1. The US Arctic Observing Network Office A first follower?
Sandy Starkweather, Jeremy Mathis
@metaarctic
Arctic Summit Science Week 2017
Prague, Czech Republic
I’m going to ask you to stand up if you have made an observation in the Arctic
Now… I’m going to ask you to sit down if that observation is not part of a sustained network

2. Leadership Lessons from “The Shirtless Dancing Guy”

3. Leadership Lessons from “The Shirtless Dancing Guy”
A leader (SAON) is a lone nut without followers
So a leader (SAON) should be easy to follow
The first follower is key – publically shows everyone else how to follow
Leaders treat first followers as equals – it’s about the movement
A movement needs to be public – new followers follow other followers

4. Observations w/o Network = sum of parts
According to a US inventory, we have more than 13,000 sustained daily observations in the Arctic, but we do not have a US Arctic Observing Network
According to a SAON inventory, there are more than X SAON tasks, but we do not have an international Arctic Observing Network
Is this a problem? Let’s

5. What would an AON network make possible?
The network effect is a phenomenon whereby a good or service becomes more valuable when more people use it. 

6. What would an AON network make possible?
The network effect is a phenomenon whereby a good or service becomes more valuable when more people use it. 
Understanding what obs are widely valuable and why and by whom;
Supporting discoverability, accessibility, and use preferences;
Fostering harmonization, integration.
Creating a network effect “INTENTIONALLY” requires…

7. What’s Standing in the Way?
Costs
Technology
Vision and Leadership

8. What’s Standing in the Way?
Costs
Technology
Vision and Leadership

9. New US AON Capabilities
US AON Funders Board is convening to advance a broader vision and provide resources & guidance on “quick win” opportunities;
NOAA Executive Director + Agency Researchers to foster networks, sustain visioning and scope “quick win” efforts;
Community engagement through Interagency Observing Team (IARPC AOSST) – Focus on Fostering Research Networks to support above.

10. US AON – Developing Vision
Establish and support a task-driven US AON to mobilize US contributions towards integrated and well-defined pan- Arctic observing networks that enable access to high quality data, expertise and information in support of scientific understanding, local needs, and agency operations.

11. Different Approaches TACTICAL – Start where you aretart where you are
SAON “Task-based” approach
USGCRP “Arctic Indicators”
STRAGTEGIC – Decide where to go
Global Ocean Observing System
“The definition and organization of tasks is too sporadic. The result of this is that the work of the SAON Board becomes often like “herding cats”.

12. Different Approaches TACTICAL – Start where you are
“Task-based” US AON
USGCRP “Arctic Indicators”
STRAGTEGIC – Decide where to go
Global Ocean Observing System
“The definition and organization of tasks is too sporadic. The result of this is that the work of the SAON Board becomes often like “herding cats”.

13. Ecological Indicators
Social Indicators
GLOBAL
PAN-ARCTIC
Arctic Marine Traffic
Ecological Indicators
REGIONAL
Permafrost Depth
COMMUNITY
Climate Action Plans
Arctic Fire
Example map of short list of recommended Arctic Indicators: USGCRP Arctic Indicators Task Team (Stanitski et al In progress)
Onset of Snowmelt
Snow-Off Date
River and Lake Freeze Up
Distance to Ice Edge
Length of Open Water Season
Duration of Arctic Shipping Corridors
Sea Ice Thickness
Arctic Winter Air Temperature
Physical Indicators

14. Different Approaches TACTICAL – Start where you are
SAON “Task-based” approach
USGCRP “Arctic Indicators”
STRAGTEGIC – Plan where you need to go
Global Ocean Observing System
“The definition and organization of tasks is too sporadic. The result of this is that the work of the SAON Board becomes often like “herding cats”.

15. Different Approaches TACTICAL – Start where you are
SAON “Task-based” approach
USGCRP “Arctic Indicators”
STRAGTEGIC – Plan where you need to go
Global Ocean Observing System
“The definition and organization of tasks is too sporadic. The result of this is that the work of the SAON Board becomes often like “herding cats”.

