reforestation has become a widespread pattern in well-off countries and also in a few that are not so well off. Black Soot and Asthma
Published: November 19, 2006
New York has some of the worst rates of asthma in the nation. Chemical Burns
By ARLENE BLUM
Published: November 19, 2006
THIRTY years ago, as a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, I published papers in Science magazine calling for the ban of brominated and chlorinated Tris, two flame retardants used in children’s sleepwear. NY Times Environmental Headlines, Yesterday and Today
At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth: : At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth: Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth: : Atmosphere…air to breathe
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth:
At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth: : Atmosphere…air to breathe
Hydrosphere …water to drink
Lithosphere
Biosphere
At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth:
At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth: : Atmosphere…air to breathe
Hydrosphere …water to drink
Lithosphere …food to eat
Biosphere …food to eat
At the most basic level, humans depend upon the earth:
Slide7 : Short timescale response of the atmosphere We need to understand and model how we are transforming the atmosphere
Slide8 : Observed anthropogenic CO2 in oceans (top: Sarmiento + Gruber, 2002) We need to understand and model how we are transforming the oceanic hydrosphere
Slide9 : Percent change in calculated runoff for period 1971-1998 compared to 1900-1970 (calculated in 20C3M experiments) Milly et al., 2005 We need to understand and model how we are transforming the terrestrial hydrosphere
Slide10 : From Hooke, R. LeB., 2000, Geology, Vol. 28, No. 9. We need to understand and model how we are transforming the surface lithosphere "the bottom line is, we move about 10 times as much sediment as all natural processes put together," –Bruce Wilkinson, U. Michigan, Nov. 2004, GSA Meeting Slide from M. Hochella
Slide11 : We need to understand and model how we are transforming the surface lithosphere
Land use change from 1700 to 1990 U.S. land use and total carbon 1700-1990, kg/m2
(Sarmiento+Gruber, 2002) Green = primary vegetation, yellow = crops, blue = pasture
Slide12 : We need to understand and model how we are transforming the biosphere
Human actions have been a major cause of extinction for one-quarter of bird species on earth
Critical Zone supports all terrestrial life : Critical Zone supports all terrestrial life The zone of earth, identified from the outer canopy of vegetation down to the lower limits of groundwater, that supports all terrestrial life on the planet including all human life (NRC, 2001)
We need to be able to understand past transformations and predict future transformations. If we can forecast weather, why can’t we “earthcast” changes in the Critical Zone? : We need to be able to understand past transformations and predict future transformations. If we can forecast weather, why can’t we “earthcast” changes in the Critical Zone?
Slide15 : Predicted terrestrial carbon uptake till 2100 with various models (IPCC, 2001)
Many if not most important environmental processes are coupled with each other and coupled with human activities. “Earthcasts” require interdisciplinary understanding at a variety of spatial scales and timescales. : Many if not most important environmental processes are coupled with each other and coupled with human activities. “Earthcasts” require interdisciplinary understanding at a variety of spatial scales and timescales.
Slide17 : Three Genesis GCM simulations for modern, 6ka and 10ka BP (different orbit, CO2, ice sheets).
Calculated annual and seasonal temperatures, precipitation, soil moisture fluxes extracted over Mississippi Valley transect. Enlarged view of pink
box. Soil profiles on
Loess studied from
Minn to Louisiana
showing increased soil
development to the south
After Muhs er al., 2001 Can we predict soil development on dust deposited after the last glaciation?
