NSF Unidata is guided by the expertise, insights, and requirements of the community it serves. The Community Advisory Committee is tasked with providing strategic advice and guidance on matters related to NSF Unidata’s projects, services, and activities. The Committee serves as a vital conduit for information on the needs and requirements of community members, helps advise on future directions for the NSF Unidata Program, and establishes standards of involvement for the community.

The Committee serves as a key link between NSF Unidata staff and users of NSF Unidata technologies and services to facilitate the exchange of ideas, potential program enhancements, and in understanding the data and technology trends within the broader Earth System Sciences (ESS) community. The Committee’s recommendations help ensure that NSF Unidata’s efforts align with the needs and priorities of the scientific and academic community, and that NSF Unidata can continue to successfully provide solutions and cyberinfrastructure leadership.

The Community Advisory Committee strives for broad membership, including:

  • Representatives from academic institutions engaged in ESS education and research (including at least one graduate student representative),
  • Representatives from U.S. federal agencies (e.g. NOAA, NASA, USGS) that work closely with the NSF Unidata program,
  • Representatives from the private sector,
  • Representatives from non-governmental organizations and other external partners,
  • Representatives from UCAR/NSF NCAR.
Community Advisory Committee structure

We seek to engage creative people who are using NSF Unidata products and services — or who are otherwise familiar with NSF Unidata's mission and goals — to help guide the program in addressing the needs of our broadening community. We need the insights of active educators, researchers, and others concerned with enabling access to Earth Systems Science data to spot new opportunities and position the NSF Unidata program to serve those using those data to enhance our understanding of our planet. We're looking for help identifying new tools and services — along with improvements to our existing offerings — that will advance the scientific and educational goals of the community.

History

The Community Advisory Committee was created in 2026 when NSF Unidata's two prior advisory committees (the Users Committee and the Strategic Advisory Committee) reenvisioned their role in guiding the program. You can read more about their goals and reasoning in Reimagining NSF Unidata’s Advisory Committees.