CEDAR email: URGENT: NSF Request for Community Input on Restructuring Critical Weather & Space Weather Infrastructure (DCL Deadline: March 13, 2026)

[Lynn Harvey]

Dear CEDAR Community,

I am writing in my role as Chair of the CEDAR Science Steering Committee to draw your immediate attention to a high-impact NSF Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) issued on January 23, 2026 regarding NSF’s, including activities currently operated by NCAR. See https://www.nsf.gov/funding/information/dcl-nsf-intent-restructure-critical-weather-infrastructure

This is a major moment for our community. The scope of this DCL directly touches areas central to CEDAR science:
• Space weather observational platforms
• Atmospheric and space weather modeling and forecasting capabilities
• Cyberinfrastructure and computing resources
• Community training in modeling and forecasting

NSF is explicitly requesting transformative and creative concepts for how these capabilities should be managed, evolved, and sustained going forward. They are also seeking input on potential duplication across agencies, opportunities for modernization, and alternative operational models. Importantly, NSF has stated that the materials received will inform future actions. While NSF will not respond individually, community feedback is being taken very seriously as part of this decision process. Lack of input may be interpreted as lack of community priority or concern.

Key Details
Submission Deadline: March 13, 2026
Length: 2–3 pages per topic addressed
Submission email: NSF_NCAR at nsf.gov

You may respond with:
• Expressions of interest in managing/operating space weather or weather modeling capabilities
• Concepts of operations for observational platforms, modeling, or training
• Recommendations on performance objectives and metrics
• Perspectives on gaps, duplication, or future opportunities

This DCL represents a rare opportunity for the research community to help shape the future structure of national weather and space weather infrastructure. These decisions will affect our science ecosystem for years to come. I strongly encourage individuals, groups, and institutions to review the DCL and submit input where relevant. If these facilities, models, data systems, or training activities matter to your research, workforce development, or mission planning, now is the time to speak up.

Thank you for your engagement and for helping ensure the future of our community’s scientific capabilities.

Sincerely,
V. Lynn Harvey
Chair, CEDAR Science Steering Committee

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
V. Lynn Harvey
Senior Research Scientist
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
3665 Discovery Drive
Boulder, CO  80303
tel: 720-232-7461
fax: 303-735-3737
email: lynn.harvey at lasp.colorado.edu<mailto:lynn.harvey at lasp.colorado.edu>


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