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<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Dear
Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText">(We apologize in advance if you get this
message more
than once-we are trying to reach as large a fraction of the
community as possible.)<span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">As you
may know, the National Research Council is in the process of organizing
an
important new study, "Earth Science and Applications from Space: A
Community Assessment and Strategy for the Future."<span style=""> </span>This
"decadal" study, to be
carried out over a two-year period, is intended to articulate
priorities for
Earth system science and the space-based observational approaches to
address
those priorities.<span style=""> </span>A web site that is
open to the public has been created as part of this effort: <a
href="http://qp.nas.edu/decadalsurvey">http://qp.nas.edu/decadalsurvey</a>
.<span style=""> </span>This web site contains a summary of a
planning workshop that was held in Woods Hole, Massachusetts on August
23-25;
please click on “Study Organization and WH Mtg Outcomes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">The
study seeks to establish individual plans and priorities within the
sub-disciplines of the Earth sciences as well as an integrated vision
and plan
for the Earth sciences as a whole.<span style=""> </span>It
will also consider Earth observations requirements for research and for
a range
of applications with direct links to societal objectives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">The
study is intended to be a community assessment; broad participation by
the
earth science community is essential to the conduct and success of the
study.<span style=""> </span>Included on the study web site
is a link where members of the community can post comments about any
aspect of
the survey.<span style=""> </span>In addition, a number of
outreach activities are planned, including community forums in
conjunction with
the Fall 2004 AGU meeting and the AMS meeting in January 2005. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">The
study will be organized using a model similar to that employed by the
NRC for
its astronomy and astrophysics surveys and for recently completed
decadal
surveys in planetary exploration and solar and space physics.<span
style=""> </span>An Executive Committee is charged with
overseeing the study and preparing a summary report.<span style=""> </span>This
committee will be assisted in its work by seven
thematically-organized, study panels (please see “Study Organization
and WH
Meeting Outcomes” on the web site for a description of these Panels).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">The NRC
has approved our appointment as co-chairs of the Executive Committee;
we now
seek your assistance in identifying other members of the executive
committee,
panel chairs (who will also be asked to serve on the executive
committee), and
panel members.<span style=""> </span>We believe it is
critical that leadership positions be filled with individuals who are
highly
respected, free of obvious bias, experienced in working in challenging
committee environments, dependable, and hard working. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">To
expedite the nomination process, we encourage you to send us
suggestions for
membership on these committees as soon as possible and no later than
September
17, 2004.<span style=""> </span>Note that all appointments
are subject to review and approval by the NRC, which considers a
variety of
issues related to committee composition and balance. Suggestions should
be sent
via e-mail to the project director, Art Charo (<a
href="mailto:acharo@nas.edu">acharo@nas.edu</a>)
or to either of us.<span style=""> </span>A brief description
of a candidate's expertise would also be useful.<span style=""> </span>We
look forward to hearing from you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Richard
Anthes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">President,
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:anthes@ucar.edu">anthes@ucar.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Berrien
Moore<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Director,
Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">University
of New Hampshire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:b.moore@unh.edu">b.moore@unh.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Arthur
Charo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Senior
Program Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Space
Studies Board, Keck 1002A<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">National
Research Council<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">500
Fifth Street, NW<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">Washington,
DC 20001<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">tel:
202 334-3477<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">fax:
202 334-3701<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="">e-mail:
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:acharo@nas.edu">acharo@nas.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nationalacademies.org/ssb/">http://www.nationalacademies.org/ssb/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style=""><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
******************************************************************
Dr.Richard A. Anthes
Phone: 303-497-1652
President
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, CO 80307-3000
For delivery via express mail, please use:
1850 Table Mesa Drive
Boulder, CO 80305
*****************************************************************</pre>
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