# Presentation: 301567

## National Science BoardTask ForceHurricane Science and Engineering

- 60th Inter-Departmental Hurricane Conference
- March 23, 2006
*Dr. Michael P. Crosby*
*Director, National Science Board Office*

## National Science Board Members

-  Twenty-four Members, plus NSF Director
-  Nominated by the President - Confirmed by the Senate
-  Six-year Terms on Two-year Cycle

- (Photo by
- Sam Kittner)

## About the National Science Board

- “...to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and secure the national defense.”
**The National Science Board provides:**
- Oversight and policy for NSF
- Advice to the President and the Congress on matters of national science and engineering policy

**About the National Science Board**

## Background

**Background**

**The **_**U.S. is increasingly vulnerable to hurricanes**_** because 90 percent of its population lives within 200 miles of a coastline.  **
**Hurricane-related research is generally performed within the **_**boundaries of traditional disciplines**_**.**
**The research community has a societal duty to **_**maximize scientific understanding of hurricanes and ensure its effective application**_**.  **
**The National Science Board has **_**independent science advisory responsibilities to the President and Congress**_** and is ideally suited to framing this challenge and recommending a national agenda.**

## National Science Board Action 

**National Science Board Action**** **

**Seek to accomplish the following for hurricane related science and engineering research **_**exclusive of operational decision making, organized civil response and human health issues**_**:**

**summarize current activities, **
**identify gaps and opportunities, and**
**recommend priorities for action within a national agenda.**

## Organization of the Task Force

**Organization of the Task Force**

**Created December 2006 under the Board’s Committee on Programs and Plans.**
_**Task Force Members**_**:**

**Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier**** (Co-Chair) – University of Oklahoma**
**Dr. Kenneth Ford**** (Co-Chair) – Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition**
**Dr. Daniel Hastings**** – Massachusetts Institute of Technology**
**Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman**** – University of Colorado**
**Dr. Alan Leshner**** – AAAS**

## Objectives of the Task Force

**Objectives of the Task Force**

**Use a **_**multi-disciplinary approach**_** to summarize the status of research on hurricanes as an **_**integrated science and engineering problem**_**. **
_**Involve relevant Federal science agencies and appropriate organizations**_** through a series of workshops and discussions.**
**Produce a report and **_**recommendations on hurricane science and engineering research for submission to the President and the Congress**_**.**** **

## Task Force Workshops

**Task Force Workshops**

**January 24, 2006 at National Science Foundation (Arlington):  perspectives from Federal Agencies**
**February 7, 2006 at National Center for Atmospheric Research (Boulder): NGO research perspectives**
**April 18, 2006 at Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (Pensacola): NGO research perspectives**

## The Task Force’s Schedule

**The Task Force’s Schedule**

**December 2005 –Board approves recommendation to create Task Force with formal charge.**
**January - April 2006  – The task force organizes three workshops around the country and holds a series of discussions. **
**August 2006 - Draft report to the Board for review.**
**September 2006 – Final report to the Board for approval.****  **

## Task Force Report

**Task Force Report**

**Assess how increased understanding of hurricanes as natural disasters can be used to improve the Nation’s ability to predict, mitigate, and react to future events.**
**Recommend an integrative approach for addressing deep fundamental science questions regarding hurricanes as natural disasters.**
**Recommend priorities for meeting critical research needs.**
**Recommend an agenda for support of essential hurricane-related research within the Federal government and among research organizations.**
**Identify a specific role for NSF to fill in addressing national needs for essential hurricane-related research.**