About JOSS
The Joint Office for Science Support (JOSS) is housed within the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), UCAR Community Programs (UCP). JOSS headquarters is located in Boulder, CO. The Office receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as support from other U.S. agencies, private sources, and international organizations.
Prior to 2005, JOSS consisted of two groups: the Field Operations and Data Management (FODM) group and the Program Support Operations (PSO) group. In 2005, JOSS transitioned, with the FODM staff moving to NCAR’s Earth Observing Laboratory, and PSO/JOSS remaining in UCAR UCP and retaining the name JOSS.
During a typical year, JOSS facilitates over 475 scientific events. Event size has ranged from 12 to 1,200 participants. These international and domestic gatherings are critical to scientists and governmental agencies because they represent initial planning stages of future research, a gathering and sharing of information and opinions within the community and government, and/or presentations of research data or future predictions to various interested parties.
These events have covered many topics. For example, Native Americans from across the U.S., funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), came together to share their perspectives about how their lives are being affected by weather and how they incorporate their old ways into the modern world with regard to climate issues. Oceans and Human Health is another topic being studied. JOSS has facilitated several large, politically significant meetings in Washington, DC, designed to help atmospheric scientists share their knowledge, research findings, and predictions with agencies that have the power to influence government decisions. A link to lists of Past and Present Projects can be found on the left hand table of this web page under the Quick Links list.
In addition, JOSS also:
- Produces scientific publications, online and in hard copy, warehousing them for future dissemination when needed. This includes the collection of abstracts, creation of meeting information documents, and website support.
- Employs certified hazardous material staff who can handle the shipping of research equipment and supplies to both international and domestic destinations.
- Provides field project collaboration, tailored to the special requirements and needs of individual projects. This can include coordinating and administering a wide range of logistical tasks including customs clearance, travel documents, tax exemptions, the handling of hazardous materials, research ship support, travel, finances, local staffing, and local vendor contracts. The TOGA-COARE Field Project was supported by JOSS. Other field projects supported by JOSS include: ACE Asia, EPIC, NAME, and SALJEX, among others.
- Assembles and manages special project staff, and provides a broad range of administrative services in program support. Off-site support by special project staff is especially effective for accomplishing limited-term programmatic functions within traditional governmental organizations.
- Provides efficient, effective methods to maximize financial support for activities; keeps up-to-date on new trends to identify cost-saving strategies; and works with Federal program managers to provide financial planning based on historical data, expenditure projections, and industry financial trends.
There are 11 on-site JOSS staff, representing more than 125 person-years of experience. In addition, there are 37 JOSS staff situated in other locations across the U.S. These term employees provide scientific, technical, administrative, and programmatic expertise to several national and international projects. This wealth of professionalism and experience is applied to ensure successful scientific activities for the benefit of society.
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