The complex nature of problems associated with global environmental change requires far more interdisciplinary research than traditionally has occurred. The development of interdisciplinary collaborations requires scientists from different fields to become familiar with the perspectives, experiences, and methods that each employs. This award supports three two-week sessions that will be conducted by the Aspen Global Change Institute during July and August 1994. The sessions will bring together natural and social scientists for in-depth discussions during which they will share the results from their latest work, learn from each other, and stimulate new ideas regarding central topics for global change research. The three sessions in 1994 will deal with issues that have been identified as being of major importance to agencies participating in the U.S. Global Change Research Program (US/GCRP). Those topics are (1) radiation feedbacks and the credibility of atmospheric models, (2) anticipating global change surprises, and (3) biological invasion as a global change. The results of the sessions will be disseminated through a variety of media. Summary reports will be published in widely circulated major newsletters. Session chairs will conduct a briefing for US/GCRP agency officials, and more complete written reports of session proceedings and conclusions will be made available in both written and electronic forms. Support for this project is provided by NSF on behalf of other US/GCRP agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Through support of these sessions, new insights will be gained about critical issues in global change research. Of potentially greater importance will be opportunities for leading scientists to become familiar with counterparts from other disciplines. Experience has shown that from initial discussions like those that occur in these sessions, effective interdisciplinary collaborations needed to conduct global change resea rch often develop.
