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Terms of Reference
Erosion and transport of soil has worldwide implications for agriculture, landscape stability, climate, natural hazards, and clean, renewable resources of water and air. Assured access to clean water and a healthy and safe environment requires an ethic of conservation and protection. The minimum scale in which these principles apply successfully is basin wide. These are the fundamental concerns of the Sino-U.S. Centers for Soil and Water Conservation and Environmental Protection. GOALS AND PRINCIPAL RESEARCH THEMES Goals
Principal Research Themes
The Sino-US Centers for Soil and Water Conservation and Environmental Protection (hereafter, Centers) conduct research, develop scientific tools and technology, and introduce improved methods for agriculture and other human pursuits that conserve soil and water and protect the environment through information exchange, education and proactive extension services. Management and Oversight The Centers are co-located in the Northwest Sci-Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry in Yangling, Shaanxi, China, and the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Each Center manages and funds practices that allow optimum functioning within the respective country. A Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) represented by both countries provides a means for independent scientific review and guidance. The JOC
The
JOC is comprised of six members, three appointed from each country.
The JOC meets annually, alternating between countries. The JOC Chair
position alternates yearly between China and the US, with a Vice-Chair
from the US when China holds the Chair and vice versa. Virtual Centers China and the US maintain "virtual" centers, principally for coordination of activities distributed in participating agencies and universities throughout the respective countries. A Director heads each Center. The management structures accommodate the tenets, programs and goals outlined in these Terms of Reference. Signature agencies are designated to represent each arm of the Joint Centers, to liaise with appropriate agencies, to advocate and voice interagency views for the Center, and otherwise serve as lead agency. The lead agency responsibility for the PRC is shared between the Ministries of Education (MOE) and Agriculture (MOA). The US signature agency alternates among participants. Each country's Center coordinates, manages and staffs participation in the Sino-U.S. Centers. Each Center:
To assist in the above functions each Center maintains a Scientific Steering Group (US and China SSGs) to advise the Centers and the Oversight Committees. The US and China Scientific Steering Groups (USSSG and CSSG) The SSGs are rosters of scientists knowledgeable of the principal research themes of the Centers and are a resource for technical review and guidance. The rosters will be consulted by the Directors of the Centers for specific review, advisory and representational purposes. Members (non-participants in research supported through the Centers) will be nominated by the Directors of the US and China Centers and appointed by their respective Oversight Committees. Scientific Panels drawn from the SSG rosters Periodic critical program review and guidance are obtained from independent scientific panels appointed by the JOC. The panels advise and report to the JOC on such matters as:
Proposal Review and Approval Proposals for research undergo technical peer review in a process endorsed and monitored by the JOC. The process generally follows those of the respective National Science Foundations, including at least three technical reviews for each proposal. Visiting Scientist Program The Centers encourage and facilitate exchanges of scientists who may be guest lecturers, project participants, invitees to conferences and workshops or members of technical review teams. Student Exchange Program Education is an important activity of the Centers. Competitive foreign travel opportunities are provided for students to participate in, for example, college-level course work, joint research, writing of joint papers and proposals, and preparing and sharing working databases. Private Sector Training Program Private industry, agriculture and commerce serve and are served by the research of the Centers. The JOC seeks opportunities for training in the private sector for students and participating researchers who wish to obtain practical experience and a better understanding of the communities who apply research results. Private sector personnel are also encouraged to develop cooperative research and product development agreements with the scientific community. Funding Each of the center programs depend on availability of funds. The Centers strive to maintain contributions of support from the participating ministries and agencies in China and the US. Information Access and Publication Publication and open access to data and information are fundamental to the Centers' credibility and function. All data produced under the auspices of the Centers are available to the research community at large for free, or where appropriate, for the cost of reproduction and transmittal. Both US and China Centers maintain websites posting on-going projects and plans, project highlights, data holdings and the means by which they may be accessed. Each website contains directories of data and contact points for participating laboratories, agencies, educational institutions, projects and other potential sources of information and resources. An example of such a website is that of the Vigil Network, hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Vigil Network is a system of sites and small drainage basins where long-term geomorphic, hydrologic, and biological data are periodically collected, the information being added as an update to the accumulating data file. Both Centers encourage publication of data and information, organize technical sessions in national and international meetings, and respond to information needs.
U.S. Oversight Committee The initial US Oversight Committee (USOC) members include one representative from each of the charter US agencies (USDA, DOI/USGS, NSF and UA). The USOC function parallels that of the Centers' JOC. The chair represents the views of the USOC and is one of the three USOC members represented on the JOC. Other US agencies participating in the Centers, providing funds and/or in-kind support, may be offered membership to the USOC with eligibility to sit on the JOC. The chair of the USOC rotates among participating agencies every two years. Funding Based upon submission and approval of proposals, the NSF and other US government agencies fund the principal operations of the Center and entertain research proposals that address the Centers' principal research themes. The USDA and DOI/USGS provide laboratories, data banks, management and technical personnel, and collaboration opportunities based on need and availability. When using the "receiving side pays" policy, the agencies support the travel of their own personnel in the United States and to/from China and provide the expenses of collaborating Chinese scientists while traveling within the US. The USGS and USDA help support operations of the Center and university-based research proposals when funds permit. All proposals to be considered for funding are coordinated through the Center. Availability of travel support is determined on a project-by-project and case-by-case basis. Other programs of support that are accessed by the Centers will pay for joint activities using the most practical and flexible methods to support the Centers' research, development, training and outreach activities.
CHINESE PARTICIPATIONChinese Coordination and Oversight Committee The Chinese Coordination and Oversight Committee (CCOC) is led jointly by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and is comprised of officers from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), MOE, MOA, Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), State Forestry Administration (SFA), State Bureau of Foreign Experts (MWR), State Forestry Administration (SFA), State Bureau of Foreign Experts (SBFE) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The Committee Co-chairs are Ministers from the MOE and MOA with member representatives from each of the Ministries named above. The Division of International Cooperation and Exchange in the Ministries that chair the Committee provide the personnel to staff a Chinese Center Secretariat. The Secretariat (a) assists Chinese and US researchers in identifying funding opportunities, new projects and research collaborators; (b) arranges meetings and workshops required under the bilateral agreement; (c) develops annual reports and other documents as directed by the CCOC and (d) otherwise serves as the Chinese point of focuse for information on the Center and its activities. The Secretariat is responsible for maintaining an agreed upon scope of technical work consistent with the objectives of the Centers and CCOC directives, maintaining productivity and high standards, through technical review, for Chinese participation. To assist in this function, the Secretariat receives guidance from a Chinese Scientific Steering Group (CSSG) to advise the Chinese Center and scientists. Funding The Chinese and US scientists submit project proposals to Chinese Ministries and the NNSFC within the agreed-upon technical themes for the Centers. The CCOC seeks support for key projects and important measures that are in synchrony with government policies related to soil and water conservation and environmental protection. The CCOC coordinates the support to the NWSUAF for the maintenance of the Center in Yangling and its programs.
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