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THE JOHN WESLEY

POWELL CENTER FOR ANALYSIS

AND SYNTHESIS

Enhancing scientific discovery and problem-solving through integrated research

About the Powell Center Background/Need for Synthesis

All about Working Groups

What the Center offers (and expects)

Current activities and some statistics

Scientific Computing at Powell Center Current USGS/NSF coordination

Future Opportunities/Potential Collaborations

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In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed a science strategy outlining the major natural-science issues facing the Nation in the next decade

Increased recognition of need for integrated science led to realignment Mission Areas instead of disciplines Organized around these major issues

Recommendation for a place apart from everyday work pressures where synthesis of multi-disciplinary data could take place

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"We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world will henceforth be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely." E.O. Wilson, 1988

Synthesis driven by both need and desire to address questions on the leading edge of science as well as pressing global change, societal and human health issues.

Synthesis centers promote collaborative discovery.

Synthesis centers are efficient and cost-effective. They leverage and extract additional value from existing investment in researchers and host institutions.

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Concept became a reality in 2009

Key people and ideas from the Science Strategy visioning team converged to make it happen

Executive champion – Kevin Gallagher

Co-directors and chief scientists – Dr. Jill Baron and Dr. Marty Goldhaber

Space made available in USGS’ Fort Collins Science Center for Working Groups to gather

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Working Groups are different than workshops!

Teams of 8-15 people who collaborate intensively around one or more questions ripe for synthesis that may or may not require intensive data manipulation

Made up of diverse group of participants

At least one PI must be a USGS employee

WGs typically meet in Fort Collins several times over two or more years

Work virtually in between face to face meetings

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The opportunity for synthesis Time for in-depth analysis without distractions All-expense paid collaboration with colleagues Virtual in-between Powell Center meetings Fellows for scientific support Hands-on unlimited computing capabilities Page charges

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Webex, phone conferencing myUSGS, GoogleDocs common space for your

Working Group ScienceBase data cataloging/data management Temporary onsite data downloads and storage Database setup and administration Website development Geospatial support Automate Workflow Services (e.g Kepler or VisCalc) Modeling services (coding/compiling) High performance/high throughput computing (from

Condor to supercomputing) VisWall

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Induced Seismicity Bayesian Models

Amphibian Decline

Global Earthquakes

Biodiversity and N Deposition

Annual call for proposals – due April 30

All proposals go through Powell Center review and are ranked by the Science Advisory Board

Each proposal reviewed by at least 4 SAB members

Proposals discussed and ranked

Top proposals are funded

Constructive review comments returned for unsuccessful proposals

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Science Advisory Board currently made up of ~10 scientists from USGS, FS, NSF Broad range of expertise

NSF Geosciences is a formal sponsor and supports some, but not all, proposals USFS, EPA, Smithsonian, others have given in-

kind support

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Big important ideas o May require large, complicated, and

heterogeneous data sets o Or not – conceptual advancement is equally valued,

(but harder to sell)

Regional, national, global implications Clear, logical arguments Well-stated goals, objectives, methods,

timeline Proof of expertise Potential for high impact

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Full intellectual engagement of all participants Collegiality, constructive discussions High profile publications Many publications Open access to your metadata at end of Working

Group

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Synthesis

Center

Initial Year

of Center

Total Pubs

Average

number of

authors

# in high

impact

journals

NCEAS 1995 2500 9 295

NESCent 2004 677 5 105

NIMBios 2008 422 4 35

Powell 2009 54 9 9

CESAB 2011 20 8 3

2014 Fall Meeting

21 Presentations

2 Sessions

504

Working Group

Participants

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Product Subproduct Number Notes

Publications Published 54 293 total citations

259 unique citations

In press/submitted 3/17

Data and Metadata 5 Science Base

Outside Support Travel $44,500 NSF, FS, PAGES,

Smithsonian, GEM

Fellow salary/tuition $220,000 NSF, EPA, FS, CU-Boulder,

UC-Riverside, NRP

New Research Funds Proposals funded $6,777,000 USGS, NPS, NASA, DOE,

Belmont Forum, NIMBios, USDA/NIFA, NSF

Project websites Global Croplands, Western

Mercury 2

Honors and awards Commentaries, Excellence in Res. Application Award

3 Science, Nature, USDA

Forest Service

Measures of Success (as of 022715)

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Scientific Computing and Informatics at

the Powell Center

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Earth Science

Computational Science

Data Science

• Modeling and synthesis methods • Computer science research and

development • Computer engineering • Technology-enabled science response • High volume, high speed computing

for science

• Water Census • Hazards & Risk • Ecosystems Understanding • Energy & Minerals • Climate & Land Use • Wildlife & Human health

• Data analysis and synthesis • Data collection, acquisition,

and management • Data transformation, and

visualization • Data documentation (fitness for

use) • Derive new knowledge and

new products through integration

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Spatio-Temporal Exploratory Models predict the probability of occurrence of bird species across the United States at a 35 km x 35 km grid.

