National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON): Development of NEON Coordinating Consortium (NCC) and Project Office

The most pressing challenges facing the nation’s biosphere result from complex interactions between human, natural and physical systems, which operate over large spatial and temporal scales and transcend all levels of biological organization. To better understand these interactions requires a new tool to investigate the structure, dynamics, and evolution of ecosystems in the United States and to forecast biological change. Through a series of workshops, reports, and planning activities the research community determined that the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) should be the new tool: a continent-wide research platform, composed of networked state-of-the-art analytical and communication technologies. NEON will create new collaborative environments, support multi-and inter-disciplinary research, stimulate innovative approaches to information management, develop human capital, and facilitate the integration of research and education across a wide range of the biological, geophysical, engineering and social sciences.

In response, the Directorate for Biological Sciences of the National Science Foundation announces its intention to support the establishment of a NEON Coordinating Consortium (NCC), which will provide the scientific leadership, administration, community participation, and overall governance of NEON and include a NEON Project Office. The latter will initially plan and coordinate activities for NEON, while, ultimately, it will be responsible for the construction and daily management of NEON.