(climate calculations by D. Pollard, soil calculations by Geosc grad Jennifer Williams)
How is the cryosphere responding to climate change? : How is the cryosphere responding to climate change? Finite Element grid for Greenland showing the "fine-ing" of the grid at the coasts, where all the action is likely to be. Jakobshavn glacier, where PSICE is working over the next 3 years is in the West and has almost doubled in speed over the past decade -
driven by a smaller ice shelf in front and more surface melting
Slide19 : Slide and data from Dorothy Merritts Mill Dams in Centre County …how have they changed our land surface and how will that surface respond as we remove the dams? Dorothy Merritts, Rudy Slingerland, Eric Kirby
EESI and EMS strengths: We are one of the only institutions providing… : EESI and EMS strengths: We are one of the only institutions providing… Expertise that spans from meteorology to deep earth processes to human processes
Expertise in both observational and modeling science
Expertise in manipulation and visualization of large data sets
A university context rich in related areas of agriculture, engineering, and materials science
Slide21 : EESI Mission is to Capitalize on these Strengths… To encourage interdisciplinary examination of the chemical, physical, biological, and anthropogenic processes acting to shape our environment and our response to that environment
To facilitate the modeling and manipulation of environmental data in new and innovative ways
To facilitate dissemination of environmental research findings
To develop innovative, interdisciplinary research and education programs in environmental science
Slide22 : EESI History Began as the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) in 1985 when Eric Barron came to PSU as first ESSC director
Brought together faculty in the Departments of Geosciences, Meteorology, Geography, Energy, Environmental, and Mineral Economics
ESSC research included global change, the global water cycle, biogeochemical cycles, Earth System history, human impacts on the Earth system
First centers: CIRA and CECG in 1998
Slide23 : EESI History (Cont) ESSC renamed the Environment Institute in 1999
EMS EI mission:
To enhance the visibility of EMS environmental research and educational programs,
To create opportunities for collaborative research
In 1999, computing and outreach components were also incorporated
EI renamed the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute in 2004
Currently hosts activity in five Centers
EESI by the Numbers : EESI by the Numbers
People : People 52 receive salary (either in total or in part)
22 tenure line faculty (Gen funds)
23 research faculty and staff (4 Gen and 19 extramural)
7 administrative staff
40+ EESI associates have offices in the EES Bldg
EESI associates from:
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Geography
Geosciences
Materials Science and Engineering
Meteorology
Energy and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Budget : Budget Averaged $4.3/yr* for the past three years
Total for 05/06 $8.2M compared to $4.7M in 04/05**
$7M are extramural funds
$1.2M provided as general funds
General funds expenditures
11% administrative staff support
8% tuition, grad assistantships, and student wages
9% supplies, materials, office operations
9% computational staff and system maintenance
7% other research initiatives (includes centers, commitments and misc. requests)
10% research faculty and staff salary support
46% tenure line faculty
$65,331 RIF in 2005/2006 (this years figures are not available)
22 tenure line faculty releasing overhead * Only includes research awards administered by EESI (424-07).
Proposals : Proposals Averaged 47 proposals/yr for the past three years
22 tenure line EESI faculty experiencing proposal success
Largest four awards 03-06:
Northeastern Regional Center of the National Institute for Climate Change Research – Ken Davis & David Eissenstat ($1.4M)
Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium – Lisa Brown ($1.9M)
Center for Environmental Kinetics Analysis – Susan Brantley ($6.8M)
Augmentation of the Pennsylvania Map Program Management and Administration – Todd Bacastow & Douglas Miller ($11M)
Slide28 : Centers Receiving Institute Funds
Earth System Science Center (ESSC) ($22.5K/year) Michael Mann : Earth System Science Center (ESSC) ($22.5K/year) Michael Mann Approach
Multi-tiered approach to climate modeling
Long-term, high resolution climate model integration experiments
Emphasis on "process" to bridge problems on multiple timescales
Combining Modeling, Empirical Analyses, and Fundamental Processes
Development of new educational tools
Center for Carbon Cycle Science and Management (CCSM) ($4.5K/year) Kenneth J. Davis :
Center for Carbon Cycle Science and Management (CCSM) ($4.5K/year) Kenneth J. Davis Formed in 2001
Focuses on the science, engineering, economics and ethics of the global carbon cycle
Collaborators are located primarily in
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
College of Agricultural Sciences
Interactions with the College of Liberal Arts have been initiated
Collaboration with the Dickinson School of Law being explored.
A focus-area within the ESSC to promote interaction among carbon cycle scientists and those interested in other aspects of the earth’s climate system
Northeastern Regional Center for the National Institute for Climatic Change Research (DOE, ~ $2 million/yr)
Penn State Ice and Climate Exploration (PSICE) Center ($4.5K/year) S Anandakrishnan/R B Alley : Penn State Ice and Climate Exploration (PSICE) Center ($4.5K/year) S Anandakrishnan/R B Alley Mission is to facilitate interactions between geoscientists, meteorologists, and numerical modelers
Some of the areas of ongoing work include
Research into ice sheet stability and mass balance.
Improved models of rapid change in ice flow.
Impacts on sea level; interactions with climate.