Data Analysis Examples – endless possibilities with science data

Land Cover

Potential Uses- • Examine patterns of migration • Infer impacts of climate change • Measure patterns of habitat

usage • Measure population trends

Model results eBird

Meteorology

MODIS – Remote sensing data

Occurrence of Indigo Bunting (2008)

Jan Sep Dec Jun Apr

Provide a robust scientific cyberinfrastructure in support of data integration, complex modeling, data analysis and visualization. This includes: high performance computing (HPC) and storage capabilities, expertise, education, and reliable cyberinfrastructure to USGS scientists, researchers and collaborators.

Decrease “time to solution”

Faster results

Increase “scope of question”

Complex questions

Higher accuracy

Address growing “data” issues

“Big Data” Challenges

Data transfer

Communities of practice

People

Availability

Cyberinfrastructure platform

Sustainable

Reliable

Time Data

Scale Access

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BioEco Initiative

JWP/EarthCube Digital Crust

JWP Advisory Board participation

DataONE

InterOP - Virtual Data Center

EarthCube

XSEDE

Semantics - Sonet, RPI, SEEK

Ecoinformatics Dear Colleague Letter/Joint Funding

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Local representative and liaison between XSEDE and campus (or organization

Local source of knowledge concerning HPC and other digital resources available through XSEDE

USGS Student hires MOU signed by Kevin Gallagher May 2014

establishing two USGS Champions

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Planning, reviewing EcoINFORMA

Interagency coordination: Ecosystems.

data.gov

Biodiversity Informatics

GBIF, IPBES, EU

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1 of 4 original PIs for Phase 1 and USGS involved in Phase 2 Working Group Leads Usability, Education

Leadership Team

Member Node

USGS Workshops

Contributing software developer time

Complementary agreements with UNM, UC, RPI, UT, DOE ORNL

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❖ Mission closely aligns Core Science Systems

❖ Involved in charrettes, governance, and review panels

❖ Letters of support (RCNs, Projects) = Resulting projects

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❖ Big Data Senior Steering Group works under NITRD to develop big data and data science strategies for the U.S. ❖USGS is a member of the BDSSG and is using the

collaboration to advance development of its own data science practice

❖US Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and the Big Earth Data Initiative (BEDI) ❖USGS co-chairs the Data Management Working Group,

developing Earth Observation System Common Framework to enhance interobility - will impact future data management strategies for all fed-funded programs

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Joint funding of technologically innovative proposals

NSF CISE representation on Powell Center Science Advisory Board

Enhanced HPC collaboration: Clear HPC allocations; attract proposals with HPC components.

Special XSEDE allocation; XSEDE proposal timeline doesn’t mesh with JWP timeline

On site HPC expansion--USGS buys hardware; XSEDE ECSS program funds domain experts for on-site support

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Data visualization -- support on site operation, tools and support

Participating with local universities (CU, CSU) for HPC projects

Connect DataONE - increase support potentially in community area, potentially around data management, culture, joint tools, etc.

Workshop around informatics support for workshop recommendations

on-going efforts in the area of semantics, CI, DM, etc

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Conduct synthesis work at the Powell Center to test a methodology you are interested in (Big Data, Earth Cube, Analytical Modelling) Take the Proposal/WG route - submit a proposal through annual cycle

Take the Workshop route – use the Powell Center facility for your group to meet

Develop advanced analytical methods/capabilities Contribute funds for computing infrastructure for modelling or other analyses

Working Groups can use equipment and test innovative methods using the data they bring to the Powell Center for analysis and synthesis

Develop visualization capabilities Contribute to funds for Vis-wall and/or person who can run it at Powell Center

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Cooperators and additional support from CUAHSI EPA Forest Service Smithsonian Tropical Forest Research Institute Global Earthquake Model Foundation PAGES-IGBP (Past Global Changes)

MOU signing USGS (Kevin Gallagher) and NSF Geosciences Directorate (Roger Wakimoto)

updated 2012

We Gratefully Acknowledge

For more info contact Marcia McNiff at mmcniff@usgs.gov