Organization:
Research Title: Methods and Models for Integrated Assessment
Funding Level (millions of dollars):
| FY94 | 0.0 |
|---|---|
| FY95 | 3.4 |
| FY96 | 3.4 |
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Component:
(a) Subcommittee: Global Change Research Subcommittee (100%)
Social and Economic Sciences Research Subcommittee, Risk Assessment Group
NSTC Committee on Fundamental Science
(b) Environmental Issue: Other- Integrated Modeling and Prediction (70%);
Large-Scale
Changes in Land-Use (10%); Climate Change (10%)
Large-Scale Changes in Ocean Ecosystems (10%)
(c) Research Activity: Assessments: Integrated (100%)
Organizational Component:
NSF-wide activity coordinated through the
Social,
Behavioral, and Economic Research Division
Directorate for the Social,
Behavioral,
and
Economic Sciences
NSF. Decision, Risk, and Management Science Program
NSF/SBER Room 995
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230
Point of Contact:
Robin Cantor
Phone: 703-306-1757
Research Goals:
To improve methods for integrated assessment frameworks, models and tools by
supporting research projects which are (1) disciplinary efforts enhancing
methodology
and
process understanding with significant implications for integrated assessment
modeling;
or
(2) larger scale and interdisciplinary efforts enhancing methodology to link multiple
human
and natural systems with reference to high priority policy issues.
Research Description:
The methods for integrated assessment program supports research that enhances
science
for comprehensive approaches analyzing decision and policy problems where the
studies
of
impacts and consequences require a broader set of information than does a standard
research activity. Key features of integrated assessment problems that are addressed
by the
program are explicit and important influences of multiple physical and human
systems,
highly interdependent consequences, and a fundamental need for interdisciplinary
perspectives on the analytical components of the modeled systems.
Program Interfaces:
The program emerged from an interagency process that recognized the challenging
science
needs of integrated assessment approaches. As a result, program planning calls for
interagency coordination explicitly in the review and award recommendation
processes.
Program Milestones:
- Completion of research projects that advance methods for integrated assessments
from
1995 to 1999.
- Completion of research projects that address critical issues in model integration
or model
components from 1995 to 1999.
- Periodically promote activities that foster agency and research community
interactions
and
communication about scientific enhancements in integrated assessment approaches.
Policy Payoffs:
Improved methods for integrated assessment approaches are fundamental to
refining
our
understanding of complex, multi-system policy problems. Examples include
decision
and
policy analysis in global environmental change, large-scale technological change,
and
international socio-political evolution. The benefits of better methods will accrue
to policy
analysts and decision makers at all levels by increasing our understanding of system
interdependencies and feedback in complex policy problems. Improved methods for
comprehensive analysis of integrated systems will provide sounder scientific bases
for
assessing the likely impact and efficacy of various types of policies and response
strategies.