“Data Not Analyzed And SYNTHESIZED Are Data Never

Collected” JJ Orth June 5, 2009

The Current Situation

• Enormous amount of data collected by CBP and partners over past 25 years

• Unique data sets over a time course

• Unprecedented

• Much of it remains buried (unanalyzed??)

• Few opportunities to dig into data in meaningful way

The Challenge

• How to make ‘heads or tails’ of this unique data set.

• Are answers to dealing with the Chesapeake Bay and it’s resources hidden in these data?

• What have we learned? And has the money been well spent?

The Solution

• Form synthesis teams of scientists and managers to address key environmental issues in Chesapeake Bay using Bay data sets.

A Proposed Model

• A Chesapeake Bay Synthesis and Analysis Team

• Modeled after NSF’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)

National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis; NCEAS

• UC Santa Barbara; NSF & Packard Foundation sponsored

• Located in downtown Santa Barbara• Working groups; 12-15 max, diverse• Self assembled & managed• $ for travel, accommodation & per diem;

student/post-doc support• Produce high quality, multi-author, multi-

disciplinary synthetic papers in top peer-reviewed journals

NCEAS impact• NCEAS ranked 22nd in the world in

citations per article in ecology and the environment (out of almost 38,000 institutions)

Global trajectories of seagrasses: Establishing a quantitative basis for

seagrass conservation and restoration

NCEAS process

Example NCEAS papers• R. J. Orth, T. J.B. Carruthers, W. C. Dennison, C.

M. Duarte, J. W. Fourqurean, K. L. Heck, Jr., A. R. Hughes, G. A. Kendrick, W. J. Kenworthy, S. Olyarnik, F. T. Short, M. Waycott, and S. L. Williams. 2006. A Global Crisis for Seagrass Ecosystems. Bioscience 56:987-996.

• S. L. Williams. 2007. Introduced species in seagrass systems: Status and concerns. Journal of Experimental Biology and Ecology 350:89-110.

• F. T. Short, T. J. B. Carruthers, W. C. Dennison, and M. Waycott. 2007. Global seagrass distribution and diversity. Journal of Experimental Biology and Ecology 350:3-20

• T. J.B. Carruthers, W. C. Dennison, G. A. Kendrick, M. Waycott, D. I. Walker, and M. L. Cambridge. 2007. Seagrasses of south-west Australia: A conceptual synthesis of the world’s most diverse and extensive seagrass meadows. Journal of Experimental Biology and Ecology 350:21-45.

• M. Waycott, C. M. Duarte, T. J. B. Carruthers, R. J. Orth, W. C. Dennison, S. Olyarnik, A. Calladine, J. W. Fourqurean, K. L. Heck, Jr., A. R. Hughes, G. A. Kendrick, W. J. KenworthyF. T. Short,, and S. L. Williams. In Press. Accelerating loss of seagrass across the globe threatens global ecosystems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

NCEAS attributes to emulate• Provide unique opportunity to address important and timely issues.• Create an environment that facilitates critical thinking• Limited group size leading to careful selection and emphasis on group dynamics• Encourage diversity (gender, career stage, discipline, geography)• Good IT support including web based data, wireless and LAN workstations• Good PR support including training, media liaisons

NCEAS attributes to emulate

• Convenient, available breakouts and lots of white boards in conference rooms• Snacks, coffee, juice and water always available in kitchenette• Minimal administrative disturbance but maximum availability• Location, location, location; easy walk/no cars, restaurants and shops available•Easy and rapid reimbursement (per diems, few receipts, hotel paid directly)

Chesapeake Synthesis and Analysis Team

• Conduct data analyses and effectively communicate findings to support management

• Provide webinars at end of each working group sessions

• Provide link between CBP Technical Support Services, CBP Action Teams and STAC

• Two types of products—peer review scientific publications and science communication products

Chesapeake Synthesis and Analysis Teams

• Annapolis based– Proximity to CBP staff– Hotels, restaurants and airport/shuttle

proximity– Central location in Chesapeake watershed– Annapolis Synthesis Center created to

emulate NCEAS– Reasonable rates

Chesapeake Synthesis Action Team composition

• 12 Maximum• Include 1-2 CBP staff in each working group• Include at least one graduate student• Maintain membership diversity• Include at least one scientist from outside

watershed• Assign Science Communicator in support role• Include resource managers and scientists in

working groups

Chesapeake Synthesis and Analysis Team funding

• Competitive proposal process

• Scientist/manager panel to evaluate proposals (include STAC, CBP, State agency personnel)

• Co-sponsorship possible (CBP & foundations)

Seize the Moment!

• Create the environment and they will come!!