PAGES funding update
The US National Science Foundation has confirmed it will support PAGES' activities until mid-2018, and the Swiss NSF, until the end of 2015 with an invitation to re-submit a proposal under Future Earth. We thank the NSFs for their vote of confidence that means we can continue to work with the paleoscience-community over the coming years.
New PAGES Working Groups
Three new PAGES working groups have recently been launched:
• C-PEAT – Carbon in Peat on EArth through Time
• DICE – Dust Impact on Climate and Environment
• OC3 - Ocean circulation and carbon cycling.
You can read more about the plans of C-PEAT and DICE in their Program News articles in this issue, and there’s more about all of our new, ongoing, and former groups on the PAGES website.
Three more new working groups on transitions in aquatic systems; soil and sediment transfers in the Anthropocene; and anthropogenic land cover change were also accepted at the last EXCOM meeting and are now in the process of being set up.
The next deadline for working group proposals is 5 January 2015. See PAGES website > Working Groups for more information.
Future Earth update
The Future Earth program’s permanent secretariat, operational in 2015, will span three continents with five global hubs in Montreal, Paris, Tokyo, Stockholm and Boulder. This will be complemented by regional hubs representing Latin America, Europe, and North Africa and the Middle East.
Future Earth also recently announced funding for eight new Fast Track Initiatives and Cluster Activities intended to kick-start integrated activities and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. PAGES, designated to join Future Earth in 2015, is involved in two Fast Track Initiatives: one organizing scientific support to the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and another, investigating extreme events and environments and the impact on climate and society.
Supported workshops
At its most recent meeting in June 2014, the PAGES Executive Committee granted support for four scientific meetings. View the list of successful meetings at: PAGES website > People > Scientific Steering Committee > Meeting Minutes. The next deadline for meeting support proposals is 5 January 2015. See PAGES website > My PAGES.
Nominate for the PAGES SSC
PAGES is calling for nominations of scientists to serve on its Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) from 2016 onwards. The SSC is the body responsible for overseeing PAGES activities. At the end of 2015, four members will rotate off the SSC (See PAGES website > People > Scientific Steering Committee > SSC membership history). Scientists serve on the SSC initially for a period of 3 years, with the potential of renewing for an additional 3-year term.
By 2015, it is envisioned PAGES will be operating as part of Future Earth with active collaborations with the World Climate Research Program. Nominees should be familiar with the development of these programmes and be able to contribute positively to strengthening PAGES' position within this environment.
In seeking nominations, not only are we looking for scientific excellence and a high level of commitment to PAGES' goals, but we are also aiming to achieve a disciplinary, nationality, gender and age balance. The deadline for nominations is 5 January 2015. The guidelines are available at: PAGES website > People > Scientific Steering Committee > Nominate
Contribute to the PAGES 2k Global Temperature Database
The PAGES 2k Project invites anyone with an interest in and knowledge of climate change during the past two millennia to join a worldwide effort to update and publish the next generation database of temperature-sensitive proxy climate records of the last two millennia. The updated database will be the basis for reconstructing global temperature changes and addressing a range of research questions. More details about the plan, goals, guidelines, and timeline can be found at: PAGES website > Working Groups > 2k Network
Paleoclimate documentary featuring 2k Network
Taking Earth’s Temperature: Delving into Climate’s Past is an hour-long documentary showcasing scientific discoveries in climate change research. Made by filmmakers at Northern Arizona University’s IDEA Lab, it features contributions from many PAGES-affiliated scientists, including the PAGES 2k Network. The broadcast schedule and DVD are available at: www.takingearthstemperature.org. Teachers can also register on this website for free access to the film and a lesson plan.