Harnessing the NEON data revolution to advance open environmental science with a diverse and data‐capable community
Authors: Nagy R. Chelsea , Balch Jennifer K. , Bissell Erin K. , Cattau Megan E. , Glenn Nancy F. , Halpern Benjamin S. , Ilangakoon Nayani , Johnson Brian , Joseph Maxwell B. , Marconi Sergio , O’Riordan Catherine , Sanovia James , Swetnam Tyson L. , Travis William R. , Wasser Leah A. , Woolner Elizabeth , Zarnetske Phoebe , Abdulrahim Mujahid , Adler John , Barnes Grenville , Bartowitz Kristina J. , Blake Rachael E. , Bombaci Sara P. , Brun Julien , Buchanan Jacob D. , Chadwick K. Dana , Chapman Melissa S. , Chong Steven S. , Chung Y. Anny , Corman Jessica R. , Couret Jannelle , Crispo Erika , Doak Thomas G. , Donnelly Alison , Duffy Katharyn A. , Dunning Kelly H. , Duran Sandra M. , Edmonds Jennifer W. , Fairbanks Dawson E. , Felton Andrew J. , Florian Christopher R. , Gann Daniel , Gebhardt Martha , Gill Nathan S. , Gram Wendy K. , Guo Jessica S. , Harvey Brian J. , Hayes Katherine R. , Helmus Matthew R. , Hensley Robert T. , Hondula Kelly L. , Huang Tao , Hundertmark Wiley J. , Iglesias Virginia , Jacinthe Pierre‐Andre , Jansen Lara S. , Jarzyna Marta A. , Johnson Tiona M. , Jones Katherine D. , Jones Megan A. , Just Michael G. , Kaddoura Youssef O. , Kagawa‐Vivani Aurora K. , Kaushik Aleya , Keller Adrienne B. , King Katelyn B. S. , Kitzes Justin , Koontz Michael J. , Kouba Paige V. , Kwan Wai‐Yin , LaMontagne Jalene M. , LaRue Elizabeth A. , Li Daijiang , Li Bonan , Lin Yang , Liptzin Daniel , Long William Alex , Mahood Adam L. , Malloy Samuel S. , Malone Sparkle L. , McGlinchy Joseph M. , Meier Courtney L. , Melbourne Brett A. , Mietkiewicz Nathan , Morisette Jeffery T. , Moustapha Moussa , Muscarella Chance , Musinsky John , Muthukrishnan Ranjan , Naithani Kusum , Neely Merrie , Norman Kari , Parker Stephanie M. , Perez Rocha Mariana , Petri Laís , Ramey Colette A. , Record Sydne , Rossi Matthew W. , SanClements Michael , Scholl Victoria M. , Schweiger Anna K. , Seyednasrollah Bijan , Sihi Debjani , Smith Kathleen R. , Sokol Eric R. , Spaulding Sarah A. , Spiers Anna I. , St. Denis Lise A. , Staccone Anika P. , Stack Whitney Kaitlin , Stanitski Diane M. , Stricker Eva , Surasinghe Thilina D. , Thomsen Sarah K. , Vasek Patrisse M. , Xiaolu Li , Yang Di , Yu Rong , Yule Kelsey M. , Zhu Kai 
Published: December 2021

It is a critical time to reflect on the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) science to date as well as envision what research can be done right now with NEON (and other) data and what training is needed to enable a diverse user community. NEON became fully operational in May 2019 and has pivoted from planning and construction to operation and maintenance. In this overview, the history of and foundational thinking around NEON are discussed. A framework of open science is described with a discussion of how NEON can be situated as part of a larger data constellation—across existing networks and different suites of ecological measurements and sensors. Next, a synthesis of early NEON science, based on >100 existing publications, funded proposal efforts, and emergent science at the very first NEON Science Summit (hosted by Earth Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder in October 2019) is provided. Key questions that the ecology community will address with NEON data in the next 10 yr are outlined, from understanding drivers of biodiversity across spatial and temporal scales to defining complex feedback mechanisms in human–environmental systems. Last, the essential elements needed to engage and support a diverse and inclusive NEON user community are highlighted: training resources and tools that are openly available, funding for broad community engagement initiatives, and a mechanism to share and advertise those opportunities. NEON users require both the skills to work with NEON data and the ecological or environmental science domain knowledge to understand and interpret them. This paper synthesizes early directions in the community’s use of NEON data, and opportunities for the next 10 yr of NEON operations in emergent science themes, open science best practices, education and training, and community building.