NOAA Social Science Initiative Rodney Weiher Chief Economist

NOAA Social Science Initiative Rodney Weiher Chief Economist Program Planning and Integration NOAA SAB Washington DC July 14, 2004 1

Background Research Council charged with oversight and recommendations to implement the SAB Social Science Report, including: 1. Workshops on uses and benefits of social science for AA/Mission Goal Teams, selected programs, and DOC 2. Concurrently, develop focused pilot projects to demonstrate utility in '04 -'05 3. Develop social science component in each Mission Goal for '06 4. Develop 5 -year plans and strategies 2

Excerpt from NOAA 2005 -2010 Draft Strategic Plan “To be effective, we must analyze and understand current and emerging user requirements, priorities, and benefits of NOAA’s services and products. This requires a strong economic and social science capability working across interdisciplinary lines. ” 3

Excerpt from NOAA 2004 -2009 Research Plan “NOAA must have robust social science capabilities to link societal benefits to the services and research. … NOAA is implementing an agency-wide social science research program. Objectives include: • Demonstrating the benefits of NOAA programs, such as links between research and product delivery • Understanding our user base • Analyzing unique natural resource management and regulation issues • Developing techniques and databases” 4

Status Mission Goal Workshops • Objectives – Understanding of uses and benefits of social science tailored to each mission goal – Identifying research projects for ’ 05 and ‘ 06 – Beginning planning process for FY ’ 06 and out years • Workshops – Held with each of the four mission goal teams during March-May 2004 – Briefing books for each workshop including: • Using social science • Examples of current uses of social sciences in NOAA • Speaker slides – Presentations include academic/research economists and NOAA social scientists 5

Status Research Planning • Working with each mission goal team on research and analysis for ’ 04 and ’ 05 • Utilizing working group of NOAA social scientists for social science inputs into NOAA ’ 07 programming process • Inputs into – 5 -year social science research plan – 2005 -2010 NOAA strategic plan – FY 07 baseline assessment guidance • Planning underway for 5 -year NOAA social science research program and social science research programs for NMFS and NOS 6

Some Candidate Mission Goal Research Efforts • Ecosystem – – • Climate – – • How long term climate change information affects decisions of users Public/private sector roles in providing information products and data collection and analysis systems Weather and Water – – – • Regional ecosystem modeling Defining and using ecosystem boundaries for decision-making Uses, users and benefits of new hydrology products Benefits of improved ozone forecasts Linkages between watersheds, coasts and estuaries Commerce and Transportation – – – GPS modernization strategic and cost-benefit analysis Assessment of the CORS system for marine, land aviation navigation “Footprint” analysis of transportation industry and where NOAA C&T products fit Role of improved weather forecasts in aviation WIST – cost-benefit analysis of technology configurations for weather information for surface transportation 7

Next Steps • Conduct additional workshops with AAs, NOAA staff and budget offices and Department of Commerce • Conduct workshop for Boulder contingent • Implement pilot and targeted research projects for FY 04’-06’ • Assist mission goal teams and line offices in FY ’ 07 and subsequent planning and budgeting processes • Begin 5 -year NOAA-wide social science research planning • Coordinate social scientists through regular meetings and contacts and evolve coordination and support mechanisms 8