Complex Environmental Systems. Synthesis for Earth, Life, and Society in the 21st Century. A 10 Year Outlook for the National Science Foundation

摘要

As the global footprint of human activity continues to expand, environmental science and engineering problems will provide great challenges and opportunities in the next decade. Because of the complex relationships among people, ecosystems, and the biosphere, human health and well-being are closely linked to the integrity of local, regional, and global ecosystems. Therefore, environmental research and education are central elements of local, national, and global security, health, and prosperity. New instrumentation, data-handling, and methodological capabilities have expanded the horizons of what we can study and understand about the environment. These advances create the demand for collaborative teams of engineers and natural and social scientists that go beyond current disciplinary research and educational frameworks. Imagination, diversity, and the capacity to adapt quickly have become essential qualities for both institutions and individuals, not only to facilitate research, but also to ensure the immediate and broad-based application of research results related to the environment. To meet these complex challenges as well as urgent human needs, we need to develop environmental synthesis to frame integrated interdisciplinary research questions and activities and to merge data, approaches, and ideas across spatial, temporal, and societal scales. An essential part of this process is the effective communication of scientific information, models, and conclusions to and among researchers, educators, students, resource and industrial managers, policy makers, and the public.