# Presentation: 901817

## The Science Information Management Coordination Board (SIMCorB)

*The Science Information Management Coordination Board (SIMCorB)*

- Presentation to Norine Noonan
- March 26, 1999

## Agenda

- Welcome and Introductions
- Assessment Scenario
- The SIMCorB Implementation Coordination Plan
- ORD Information Strategy
- SIMCorB
- Guiding Principles
- Users and Requirements
- Current Projects
- Architectural Vision
- Priority Projects
- Discussion and Wrap-up

## “EPA's data resources represent one of the Agency's greatest assets.  As a national Federal source of reliable and comprehensive statistical information on the state of public health and the environment, EPA is uniquely equipped to provide the public with critical tools to pursue responsible policies. ”

**Browner and Hansen, EPA Reorganization  ****	****	**** Memorandum, February, 1997**

## Strategic Drivers

_***Challenge to ORD***_***: Leverage evolution in technology to meet***
***the needs posed by changes in the practice of environmental science!***

*Technology is Evolving*
- Enhanced analytical and modeling capability
- Improved database/object management
- Internet/Intranet
- Portable Devices

*Practice of Environmental Science is Changing*
- Increased and multiple scales
- Multiple investigator, geographically dispersed
- Less resources available for data collection

## Assessment Scenario

- Provide a _vision_ of ORD Information Management(IM)/Information Technology(IT) of the near future
- Demonstrate  components of the vision that _exist today_ by addressing an environmental assessment question using real ORD data, information and tools
- Develop a _business case for further investment_ in IM/IT coordination by demonstrating how current IM/IT efforts support the assessment process

## Slide 6

## Assessment Questions by Perspective

- The public:
- Can I eat the fish from the Florida everglades?
- The environmental resource manager/Risk Assessor:
- At what concentrations do contaminants in fish pose an unacceptable risk to human health?
- The scientist:
- What is the distribution of mercury in the Florida everglades

## Assessment Questions

- General question:
- What factors determine the spatial distribution of mercury in the Florida Everglades?
- Focused question:
- Is the distribution of mercury in the Florida Everglades related to population density?

## Steps in the Assessment Process

- Form research team
- Collect background information
- Identify data and analytical requirements
- Search for or collect data
- Conduct analyses
- ‘Publish’ new data products and results

## Demonstration

*Demonstration*

## Steps in the Process, Chaptersin the SIMCorB Implementation Coordination Plan

## Strategic View

## SIMCorB Mission

- Coordinate science IRM activities 		within ORD

- Develop ORD 0-5 year Science IRM Implementation Plan

- Provide ORD-wide scientific IRM policies, procedures and standards

- Guide development of ORD scientific IRM investment portfolio
- through _strategic and implementation planning_, _sponsorship _
- _of projects,_ _development of issue and concept papers,_ and
- _Proof of Concept demonstrations__._

## Key Benefits of SIMCorB

- Increase ORD influence on Agency IT decisions that effect management of scientific data, information and tools

- Better position ORD to interact with major EPA initiatives with a significant IRM component like *The New Information Office*, EMPACT, REI, EDR, etc.

- Enhance ORD standing and ability to work with organizations outside EPA that are dealing with science IRM issues.

*Key Benefits of** SIMCorB*

## Guiding Principles

- Science and Information in Environmental protection
- Information Management
- Policy
- Data and Data Administration

- Systems Design
- Operations
- Technology
- Outreach and Liaison

## Users, Requirements

- Information Technology

*Users, Requirements*

- Questions

- Answers

- "Men have become the tools of their tools. "
-      - Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

***Scientists***
***Executives***
***Administrators***
***Decision makers***
***The public***

## Current Efforts and Issues

*Current Efforts and **Issues*

*Enhanced Collaborative Research*
*	*EIMS Demonstration
*	*Multimedia Integrated Modeling System (MIMS)
- 	Other...

## Current Efforts and Issues

*Current Efforts and** Issues*

*ORD influence on Agency decisions on management of science*
*and information *
*	**	*SIMCorB
- 		Deputy CIO
- 		Personal Relationships

## Current Efforts and Issues

*Current Efforts and** Issues*

*Enhance ORD standing and ability to work with organizations outside EPA that are dealing with science IRM issues.*
*	**	**	*CENDI
*	**	**	*CODATA, GCDMWG
- 			Regions, States, NGO’s*	*

## Architectural Vision

## Priority Projects 1

- Education and Training

- Enhanced Capacity for Science IM/IT in ORD Laboratories and
- Centers

- SIMCorB Support

## Priority Projects 2

- Develop Data Administration and Quality Assurance Standards

- User Requirements and General IM/IT Policy and Standards Development

## Priority Projects 3

- Continued Development of the SIMCorB/ORD Web-Site

- Strategy to Promote Partnerships with other Organizations

-  SIMCorB Site Visits

## Priority Projects 4

- Implement the SIMS Architecture

- Develop ORD Data, Information and Tools Inventory in EIMS

- Implement Architecture to Support Long-term Science Data Archives

- Evaluate New and Emerging Technologies for Scientific IM

- Proof-of-Concepts: Endocrine Disrupters, UVB

## Summary

- Commitment by ORD to the principles of scientific information management and the “vision”
- Commitment to implement the SIMCorB Implementation Coordination Plan
- SIMCorB line in the ORD budget
- $495K for start-up of the Plan’s projects
- SIMCorB review and optimization of the ORD IM/IT expenditures, for example, Working Capital Fund projects