Overview

The fifth official meeting of the U.S. National Assessment Synthesis Team took place June 6-7 at the National Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia. The meeting was chaired by Tony Janetos, Tom Karl and Jerry Melillo, the co-chairs of the Synthesis Team.

In total, fourteen members of the Synthesis Team participated in all or part of the meeting. There were also twenty-three additional participants, including representatives of four of five sector teams, and leaders representing the Interregional Forum, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Assessment Working Group and the National Assessment Coordination Office.

Attendance

The following members of the Synthesis Team participated in the meeting:

• Eric Barron, Pennsylvania State University
• Virginia Burkett, U.S. Geological Survey
• Thomas Cecich, Glaxo-Wellcome, Inc.
• John H. Gibbons, former Office of Science and Technology Policy (ex-officio)
• Katharine Jacobs, Arizona Department of Water Resources
• Tony Janetos, World Resources Institute (Co-Chair)
• Linda Joyce, USDA Forest Service
• Tom Karl, NOAA Climatic Data Center (Co-Chair)
• Jerry Melillo, Woods Hole MBL (Co-Chair)
• Barbara Miller, Rankin International/World Bank
• M. Granger Morgan, Carnegie Mellon University
• Edward Parson, Harvard/Kennedy School of Government
• Richard Richels, Electric Power Research Institute
• David Schimel, National Center for Atmospheric Research

In addition, approximately 20 representatives of federal agencies and members of the conference support staff participated in the meeting. One journalist attended the meeting.

Welcome and Objectives

The Co-Chairs of the Synthesis Team outlined the objective for the meeting: to review the zero order draft of the documents that had been submitted and make strategic decisions about next steps. The meeting would also aim to clarify section templates, technical depth aimed for, and timetables. This was the first meeting where both the graphics strategist and technical writer were present.

Terminology

The following are the terms we are using for the various reports coming out of the National Assessment (the first two are the products of the Synthesis Team):

• Overview Document (previously "Executive Summary" - approximately 75 pages, with a 4 page spread for each mega-region/sector)
• Foundation Document (200+ pages, heavily referenced)
• Bedrock Documents (reports from the region and sectors)

Template for Regions/Sectors in Overview Document (4 page spread including many visuals; approximately 1000 words)

The team discussed the template for regions and sectors in light of issues encountered in doing first draft. The following was concluded to be the revised template:

• Context
• Observed Climate
• Future Climate Projections
• Major Issues
• Coping Strategies
• Many visuals
• A boxed "story"

Meeting participants went through the document chapter by chapter discussing potential visuals that exist or could be developed for each section.

Short-Term Action Items

The following became the short-term action items:

• Please send graphics and graphics ideas to Paul Grabhorn as soon as possible (this week) for the Overview Document.
• Please work with Susan Hassol on iterations and re-writes of your 4-page spread for the Overview Document if you are representing a region or sector (or other sections, as applicable).
• Please send your Foundation Document chapters to Susan as soon as they are ready (in particular those of you who are working with her in June including Eric, Kathy, Virginia, Mike and Granger).
• Please be sure you have made travel arrangements for the July meeting and Woods Hole (travel for NAST via NSF - contact Susan Henson).
• See timetable for additional steps.

Timetable/Longer-Term Action Items

The team also discussed the longer-term timetable:

June 20/21

Paul Grabhorn emails Overview Document to Synthesis Team and Blue Ribbon Panel

June 22

Blue Ribbon Panel meets with Synthesis Team Co-Chairs

June 21-23

Eric Barron (NE) works with Susan on Foundation Document chapter

June 24-26

Kathy Jacobs (Water) works with Susan on Foundation Document chapter

June 27-29

Mike MacCracken (Native) and Granger Morgan (Scenarios) work with Susan on the Foundation Document chapters

July 7-9

Next Meeting of the Synthesis Team at NSF; at this meeting we will review the penultimate draft of the Overview Document and a revision of the Foundation Document. This meeting will be a working session in order to come closer to finalizing the Foundation Document. We will have a few regional and sectoral chapters of the Foundation Document edited and mocked-up.

Aug. 10-20

Woods Hole Meeting (travel August 9th; leave the afternoon of the 20th); at this meeting we will finalize the Foundation Document and the Overview Document, and then focus on creating a presentation/presentations so that Synthesis Team members will have a common vocabulary in discussing the report. The days will be structured as follows:

• Day 1: Reading
• Days 2-5: Work on Foundation Document/Overview Document
• Days 6-10: Final polishing and presentations

Certification

I certify that these Minutes accurately reflect discussions at this Meeting:

______________________________________________
Melissa J. Taylor, Rapporteur