Integration of a Social and Behavioral Sciences Branch within NOAA's Global Systems Laboratory

The NOAA Global Systems Laboratory (GSL) Weather Informatics and Decision Support (WIDS) Division recently formed its Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Branch, which will lead and coordinate SBS weather research in support of WIDS and GSL missions. Rationale for the formation and integration of this branch within WIDS includes the need to focus on understanding how key users, such as forecasters, public safety officials, and members of the public make decisions using weather information and where gaps in information and service exist. Doing so will help to ensure that research and development of products and services created within WIDS, and within the broader weather enterprise through collaborations, are user-centered and optimized to aid in decision making. Foundational SBS research will also address inclusive risk communication, social vulnerability and service equity, and decision science.

This poster presentation will highlight the types of planned activities that the SBS Branch will lead, including areas of collaboration. Key anticipated outcomes and applications of the SBS Branch include integrated and interdisciplinary approaches to product development and refinement; product and service creation that is useful, usable, and user-informed; scholarly and applied contributions to social science weather research; and a greater awareness of SBS capacity and potential within GSL.