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Statement of Task
An ad hoc committee will seek to identify lessons learned from past assessments to guide future global change assessment activities of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). The study will be approached in two steps.
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The committee will conduct a comparative analysis of past assessments that have stated objectives similar to those of the CCSP. Specifically, the committee will examine the strengths and weaknesses of selected past assessments in the following areas:
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Establishing clear rationales and appropriate institutional structures;
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Designing and scheduling assessment activities;
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Involving the scientific community and other relevant experts in the preparation and review of assessment products;
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Engaging the potential users of assessment products;
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Accurately and effectively communicating scientific knowledge, uncertainty, and confidence limits;
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Guiding plans for future global change research activities, including observation, monitoring, and modeling of past and future changes; and
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Creating assessment products that are valued by their target audiences.