GAITHERSBURG, Md - The recent initiative of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) marks a significant step in the fight against climate change with the creation of a Climate Measurements Center of Excellence at the University of Vermont (UVM). This project, supported by a $2.7 million grant approved by Congress, aims to enhance understanding of complex climate dynamics and provide tools for community planning.
Chuck Romine, NIST’s Associate Director for Laboratory Programs, emphasized the importance of reliable and high-quality measurements: “Effective measurements are essential for understanding complex climate systems. This center of excellence can amplify our impact and allow the development of equitable climate adaptation plans.”
Need for Detailed Information
Climate change does not affect all communities equally; impacts vary significantly across different regions of the United States. To address this challenge, communities need more detailed information than what is currently available. The Center of Excellence aims to support communities by offering a standardized regulatory framework, regional data, and the tools necessary to make informed decisions.
Impacts and Collaborations
Community-level climate impacts are expected to be diverse and complex. Potential effects include reduced agricultural productivity, increased food costs, compromised air quality, and public health challenges. Addressing and mitigating these impacts requires cooperation among various communities. The Center will serve as a hub for local researchers, gathering resources and ideas, and will involve various stakeholders, including government offices, universities, non-profits, and industries.
The new center will establish and coordinate research teams that integrate resources from the physical, biological, and social sciences. It will also support the development of national standards and measurements for monitoring risks associated with climate impacts. During the three-year funding period, NIST will support the center through leadership, collaboration, and community coordination.
Center Goals
The Center of Excellence has three primary goals:
- Develop standardized methods and measurements for climate impacts and adaptation in the food, health, and water sectors.
- Create climate impact assessment frameworks, toolkits, and best practices for communities and subnational jurisdictions to inform local policies and decision-making.
- Serve as an information and expertise hub for subnational climate assessments.
Collaborations and Research
The Center builds on the Vermont Climate Assessment and will develop standardized climate assessment tools in collaboration with local communities, improving climate adaptation planning and helping to create more resilient communities. The Center’s partners represent a wide range of groups, and its activities will consider the risks associated with climate trends, particularly for vulnerable populations, including women, communities of color, and low-income communities, which are often overlooked in climate studies.
The interdisciplinary team, with expertise in agriculture, climatology, economics, ecosystem services, engineering, environmental sciences, fisheries, food systems, geography, public health, and water resources, is actively involved in climate assessments at the national, state, and regional levels. Professor Gillian Galford, who led Vermont’s two climate assessments, heads the Center, assisted by leaders of research groups specializing in food, health, and water.
Job Opportunities
The Center of Excellence also offers job opportunities, including:
- Program Manager
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Climate Impact Assessment
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Climate Impacts in Food Systems
For more details, visit the official website of the University of Vermont.
Summary Tables
| Sector | Experts Involved | Main Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Eric Roy, University of Vermont | Develop adaptation strategies for crops and livestock |
| Health | Jesse Bell, Jeremy Hess | Prevent climate-related diseases |
| Water Resources | Kate Brauman, University of Alabama | Efficient management and distribution of water resources |
For more information and details, you can refer to the following links:
- Climate Measurements Center of Excellence
- Grant Opportunity
- Vermont Climate Assessment
- For media inquiries, contact Brian Gutierrez via email at brian.gutierrez@nist.gov.
Glossary
- Climatology: Scientific study of the climate and its variations.
- Measurement: The process of quantification through precise instruments.
- NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology, a federal agency that develops standards for science and technology.
- Resilience: The ability of a system or community to adapt and recover from adverse events.
- UVM: University of Vermont
