Focus of Session: This Session will be an invited panel of experts addressing the question, “How can we improve the research-to-operations transition process?” The panel members will give their perspective on transitioning successful research to successful operational use and they will discuss the central role R2O plays in addressing this year’s annual theme. Panel members will be prepared to discuss the challenges to R2O, and the potential means to overcome them, including the following topics: • Science mission requirements versus operational user needs; • Adequate and timely funding for research that is targeted to meet operational needs, the transition, and operational sustainment; • The lag between deploying research and full user exploitation; • Challenges in communicating the benefits of new capabilities to user communities, including the public, government policy makers, commercial industry, and the military. The high economic and social value of our ability to observe and accurately predict atmospheric and ocean conditions requires strong relationships between the academic, Government, and industrial communities to effectively and efficiently transfer research results to the operational environment. Partnerships and collaboration will result in clear articulation of operational needs, and joint efforts to secure research funding and procurement of necessary operational systems. Researcher accessibility and insight into the operations environment and data for development, test, and evaluation, coupled with an operational workforce that embraces and pursues research opportunities, will facilitate collaboration between the two communities. Such a partnership will accelerate transitions of research to operations, while simultaneously ensuring the transfer of operations knowledge back to research (O2R). This R2O – O2R relationship will improve the balance between operational needs, research initiatives, and transfer of results into systems, technology, methods, processes, and procedures that enhance our ability to serve the public.

The Commission on the Weather and Climate Enterprise and the Board and Women and Minorities has partnered to host a panel discussion with women leaders across the enterprise.

The AMS Committee to Improve Climate Change Communication (CICCC) was formed in the Commission on the Weather and Climate Enterprise (CWCE) in August 2010 to “Facilitate communication among members of the weather and climate community so as to foster greater understanding about the spectrum of views on climate change.” As a part of the First Symposium on the Weather and Climate Enterprise, CICCC will conduct a session which will include an overview of the CICCC's progress to date followed by a panel discussions in accordance with the mission of the CICCC.

Within the U.S. meteorological community, there is increasing cooperation between government agencies and commercial providers. With the realization that the relationship can be synergistic, resources are being brought together from both groups in a vibrant partnership that recognizes and embraces the needs and skills of each member. These experiences can and should be applied to the space weather enterprise Society is totally reliant on technology that is susceptible to space weather, therefore the ability to understand and predict space weather is now an important component of the National Weather Enterprise. Space Weather refers to the variable conditions on the Sun and in the space environment that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems, as well as endanger life or health. Most space weather occurs because emissions from the Sun influence the space environment around Earth, as well as other planets. For example, space weather can significantly impact the electric power industry, aviation, Global Navigation Satellite Systems applications, communication systems, satellite operations, and space flight. Space weather can also affect national security and emergency response systems. A commercial space weather capability is burgeoning in the U.S., and both commercial and university providers have skills, tools and products that complement or exceed those of government labs. There are also government research efforts and product development that competes with commercial activities. Given the current economic climate, it is imperative to have a synergistic and cooperative Space Weather Enterprise consisting of multiple stakeholders, including small commercial, large commercial, and government partners. In this interactive panel session, the current state of the U.S. Space Weather Enterprise and ideas for future cooperation between stakeholders will be discussed. The discussion will include participants from various government agencies, and both small and large commercial companies. The following questions will be addressed: 1) How does the government interact with and obtain commercial services in the meteorology sector, and is there a parallel for space weather services? 2) How can the AMS Enterprise Commission help the Space Weather Enterprise evolve and avoid some of the problems and misunderstandings that have already been addressed and overcome by the meteorological community during the past 10 years? 3) How can we ensure an appropriate partnership in the development and delivery of products? 4) How can we ensure common operational practices for data exchange between government and commercial operational centers? 5) How can we ensure that the commercial sector has a voice in determining the direction of the national space weather enterprise?