[Radix] How to Kill Disaster-Related Social Science

[bwisner at igc.org]

Thanks for writing to the people responsible for the decision, Juha.  I am sure that many in the Global Environmental Facility feel the same way, although I understand you are writing in your own personal capacity.

I spoke on the phone with Mickey last night, and he thinks that emails to the people at NSF who fund NCAR will also be of significance -- look for the NSF email extensions in the list.

All recipients of radix at ecie should consider writing to express their dismay and the importance of the social science unit at NCAR for their own work in various countries.

It also seems to me that this is a rather ill considered thing to do at a time when the U.S. credibility as regards to climate questions is just beginning to be repaired in the global community!

I'd also like to share two passages from an email that a senior scientist at University of Colorado who used to work at NCAR, Dr. Robert Pielke, Jr., wrote in an exchange with Eric Barton, a senior administrator at NCAR:

"Frankly, I do not understand the logic behind taking less than two
weeks (and with no apparent consultation with the broader community of
relevant university stakeholders) to decide to terminate an activity
that has been going on at NCAR for 35 years, with an impressive
interdisciplinary track record, and a global network of stakeholders.
Further, knowing NCAR as I do, I find it (a) absolutely implausible
that the meager social science activities would (again) rise to the
top of the priority list across the entire institution for costs
savings -- both because of the minimal costs saved and the importance
of this research area as expressed by NCAR and NSF, and (b) similarly
implausible that within the area of social science that CCB would be
identified by NCAR as the top activity for termination, given its
visibility and track record."

"As you probably know by now the decision to abruptly terminate CCB has
caused shock waves throughout the climate impacts and social science
communities. ..."

Let's keep those "shock waves" rolling!!  Please spread this message as widely as possible, especially in climate science, development studies, and sustainability science circles.  Senior people in your countries met offices should also be in the loop.

All the best,

BEN

Dr. Ben Wisner

-----Original Message-----
>From: Juha Uitto <Juha.Uitto at undp.org>
>Sent: Aug 6, 2008 11:28 AM
>To: Ilan Kelman <ilan_kelman at hotmail.com>, "radix at ecie.org" <radix at ecie.org>
>Subject: RE: [Radix] How to Kill Disaster-Related Social Science
>
>Dear Ilan,
>
>Absolutely incredible! The fact that NCAR has had the connection to the applied and human side has given it its distinct edge. And Mickey Glantz has been instrumental in this regard. From the UN perspective, I can attest to how useful the work that he has initiated/nurtured over the many years has been in a variety of applied fields, be it the Aral Sea and the creeping environmental problems, El Nino/La Nina and their societal connections, and adaptation to climate change.
>
>I for one will point this out to the people in charge.
>
>Juha
>
>
>Juha Uitto, PhD
>Senior Evaluation Adviser
>UNDP Evaluation Office
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: radix-bounces at ecie.org [mailto:radix-bounces at ecie.org] On Behalf Of Ilan Kelman
>Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 3:34 PM
>To: radix at ecie.org
>Subject: [Radix] How to Kill Disaster-Related Social Science
>
>
>To Radix,
>
>See the email below announcing that the Center for Capacity Building http://www.ccb.ucar.edu at the National Center for Atmospheric Research http://www.ncar.ucar.edu in Boulder, Colorado has been disbanded and that its director, Michael H. Glantz http://www.ccb.ucar.edu/staff/glantz has been let go.  Glantz gave NCAR 34 years, producing cutting edge science and a string of top-level highly-influential scientific publications that would put anyone to shame.  He fostered young scholars, made connections around the world to assist science and its application in less affluent countries, and inspired numerous scientists and non-scientists of all ages and all cultures.
>
>This is scandalous.  It contradicts NCAR's strategic plan and exposes the hypocrisy of NCAR's and UCAR's leaders in stating their interest in the application of science to humanity.  Their excuse is the budget.  But what is the cost of this action?
>
>The email addresses of NCAR's director, the UCAR Board, and the NSF manager are barron at ucar.edu, tkilleen at nsf.gov, cjacobs at nsf.gov, Rfine at rsmas.miami.edu, anthes at ucar.edu, khc6 at cornell.edu,
>stevea at ssec.wisc.edu, robted at eas.gatech.edu, efi at umn.edu,
>smalcom at aaas.org, rpa711 at yahoo.com, rutledge at atmos.colostate.edu, anne at met.psu.edu, mmcclell at ucar.edu,
>richard.truly at comcast.net, hemant.shah at rms.com, len_pietrafesa at ncsu.edu,
>nutter at reinsurance.org, dennis at atmos.washington.edu,
>barbara.a.feiner at wustl.edu, kkd at ou.edu, rbierbau at umich.edu
>
>If you care about people, if you care about this planet, if you care about science, and if you care about science saving lives and contributing to humanity, then write to these people expressing your feelings.  If not, then we have only ourselves to blame for letting such appalling and destructive actions go unopposed.
>
>The tragedy is us and we do not deserve the tears that are owed to those whom we cannot, or refuse to, help.
>
>Ilan
>(CCB member from July 2005 to November 2007 who was one of the young scientists who owes a good proportion of his career success to Mickey.)
>
>---------------
>
>Subject:        message to staff
>Date:   Mon, 4 Aug 2008 15:03:14 -0600
>From:   Eric Barron
>To:     local-users at ucar.edu (All UCAR Staff)
>
>To All Staff,
>
>The two of us travelled to Washington, DC on July 23 to discuss and
>review NCAR budget scenarios for FY09 with NSF.  NSF and NCAR continue
>to face significant financial challenges.  FY09 budget projections
>remain at 0% level over FY08 on top of 2004-2008 subinflationary NCAR
>base increments and NSF priority program requirements.  There is also a
>high probability of a continuing resolution well into FY09, which begins
>October 1, 2008.  In this budget environment, NCAR and UCAR management
>must continue to take measures to plan for budgets based on NCAR and NSF
>strategic priorities.  The dissolution of the Societal-Environmental
>Research and Education Laboratory (SERE) was part of our effort to
>reduce costs in this very difficult funding environment.
>Unfortunately, based on our most recent analysis, additional actions
>must be taken, and thus we are eliminating the NCAR Center for Capacity
>Building (CCB) program.  This will save immediate and recurring direct
>and indirect costs.  We very much regret the impacts this has on staff.
>
>We have scheduled NCAR town meetings later this month so that we can
>discuss the financial, programmatic and scientific challenges and
>opportunities we will face together in the coming year.  We welcome your
>ideas and contributions.
>
>Eric Barron and Rick Anthes
>_________________________________________________________________
>
>
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