%0 Book %A National Research Council %T Neon: Addressing the Nation's Environmental Challenges %@ 978-0-309-09078-0 %D 2004 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10807/neon-addressing-the-nations-environmental-challenges %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10807/neon-addressing-the-nations-environmental-challenges %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Environment and Environmental Studies %K Earth Sciences %P 132 %R doi:10.17226/10807 %X The book endorses the National Science Foundation's concept of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) for providing a nationwide network of facilities and infrastructure for ecological and environmental research that is impossible with existing infrastructure. The committee identified six grand challenges in environmental biology - biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles, climate change, ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, invasive species and land and habitat useā€”that deserves high priority for research and needs to be addressed on a regional or continental scale. However, the book says that NEON needs a refined focus and a more detailed plan for its implementation to ensure the maximization of its contribution to science and to better fit within the purview of Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction funding.