16. Strategic Mapping of GOOS Essential Ocean Variables

17. Strategic Mapping of GOOS Essential Ocean Variables
Led by different authoritative research bodies/networks v v

18. Success story for collaborative observing; diverse & utilized

19. But even a powerful approach can struggle in the Arctic

20. The Arctic is Different

21. The Arctic is Different
GOOS had 3 principle research communities to work with – the Arctic has vastly more;
Technical and other accessiblity constraints do hamper observing; (high seas versus eez’s);
Understanding what obs are widely valued and why and by whom – many diverging and competing interests in the Arctic.

22. Employ “Stratics” = Strategy + Tactics
Light and agile design logic toward developing quick wins, while sustaining the broader vision and learning from the tactics.
In the tech world, the strategic plan has become untenable as timescales between plan and do collapse

23. Employ “Stratics” = Strategy + Tactics
Research Networks
Foster Well-Organized Networks
Light and agile design logic toward developing quick wins, while sustaining the broader vision and learning from the tactics.
In the tech world, the strategic plan has become untenable as timescales between plan and do collapse

24. Employ “Stratics” = Strategy + Tactics
Research Networks
Foster Well-Organized Networks
Towards Tactical “Quick Wins”
Light and agile design logic toward developing quick wins, while sustaining the broader vision and learning from the tactics.
In the tech world, the strategic plan has become untenable as timescales between plan and do collapse

25. Employ “Stratics” = Strategy + Tactics
Research Networks
Foster Well-Organized Networks
Towards Tactical “Quick Wins”
SAON + National
Light and agile design logic toward developing quick wins, while sustaining the broader vision and learning from the tactics.
In the tech world, the strategic plan has become untenable as timescales between plan and do collapse
Sustain Development of Strategic Vision
Built Upon Core Community Efforts

26. Employ “Stratics” = Strategy + Tactics
Research Networks
Foster Well-Organized Networks
Towards Tactical “Quick Wins”
Entrain Into Bigger Picture
SAON + National
Light and agile design logic toward developing quick wins, while sustaining the broader vision and learning from the tactics.
In the tech world, the strategic plan has become untenable as timescales between plan and do collapse
Sustain Development of Strategic Vision
Built Upon Core Community Efforts

27. Employ “Stratics” = Strategy + Tactics
Research Networks
Foster Well-Organized Networks
Towards Tactical “Quick Wins”
Entrain Into Bigger Picture
SAON + National
Light and agile design logic toward developing quick wins, while sustaining the broader vision and learning from the tactics.
In the tech world, the strategic plan has become untenable as timescales between plan and do collapse
Sustain Development of Strategic Vision
Built Upon Core Community Efforts

28. Employ “Stratics” = Strategy + Tactics
Research Networks
Foster Well-Organized Networks
Towards Tactical “Quick Wins”
Be Easy to Follow!
Entrain Into Bigger Picture
SAON + National
Light and agile design logic toward developing quick wins, while sustaining the broader vision and learning from the tactics.
In the tech world, the strategic plan has become untenable as timescales between plan and do collapse
Sustain Development of Strategic Vision
Built Upon Core Community Efforts

29. Emerging NOAA-led “Quick Wins”
Improved observational products for sea ice forecasting;
Improved cyberinfrastructure for tracking ships and potentially other research infrastructure that might interfere with subsistence use areas;
Improved biogeochemistry products for fisheries management.

30. US AON & SAON Leadership and Vision Challenge
Authoratative and resourced leadership bodies;
Capacity building among research communities that don’t have strong research networks;
Strong entrainment of networks and user communities into sustained process dialog;
Employing “Stratics” with clarity.

31. Contact Me: Sandy Starkweather
Not Easy to Follow?
Contact Me: Sandy Starkweather
@metaarctic
Thank you!