University of Vermont (̽̽) researchers have joined a new $8.5M effort by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to value and communicate the benefits of earth information in decision making.
The Collaborative Network for Valuing Earth Information (CONVEI) is designed to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration with experts and practitioners outside of the earth science field. CONVEI seeks to convene educators, economists, humanitarians, and psychologists with the intention of putting information into the hands of individuals, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
In May 2023 a working group gathered at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in Santa Barbara, CA, to review ideas collected over the past year on how earth science information can affect social change. Faculty and affiliates of ̽̽ have been heavily involved in the formation and launch of CONVEI.
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources for Environment professors and Gund Institute for the Environment fellows, Rachelle Gould and Gillian Galford, along with Gund Institute Affiliate Steve Polasky, are all members of the CONVEI scientific committee. They attended the initial gathering of interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners last month to brainstorm new ways to communicate and measure the social and environmental aspects of earth observations.
“This is a first-of-its-kind effort by WWF, NASA, NOAA, and USGS,” said Dr. Galford. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this multifaceted approach to evaluating and transforming the social impacts of earth observation data.”
Shanna McClain, socioeconomic assessments manager for the Applied Sciences Program at NASA, provided an overview of the working group’s activities .
“Decisions like where to build cities, which ecosystems require protection, what sustainable management looks like, and what this will mean to our health and economy are highly complex, which is why we’re looking to create new approaches to determine the value of Earth observations in decision making," McClain said. “At the workshop, we had an interdisciplinary blend of Earth system and social sciences brainstorming together – psychologists, economists, ecologists, social justice, and indigenous interests.”
CONVEI will involve a wide range of partners and researchers from academia, the private sector, and NGOs. Members of the founding scientific committee represent Cornell University, Emory University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of British Columbia, University of California Santa Barbara, University of Minnesota, University of Vermont, and University of Victoria, as well WWF and Spring Innovate.
To find out more about the network and how to join or contribute work examples visit the .
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