Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences

• ISBN13: 9780309072540
• ISBN10: 0309072549
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Natl Academy Pr

Summary

Report of the National Science Foundation and the National Research Council addressing the question of which scientific challenges related to the environment have the greatest potential for investment. The recommendations of the 17-member committee which decided the grand challenges in environmental sciences are published here, with discussions of feasibility. Softcover.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary	p. 1
Introduction	p. 7
The Grand Challenges	p. 14
Biogeochemical Cycles	p. 14
Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning	p. 20
Climate Variability	p. 27
Hydrologic Forecasting	p. 31
Infectious Disease and the Environment	p. 36
Institutions and Resource Use	p. 43
Land-Use Dynamics	p. 48
Reinventing the Use of Materials	p. 54
Recommended Immediate Research Investments	p. 60
Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning	p. 61
Hydrologic Forecasting	p. 63
Infectious Disease and the Environment	p. 64
Land-Use Dynamics	p. 66
Implementation Issues	p. 70
Complexity of Environmental Phenomena: An Overall Research Vision	p. 70
Implementation of Regional Approaches and the Role of Research Centers	p. 73
Building of Capacity for Interdisciplinary, Problem-Oriented Research	p. 74
Need for Interagency Support of Grand Challenge Research	p. 76
Need to Improve the Usefulness of Environmental Science Research	p. 77
References	p. 79
Letter of Solicitation	p. 89
Authors of Suggested Grand Challenges	p. 91
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