Stanford Center on Food Security and the Environment and the Food Security Leadership Council seek to assess U.S. public Earth information (EI) systems—their current scope, operational status, vulnerabilities, and potential for improvement. Survey results will inform policy recommendations on U.S. investments in EI systems and will be made publicly available. Individual responses will remain anonymous. Any users of U.S. Government-funded Earth information systems are invited to respond.
Survey Description
This survey is based on a non-exhaustive inventory of major USG EI capabilities relevant to food security and agriculture. The survey seeks to collect information on systems for primary observations (the instruments and networks that collect raw Earth measurements) as well as derivative products (the blended datasets, models, analytical frameworks and decision support tools that are built on top of them). We are inviting representatives from key observing networks and science teams to provide information on the status of existing and pending EI investments.
For individual assets, missions, and/or programs, we ask respondents to weigh in on two dimensions: Continuity & Lifespan (current status, design life and end-of-life, planned successors) and Criticality & Risk (how essential the U.S. role is, how substitutable it is by private or international systems, and its vulnerability to budget cuts). Additionally, we ask about the Sector-Wide Gaps & Needs (capability gaps, unmet needs, and priority investments). The goal is a living, expert-validated assessment of where U.S. public EI for food security is strongest, where it is most fragile, and where targeted investment would deliver the highest return.
Participation in this survey is voluntary, and you are free to withdraw your consent at any time.
TIME INVOLVEMENT: Your participation will take approximately 8 minutes.
PAYMENTS: There is no payment for your participation.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY: The risks associated with this study are low. Your answers will be kept confidential. We have procedures to protect your privacy, and your identity will not be included in written materials resulting from the study.
Contact Information
SURVEY CONTACT: If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this research, its procedures, risks and benefits, contact the Protocol Director, Jennifer A. Burney, burney@stanford.edu, 1 (619) 800-2337
INDEPENDENT CONTACT: If you are not satisfied with how this study is being conducted, or if you have any concerns, complaints, or general questions about the research or your rights as a participant, contact the Stanford Institutional Review Board (IRB) to speak to someone independent of the research team at 650-723-2480 or toll free at 1-866-680-2906. You can also write to the Stanford IRB at irbnonmed@stanford.edu.
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