Web portal to Polar studies at Penn State and a virtual gathering place for Polar-interested researchers
Hope to expand research into areas such as
Satellite remote sensing
Biology and ecology impacts of polar environmental chg
Policy
Center for Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry ($12.5K/year) Karl T. Mueller : Center for Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry ($12.5K/year) Karl T. Mueller
Sponsored by EMS and the Eberly College of Science
Mission:
Promote research and teaching in environmental chemistry and geochemistry
Promote the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas among chemistry, geochemistry, hydrology, meteorology, biology, agronomy, environmental engineering, and geology
Provide funding for interdisciplinary research in environmental chemistry and geochemistry;
Promote interaction among faculty, staff, and students
Provide support for environmental speakers and sabbatical visitors
Center for Environmental Kinetics Analysis ($1.7 million)
Cyberinfrastructure grant -
Center for Environmental Kinetics Analysis (CEKA) (two tuition waivers/year) Susan L. Brantley/James D. Kubicki : Center for Environmental Kinetics Analysis (CEKA) (two tuition waivers/year) Susan L. Brantley/James D. Kubicki Brings together chemists, geochemists, biochemists, soil scientists and engineers to
measure and synthesize kinetic data for environmental systems, and
promote modeling of the temporal evolution of such systems
The primary research question is
“How can we predict geochemical rates in the field?
Creates broad interdisciplinary educational opportunities
Incorporates post-doctoral research, graduate and undergraduate training, and public outreach components
Critical Zone Exploration Network (CZEN) (staff support) Susan L. Brantley : Critical Zone Exploration Network (CZEN) (staff support) Susan L. Brantley Addresses the complex response of the Critical Zone to climatic, tectonic, and anthropogenic forcings.
The idea developed with support from NSF to build support for a national initiative.
Currently consists of 8 seed sites including Shale Hills
Current NSF RFO for Critical Zone Observatories is related to this effort
Environmental Computing Facility (ECF) John Miley : Environmental Computing Facility (ECF) John Miley A new model for HPC: EESI partners with PIs to fund HPC units and EESI personnel “buy in” for $5k/y for access
$5k/y pays John Miley or Dave Pollard to assist each PI in getting science going on HPC clusters
http://www.eesi.psu.edu/centers/ecf.php
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Further HPC and data storage capabilities
Reach out to students with visualization tools
Bridge Life and Earth Sciences to engage students
Grow a relationship between EESI and UPR
Provide competitive support of EESI centers
Improve the grant-writing process
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Reach out to students with visualization tools
Bridge Life and Earth Sciences to engage students
Grow a relationship between EESI and UPR
Provide competitive support of EESI centers
Improve the grant-writing process
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Bridge Life and Earth Sciences to engage students
Grow a relationship between EESI and UPR
Provide competitive support of EESI centers
Improve the grant-writing process
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Grow a relationship between EESI and UPR
Provide competitive support of EESI centers
Improve the grant-writing process
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Promoting 2 proposals with UPR/PSU, REU ongoing
Provide competitive support of EESI centers
Improve the grant-writing process
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Promoting 2 proposals with UPR/PSU, REU ongoing
Competitively chose 5 centers to receive funds
Improve the grant-writing process
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Promoting 2 proposals with UPR/PSU, REU ongoing
Competitively chose 5 centers to receive funds
Promoted Denise Kowalski to facilitate grant writing
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Promoting 2 proposals with UPR/PSU, REU ongoing
Competitively chose 5 centers to receive funds
Promoted Denise Kowalski to facilitate grant writing
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Develop the human-environment curriculum
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Promoting 2 proposals with UPR/PSU, REU ongoing
Competitively chose 5 centers to receive funds
Promoted Denise Kowalski to facilitate grant writing
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Facilitated committee on Human-Environment issues
Promote observational environmental science
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Promoting 2 proposals with UPR/PSU, REU ongoing
Competitively chose 5 centers to receive funds
Promoted Denise Kowalski to facilitate grant writing
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Facilitated committee on Human-Environment issues
Funded activities in Shavers Creek watershed
Promote a small seminar series on the environment
EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) : EESI Strategic Plan 2005-2008 (written 1/6/2005) Established new model for HPC and data storage
Established GeoWall in EMS museum
Initiating Earth Systems Ecology Search led by Taylor
Promoting 2 proposals with UPR/PSU, REU ongoing
