Letter from the R2K Chair
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to report that the Program Review panel has strongly endorsed a second phase for the Ridge 2000 Program (R2K). The panel report (link in sidebar at left) indicates significant enthusiasm for the scientific goals of R2K and a generally positive view of progress to date. This means that we can expect continued support for our interdisciplinary work through 2012, when the Program will complete its full term. This is good news and a solid reflection of the value placed on the scientific understandings that we are expected to achieve in the coming few years.
I encourage you to read the recommendations provided by Review Panel members for the next phase of R2K in more detail. The Panel Report is available on the R2K website (follow the 'program review' link in the sidebar at http://ridge2000.org/science/info/index.php) as is an accompanying NSF Cover Letter, which indicates agency endorsement of the recommendations. You may also find it useful to look through the summary of Program activities and progress to date that was prepared for the panel by the R2K Office, with significant Steering Committee input.
In brief, the main panel recommendation is for a shift toward dominant emphasis on integration of results and synthesis that is guided by evolving models of (parts of) the spreading/hydrothermal geo-bio-chemical system(s). New data acquisition is still envisioned during the second phase, but at a more limited pace than during the first phase of the program and more specifically targeted toward obtaining measurements that are crucial for testing the models being developed.
An increased emphasis on integration had been one goal of Steering Committee recommendations for transitioning Integrated Studies Sites last year and I'm happy to report that a good number of proposals have been submitted for synthesis work on existing East Pacific Rise data (the first site to transition from active field status). However, the panel feels that much greater focus on in-depth synthesis will be required in order to achieve the desired understandings within the next few years. I will be working with the Steering Committee to design mechanisms that can enhance success within our multi-disciplinary community (for example workshops focused on a particular interface within the system, improving modes of data sharing, regular video conferences to speed scientific exchange amongst various small collaborative groups).
Your ideas on ways that we can enhance understanding of any part of interplay within the mantle-to-microbe system are always welcome, whether they involve activities for the general community, a specific field experiment, or efforts that we in the R2K Office can make to increase accessibility to any aspect of the Program's data/results/planning. I have opened an online discussion on this topic so feel free to share your ideas widely in that venue (online discussion). Alternatively, you can get in touch with me or any Steering Committee member (contact info) and we'll be happy to listen to your ideas and discuss possibilities at our upcoming meeting, March 28-29 in Portland, immediately following the Mantle to Microbe community meeting and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge workshop.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Portland next week,
Donna
March 16, 2008