Step 1

(2009) Consultation on Research Priorities

What are the next-generation science questions in Earth system research? In the context of mounting concern and greater public and private willingness to take action against global environmental change, what should Earth system research focus on over the next decade?

The Earth System Visioning process is designed to find answers by first collecting the broad spectrum of different views across disciplines and parts of the world and then focusing these down through a peer review process into a set of major international research priorities. The first step is to identify the breadth of perspectives on the critical themes in Earth system research.

And this Step proceeded through 4 components:

1. Online consultation of the global scientific community on the research questions
2. Visioning Earth Systems Research Meeting to process the online consultation results and produce research priorities
3. Draft research priorities – Earth System Science for Global Sustainability: The Grand Challenges
4. A second online consultation on the Grand Challenges document