Competitively chose 5 centers to receive funds
Promoted Denise Kowalski to facilitate grant writing
Provide video conferencing facility in EES Building
Facilitated committee on Human-Environment issues
Funded activities in Shavers Creek watershed
Established EarthTalks seminar series on Mondays
The Big EESI Problems We need to… : The Big EESI Problems We need to… Improve budget and funding success
Increase quality of life for EESI folks
Improve communication
Increase participation in and diversity of the Institute
Clarify vision
The Big EESI Problems We need to… : The Big EESI Problems We need to… Improve budget and funding success
Increase quality of life for EESI folks
Improve communication
Increase participation in and diversity of the Institute
Clarify vision
EESI Deficit : EESI Deficit
Grants : Grants 05/06 16/53 proposals were funded (30%)
04/05 11/45 proposals were funded (24%)
03/04 19/43 proposals were funded (44%)
Average ask constant $29.5 M/yr vs. $24 M/yr 03/04
Awards up from $1.9 M/yr in 03/04 to $5.2 M/yr
RIF increased from $39,116 03/04 to $65,331 05/06
EESI-administered research expenditures increased from $3M/yr 03/04 to $7.06M in 05/06 (58% increase)
EMS-administered research expenditures increased from $29M/yr 03/04 to $39.7M in 05/06 (27% increase)
The Big EESI Problems We need to… : The Big EESI Problems We need to… Improve budget and funding success
Increase quality of life for EESI folks
Improve communication
Increase participation in and diversity of the Institute
Clarify vision
Wilson Travel funds : Wilson Travel funds Available to EESI Associates
Made at the discretion of the Director and on a first-come first-served basis
Must match the guidelines provided by the Dean’s Office
Apply at: http://www.eesi.psu.edu/WilsonFunds/WilsonFunds.php
Tuition waivers : Tuition waivers 16 one-semester waivers available per year
Allocated as match
Allocated for special projects by request to Director
SIR (Scholars in Residence) : SIR (Scholars in Residence) Application Deadline: Nov. 15
http://www.eesi.psu.edu/SIR.pdf
EESI offers the dept of the SIR $10k to free the recipient from teaching responsibilities for one semester
Recipient will use office in EESI
Recipient will act in some advisory capacity to EESI Director
Fixed Term and Research Faculty Review Process : Fixed Term and Research Faculty Review Process Instituted policy with respect to review
Constituted first review committee, coordinated with e-Education and Energy Institutes
Promoted several faculty
Increased responsibilities, reporting, and feedback
The Big EESI Problems We need to… : The Big EESI Problems We need to… Improve budget and funding success
Increase quality of life for EESI folks
Improve communication
Increase participation in and diversity of the Institute
Clarify vision
Increase communication : Increase communication Adding info to “This Week”
Email occasional information
Strategic Planning workshop held
Annual All-Hands meetings
Semi-regular coffee hours
Regular meetings with Steering committee and Center directors
EESI Governance Committees : EESI Governance Committees EESI Steering Committee (Yaw Yeboah, Bill Brune, Tim Bralower, Roger Downs)
EESI Center Directors Committee (Doug Miller, Karl Mueller, Ken Davis, Michael Mann, Sridhar Anandakrishnan)
The Big EESI Problems We need to… : The Big EESI Problems We need to… Improve budget and funding success
Increase quality of life for EESI folks
Improve communication
Increase participation in and diversity of the Institute
Clarify vision
Promote biological initiatives (e.g. Earth Systems Ecology) for the college at least in part to increase gender diversity : Promote biological initiatives (e.g. Earth Systems Ecology) for the college at least in part to increase gender diversity “…For 35 years the number of [science, mathematics, engineering, and technology] graduates has oscillated around one-third of the total B.A. pool.” (Norman Fortenberry, head of NSF’s undergraduate Programs, as cited in Science).
Slide61 : To be sure, there have been shifts within the natural sciences and engineering, as interest in particular fields have waxed and waned. … Declining interest in [fields such as physics] has
been more than offset by a spectacular rise in the life sciences, up 83% in the past decade after a dip during the 1980s… Overall, data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) show that the fraction of U.S. undergraduates choosing to major in science and engineering has stayed remarkably constant—roughly one in three—for more than a generation (Mervis, J. Science, 2001)
Why has faculty participation in Institute diminished? : Why has faculty participation in Institute diminished? Not all EESI associates participate with EESI or its centers
Money for EESI faculty is partly tied up in salary of folks that do not participate because they are on to new and better things
Hard to initiate new activities to involve new people due to lack of funds
What should be the rights and responsibilities of EESI associates? (charge to the SIR committee) : Sir Kasting – Geosciences (Chair)
Richard Alley – Geosciences
Andrew Carleton—Geography
Michael Mann—Meteorology
Jenni Evans—Meteorology What should be the rights and responsibilities of EESI associates? (charge to the SIR committee)
Should EESI privileges be limited in some way to salaried associates? : Should EESI privileges be limited in some way to salaried associates?
