Earth System Visioning Process

This year ICSU launched the Earth system visioning process to engage the scientific community to explore options and to propose implementation steps for a holistic strategy on Earth system research. The first step in this process is examining the research needs. Attached you will find a draft document entitled “Grand Challenges in Global Sustainability Research: A Systems Approach to Research Priorities for the Decade” to address these needs. We would like to know your input on this draft document before 21 February 2010.

I invite you to visit http://www.surveymonkey.com to submit your views; please note we are only able to accept comments that use this link. Background information on the visioning process can be found at http://www.icsu-visioning.org.

The draft “Grand Challenges” document seeks to mobilize social and natural scientists and the humanities around an unprecedented 10-year scientific effort to address the challenges in global sustainability research. The selection of the Grand Challenges and research priorities is being carried out through a process that began with an Internet consultation in July and August 2009. The Internet consultation yielded more than 300 proposed Earth System research priorities contributed by registered users from 85 countries.

• ‘Grand Challenges in Global Sustainability Research: A Systems Approach to Research Priorities for the Decade’
• Online consultation – deadline for comments: 21 February 2010