Hot Topic: Research in NOAA

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Hot Topic Research in NOAA

• NOAA Leadership Summit
• August 24, 2004

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Science and Research Definitions

• NOAA is a science based organization that
  conducts research
• Science systematic knowledge of the physical or
  material world
• Research systematic inquiry into a subject in
  order to discover or revise facts, theories, etc.

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FY 03 Actual NOAA Budget (3.4B)
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FY 03 NOAA RD by Line Office (705.7M)
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FY 03 Line Office RD
FY 03 Line Office RD
As Percent of each Line Offices Total Budget
NOS 13
NMFS 17
OAR 85
Total 61.5 million
Total 147.2 million
Total 324.1 million
NMAO 70
NWS 3
NESDIS 3
Total 26.3 million
Total 19.2 million
Total 127.4 million
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FY 03 Line Office RD
FY 03 Goal RD
As Percent of each Line Offices Total Budget
Ecosystems 21
Climate 45
Commerce Transportation 1
Total 2.7 million
Total 152.2 million
Total 300 million
Organizational Excellence 72
Weather Water 8
Total 151.8 million
Total 98.9 million
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FY 03 NOAA-Wide RD Internal and External RD
(705.7M)
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Definitions for Research in NOAA

• Basic Research
• Gain fuller understanding of the fundamental
  aspects of phenomena without specific
  applications
• Applied Research
• Gain understanding necessary for determining the
  means by which a specific need may be met

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Definitions for Research in NOAA

• Development
• Systematic use of the knowledge gained from
  research, directed toward the production of
  useful materials, systems, or methods, including
  the development of prototypes

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FY 03 NOAA-Wide RD (705.7M)
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NOAA Research Review

• Science Advisory Board Review completed August 6,
  2004
• Goals
• To improve management of research in NOAA
• Respond to criticism of research in NOAA
• Eleven Recommendations

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1. Develop a 20-Year Research Vision 5-Year
Research Plan

• NOAA Research Council is leading an effort in
  drafting a NOAA-wide Research Plan and Vision to
  support NOAAs mission goals and its updated
  Strategic Plan for FY 2005-2010
• Timeline
• Public Comments Due
• Publish Research Plan and Vision

• 9/20/04
• 11/11/04

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2. Establish an Associate Administrator for
Research a Research Board

• Associate Administrator would have responsibility
  for, and authority over, research in NOAA
• Research Board, chaired by the Associate
  Administrator would consist of NOAA leadership
  (AAs?)
• Research Council (LO chief scientists) would
  support Research Board
• Response under discussion

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3. Transition NOAA Research to Operations
andProvide Information Services

• Develop a formal process for transferring
  research to operations
• Response under discussion

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4. Develop Criteria for Determining Where
Research is Located Apply It

• There is no clear rationale for where research is
  located by line office within NOAA
• Develop criteria for determining where research
  is located within NOAA. When? How? Who?
• An external Task Team will evaluate ecosystems
  research in NMFS, NOS and OAR. When? How? Who?

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5. Promote Extramural Research in NOAA

• Develop guidance to ensure proper engagement with
  the extramural research community in both
  planning and executing programs. Work with
  program managers to implement this guidance.
• Standardize/expedite grants process
• Research Council will track extramural research
  funding

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6. Develop Process for Creating Cooperative
Institutes

• Research Council will develop guidelines that
  will address the NOAA-wide method for
  competitively awarding and operating Cooperative
  Institutes
• Complete draft policy and send out for public
  comment prior to being formally adopted

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7. Ensure reimbursable work enhances NOAAs
ability to meet its mission

• Reimbursable funds can augment or distract from
  NOAAs ability to pursue its mission
• To reduce levels of reimbursable funds requires
  reduction of workforce or increase in base funds
• Response under discussion

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8. Strengthen management of Research

• OAR proposes to create an Office of Laboratories
  and Cooperative Institutes to provide vision,
  integration, and day-to-day oversight of labs
• OAR proposes to create an Office of Program
  Development and Evaluation to build and evaluate
  an integrated research program spanning both
  intramural and extramural activities
• OAR proposes to create a Communications Office

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9. Consolidate OAR Boulder Laboratories

• The Boulder research laboratories will be
  consolidated. When? How?

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10. Conduct a core capability analysis of Air
Resources Laboratory

• ARL is the most geographically dispersed and
  highly leveraged lab in NOAA
• A core capability analysis of ARL will be
  conducted to assess whether ARLs research is
  appropriately focused on NOAAs mission

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11. Continue Oversight

• Request that Science Advisory Board appoint an
  external team to review progress in implementing
  the Review Team report