SIR committee recommendation: Some benefits should be only available to salaried associates : SIR committee recommendation: Some benefits should be only available to salaried associates Tuition and/or research support for graduate students
Money for postdocs
Eligibility for the Scholars in Residence program, whereby faculty members are relieved of teaching responsibilities for one semester in order to concentrate on their research
SIR committee recommendation: Some benefits should be available to both Associates and Affiliates : SIR committee recommendation: Some benefits should be available to both Associates and Affiliates Access to EESI staff services, e.g., proposal preparation.
Access to EESI-supported computer facilities, especially the PC clusters over at the main computer building
SIR committee recommendation: EESI support for Research Faculty : SIR committee recommendation: EESI support for Research Faculty Support can include space, tuition waivers, salary, other funds
Limit such support for research faculty to those activities that widely involve the greater EMS community*
*Currently, in 05/06, some salary on EESI general funds is provided to Bacastow, Brown, Pollard, Miley
SIR committee recommendation: TERM limits :
Hire new associates for 7 yr term
All EESI associates should be evaluated every 5 yrs (or 7 as above)
Review to be done by Director and Advisory Committee
Faculty maintaining appropriate ties with institute retain salary through institute and those that do not return to departmental funding
For new hires that do not stay with EESI, funds return to EESI
For historical hires that do not stay with EESI, funds should be traded for another faculty within the same dept by negotiation SIR committee recommendation: TERM limits
How does PSIE handle review? (info from Easterling) : How does PSIE handle review? (info from Easterling) PSIE requires all department heads of PSIE co-funded faculty to put a PSIE/dept-written memo on file registering expectations for each co-funded faculty. PSIE co-evaluates each faculty member at the beginning of the fifth year since appointment (or previous renewal) to determine whether to continue co-funding. All PSIE co-funding is managed with the expectation that a co-funded faculty member in good standing will be supported by the PSIE until they retire or leave. PSIE has had few problems with co-funded faculty over the last five or so year history of PSIE.
How does Huck Institute handle review? (info from dept head of Biochemistry) : How does Huck Institute handle review? (info from dept head of Biochemistry) Huck funding is for the duration of person’s tenure. However, if the person doesn't get tenure, funding returns to Huck. Also, if it is determined that the person is no longer furthering the mission and goals of the Huck, the Huck funding can be terminated and funding goes back to Huck.
SIR committee description of responsibilities of EESI Associates : SIR committee description of responsibilities of EESI Associates An Associate who does not contribute to EESI goals and activities may be terminated at the end of their 5- or 7-year appointment. It would be up to the EESI Director (and Advisory Committee) to decide whether an Associate is satisfying their part of the bargain. Examples of what might be viewed as being meaningful contributions to EESI include direction or participation in an institute-related research initiative, relevant teaching, or supervision of graduate students in relevant, cross-disciplinary research.
The Big EESI Problems We need to… : The Big EESI Problems We need to… Improve budget and funding success
Increase quality of life for EESI folks
Improve communication
Increase participation in and diversity of the Institute
Clarify vision
SIR Recommendation: Establish an Advisory Committee : SIR Recommendation: Establish an Advisory Committee
Chosen by Director and/or voted
Would advise on strategic decisions
Would advise on evaluation and targeting of EESI associates
Would advise on funding issues
Proposed Constitution of Advisory Committee : Proposed Constitution of Advisory Committee SIR
1 nontenure-line EESI associate
1 tenure-line EESI associate
1 non-EESI associate
1 member voted at large
Advisory Committee : Advisory Committee To be implemented in spring 07
Vote to begin in Jan or Feb 07
Committee to consider clarification of vision and policy for term limits
Conclusions : Conclusions Scientifically interesting time with respect to environmental issues
EESI experiencing significant change
Budget issues are limiting flexibility and initiatives
Budget issues are moving in right direction
Good time for clarification of vision and implementation of Advisory Committee activity