Updated September 2024

The role of the CAB is to provide a 4th line of assurance to the CESM core activities. It reviews areas of CESM core activities and provides independent advice to NSF, NCAR, UCAR and the Chief Scientist of CESM.  The CAB will be made up of between 6 and 10 members. They will be scientists, software engineers, or experts in delivering large technical programs of work. They will be independent of those working on the project and the SSC. Ideally, if possible, they will not be a key user or developer of CESM such they can give the most impartial advice. However, it is recognized that this may not always be possible and where members are engaged in CESM activities they should strive to avoid being primarily focused on their own research needs or disciplines. 

• Members
• Terms of Reference

Members

Chair

Dr. Elizabeth Hunke (11/1/15 - 6/30/24) Chair since 4/1/2021
Los Alamos National Laboratory, P. O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545
Email: eclare@lanl.gov

Members

Dr. Annalisa Bracco (7/1/20 - 6/30/24)
Georgia Institute of Technology, ES&T, North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30332
Tel: 404-894-9472 Fax: 404-894-5638 Email: annalisa@eas.gatech.edu

Dr. Dargan Frierson (7/1/20 - 6/30/25)
University of Washington, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, ATG Rm 602 Box 351640, Seattle, WA 98195
Tel: 206-685-7364 Fax: 404-894-5638 Email: dargan@atmos.washington.edu

Dr. Gregory S. Jenkins (7/1/20 - 6/30/24)
Pennsylvania State University, Professor of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, Geography, and African Studies, 510 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-0479 Email: gsj1@psu.edu

Dr. Laure Zanna (7/1/20 - 6/30/24)
New York University, Courant Institute, Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science, Department of Mathematics
Phone: 212-998-3180 Email: laure.zanna@nyu.edu

Dr. Michael Alexander (7/1/20 - 6/30/25)
NOAA, PSL, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305
Tel: 303-497-6030 Email: michael.alexander@noaa.gov

Dr. Michael Pritchard (7/1/20 - 6/30/25)
UC Irvine, Department of Earth System Science, 3317 Croul Hall, Irvine, CA 92697
Tel: 949-824-3538 Email: mspritch@uci.edu

Dr. Paco Doblas Reyes (7/1/20 - 6/30/25)
Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Tel: +34 934137719 Email: francisco.doblas-reyes@bsc.es

Dr. Vaishali Naik (7/1/20 - 6/30/25)
NOAA, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Physical Scientist Biogeochemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate Division, Room 259, 201 Forrestal Rd, Princeton, NJ 08540
Tel: 609-987-5057 Email: Vaishali.Naik@noaa.gov

Ex-Officio Members

Dr. Everette Joseph, NCAR Director
NCAR, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000
Tel: 303-497-1111, Email: ejoseph@ucar.edu

Dr. Tony Busalacchi, UCAR President
P. O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000
Tel: 303-497-1652, Email: tonyb@ucar.edu

Dr. David Lawrence, CESM Chief Scientist
NCAR Climate & Global Dynamics Laboratory, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000
Tel: 303-497-1384, Email: dlawren@ucar.edu

Prof. Jon Petch, CGD Director
NCAR Climate & Global Dynamics Laboratory, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000
Tel: 303-497-2613 Fax: 303-497-1700, Email: petch@ucar.edu

Dr. Brian Dobbins, CESM Chief Software Engineer
NCAR Climate & Global Dynamics Laboratory, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000
Email: bdobbins@ucar.edu

Dr. Eric DeWeaver, Program Director
Climate and Large-scale Dynamics, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230
Tel: 703-292-8527, Email: edeweave@nsf.gov

Prior Chairs

• Leo Donner (January 2015-March 2021)
• Isaac Held (January 2010 - September 2014)
• Michelle Rienecker (June 2006 - December 2009)
• Daniel Jacob (January 2005 - June 2006)
• Ed Sarachik (late 1998 - December 2004)

Terms of Reference

Background

The Community Earth System Model (CESM) is a collaborative, community earth system model used for many purposes, including investigations of past and current climate, projections of future climate change, and subseasonal-to-decadal Earth system predictions. Universities and other national and international research institutions are key users of CESM and some are also key collaborators in the development of the model.  

The CESM core activity is the work to evaluate, develop and support the CESM. This core activity is funded and coordinated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) on behalf of NSF. Some efforts are carried out or funded externally to NCAR - these can be considered collaborative efforts and coordinated within this activity. 

The role of the CAB

The role of the CAB is to provide a 4th line of assurance to the CESM core activities. It reviews areas of CESM core activities and provides independent advice to NSF, NCAR, UCAR and the Chief Scientist of CESM.  

The CAB is a key body for CESM core activity governance.

Membership

The CAB will be made up of between 6 and 10 members. They will be scientists, software engineers, or experts in delivering large technical programs of work. They will be independent of those working on the project and the SSC. Ideally, if possible, they will not be a key user or developer of CESM such they can give the most impartial advice. However, it is recognised that this may not always be possible and where members are engaged in CESM activities they should strive to avoid being primarily focused on their own research needs or disciplines. 

Members will be appointed by the Director of NCAR in consultation with the CAB chair. Recommendations for membership will be made by the Chief Scientist to the NCAR Director and CAB chair. In recommending and choosing members, consideration will be made of independence, diversity and relevant skills and knowledge.

The chair will be chosen by the Director of NCAR in consultation with the CGD Lab Director and the CESM Chief Scientist.

The term of membership is 4 years and this can be renewed once for a further 4 years by mutual agreement between the member and the NCAR Director.

One or more relevant representatives from NSF can attend the CAB meeting with a primary role as observer, but they may be expected to input on issues related to the funding landscape. These positions will be referred to as NSF members and left open to be defined ahead of any given meeting. 

The Director of NCAR may attend the CAB meeting to provide context on the CESM activity role in NCAR priorities and to answer relevant questions. 

People involved in delivering the CESM activity may be invited to attend CAB meetings to present items related to the CESM activity and/or to answer questions. Typically this may be the Chief Scientist, Chief Software Engineer and other key people delivering or applying CESM.  These are not members of the CAB and will not attend closed sessions. 

Meeting length, frequency, and content

The CAB will definitely have a full in-person/hybrid meeting every 2 years.  This meeting will typically last for 1.5 to 2 days.  In alternative years, it is at the discretion of the CAB chair and the CESM Chief Scientist as to whether or not to have an in person meeting or a shorter (likely virtual) meeting.

The meeting will generally involve presentations providing updates and questions to the panel from key people involved in the CESM activity. Where it will help, written information will be provided to the CAB in advance of the meeting for their review.

Reporting

The CAB will provide a written report based on the presentations and discussions in the meeting. The report will be led by the chair with support and input from all full members. The report will be shared with all key groups involved in delivering the CESM activity. This includes the president of UCAR; the director of NCAR; the director of CGD; the Chief Scientist and the CESM SSC. It will also be shared with relevant program managers in NSF.  If required, the NCAR Director will write a response and this will also be shared.

* Updated July 24, 2014