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JISAO Review - 2005

A Presentation to the NOAA Science Advisory Board

Jim KinterChair, JISAO Review Committee

Director, Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies

8 August 2005

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Outline

• Purpose

• Overview and Background

• Major Findings of the Review

• Recommendations

• SAB Action

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Purpose

Summarize the five-year review of the Joint Institute for Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO) at the University of Washington (UW)

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Overview and Background

• A five-year (2001-2005) review of the Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO) was conducted on 19-20 April 2005

• Review committee members: – Ned Cyr, NOAA Fisheries– Jim Kinter, COLA (chair)– Galen McKinley, U. Wisconsin-Madison– Bob Weller, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

• Full report made available to SAB in May 2005

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Major Findings of the Review

• Research• JISAO conducts excellent collection of research projects and

programs directly addressing NOAA strategic goals• Partnership with NOAA/PMEL particularly strong; essential to

PMEL’s productivity

• Education• The post-doctoral & educational programs are of the highest

quality

• Outreach• The outreach activities, especially those undertaken by the

Climate Impacts Group, are quite impressive

• Management• The management of JISAO is now quite effective and its

flexible institutional arrangements are an asset

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Challenges for JISAO & NOAA

• Re-competition of NOAA Cooperative Institutes• Introduces high degree of uncertainty • Part of overall change in research “landscape”

• Expansion of research portfolio• Addition/enhancement of research in regional marine

ecosystems, hydrothermal vents & tsunamis is desirable• Will require greater communication, coordination,

planning & prioritization within JISAO & among partners

• Off-campus location of JISAO offices • Represents barrier to building academic community

• The Director of JISAO will step down in 2006 • Selection/transition to effective new Director essential

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Recommendations

• Prepare comprehensive strategic plan – Derive maximum benefit from C.I. arrangement – Reactivate JISAO Administrative Board (JISAO Director; UW

research administration, deans and department heads; heads of PMEL, AFSC and NWFSC; NOAA management)

– Plan for the transition to a new Director

• Balance research portfolio– Maintain strength in ENSO & ocean observations– Expand marine ecosystems, hydrothermal vents & tsunamis– Proactive, not reactive

• Re-locate JISAO offices on UW campus

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SAB Action

• Accept JISAO review report• Follow up:

– Direct NOAA to engage in JISAO strategic planning through labs, OAR and Fisheries management and Cooperative Institutes management

– Establish timeline for re-competition of Cooperative Institutes to provide at least one year to shut down, if necessary