National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
What is NEON
NEON is a continental‐scale research platform for discovering and understanding the impacts of climate change, land‐use change, and invasive species on ecology. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), NEON is a facility for research and education on long‐term (30+ years), large‐scale ecological change. NEON’s science mission and it's overarching goal, is to “enable understanding and forecasting of the impacts of climate change, land use change and invasive species on continental‐scale ecology by providing infrastructure and consistent methodologies to support research and education.”
The Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (SEA) supports the NEON project through several subawards to broaden participation of the underrepresented community in project. This support includes the development and implementation of guidelines for a series of modular operations across the NEON domains that are designated as NEON Satellite Sites (NSS). The framework for the NSS is to provide the capacity for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), smaller majority institutions and other organizations to participate in the forecasting of future states of ecological systems for the advancement of science and the benefit of society. The NSS program can be viewed as a portal through which the underrepresented community can access NEON data and data products and it's information and physical infrastructures to address science questions that impact their specific communities.
SEA and NEON Satellite Sites Program Vision
The vision for the SEA NSS Program is two-fold: (1) identify the research capacity at MSIs, smaller majority institutions and other organizations as it relates to NEON science; and (2) provide opportunities to this underrepresented community to utilize that capacity to participate in the forecasting of future states of ecological systems for the advancement of science and the benefit of society. The MSIs include HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
SEA NSS Program Mission
The mission of the SEA NSS program is to broaden the participation of the HBCUs and other MSIs in NEON science through the planning, development, implementation, and operation of NSSs across the NEON domain sites continent wide.
NEON Clears Important Hurdle, Awaits Construction Money
NEON, Inc. is pleased to announce that the National Science Board (NSB), governing body of the National Science Foundation (NSF), has unanimously approved the $434 million award for the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) project to begin construction. This action authorizes the NSF director to provide NEON, Inc. the award funding over five years to
construct the observatory, contingent upon funding from Congress and compliance with the Endangered Species Act and National Historic Preservation Act for the 106 NEON sites. The NSB met May 4-5, in Arlington, VA.
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