Addressing global challenges and taking action towards a sustainable future-in regards to ecology, biodiversity, water and food security and climate-requires both solution-driven research and a deep understanding of Earth and space systems. Trustworthy, reproducible science requires that data, including their provenance, be accessible for evaluation and further study. International collaboration and open data sharing are essential for addressing these challenges and promoting new scientific advances. Although strides have been made in improving data sharing platforms, as well as data and metadata standards, there is still work to be done to facilitate careful collection, stewardship and reuse of data across the Earth and space sciences. To achieve an ecosystem where data are consistently collected, well described, curated, shared, preserved and reused there needs to be significant continuous evolution in (i) equitable access to data and infrastructure, (ii) a change in the research culture and the scientific rewarding system to value data contributions, and (iii) standards around describing and documenting data across disciplines and domains. This statement takes the broadest interpretation of the term 'data' according to the Beijing Declaration on Research Data: data can be collected, generated or compiled by humans or machines and include (but not limited to) metadata, samples, methods, software and algorithms. Infrastructure includes hardware, intangible assets such as software and human capital. Ensure equitable access to trusted and reusable data Researchers have a responsibility to collect, document and share data-raw and processed-in an ethical manner that is as open and transparent as possible. Persistent funding is crucial for maintaining open and trusted data infrastructures, such as repositories, to facilitate ease of deposit and long-term reuse. This infrastructure supports the management and curation of data throughout the research process, ensuring that data are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) for both people and machines. To meet these expectations, investment in support staff, such as data stewards and IT developers, along with research and development of data architectures is imperative.

A document by Kristina Vrouwenvelder. Click on the document to view its contents.

NIST is an important leader in the US for setting standards that inform best practices for scientific research and innovation. AGU's response to the RFI is based on our experience working with Earth, space, and environmental science researchers as well as computer and information scientists and data and software experts in the work that we are doing in promoting FAIR and open software sharing in AGU journals and in the wider community. 

A document by Kristina Vrouwenvelder. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Shelley Stall. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by Shelley Stall. Click on the document to view its contents.

From devastating monsoons to sea level rise, extreme weather is taking its toll across the globe. Surging Waters looks at flooding in the United States and demonstrates how science is supporting flood management, as well as furthering the solutions needed to mitigate flood impacts on people and property in the future. The report's authors highlight three types of flooding---flooding due to hurricanes, flooding in the central U.S., and coastal flooding---through local stories. In 2017, Houston, Texas, was hit by Hurricane Harvey, the second most damaging weather disaster in U.S. history, and is still recovering. The city of De Soto, Mo., is emblematic of many areas in the Midwest that have been plagued by recurrent flash flooding. The Hampton Roads area of coastal Virginia has fallen victim to sinking land and rising seas. Through these stories and others, and compelling flood data presented for regions across the United States, the report shows how scientific research and data collection are essential to finding modern-day and future solutions to mitigate flooding. Robust funding for science-related federal agencies drives the advancement of science and provides support that is critical for the most vulnerable communities and individuals. Surging Waters, produced by AGU, a global not-for-profit scientific society dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity, recommends actions to build a more resilient and sustainable society. Reviewed by leading experts on the issues of flooding and extreme weather, this report aims to empower community members and leaders, scientists, federal agencies, and policymakers to work together to establish a stronger future for us all.

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is pleased to submit this RFI response to 2021-13640 on improving federal scientific integrity policies. AGU is the largest global organization covering the Earth sciences with a mission “to support and inspire a global community of individuals and organizations interested in advancing discovery in Earth and space sciences and its benefit for humanity and the environment.” Fostering integrity is a key part of our new strategic plan and past activities and we are engaged in supporting integrity broadly, including with federal agencies. Although not a focus of these recommendations, AGU has often spoken up through position statements and letters related to scientific integrity. Several examples are listed in the references. With this perspective, we urge OSTP to consider two points that we elaborate below: • Fostering integrity–and in turn public trust in science and science policy–requires a broad, holistic view of practices that extend beyond the typical focus on transparency and ethics to include ensuring deeper public engagement, addressing diversity and inclusivity in science and supporting the backbone infrastructure that enables all of these. • The way science is supported, practiced and conducted is changing significantly, as is its dissemination and communication, and these changes have important implications for fostering integrity in the 21st century. Specifically, parts of the culture and reward system of science need improvement to align with these changes, and OSTP and federal policy can be a strong proactive force in enabling this change. This is particularly the case if these policies and practices provide leading examples and extend to federal grants. Many other organizations would then align.