The FAAM Airborne Laboratory is a major UK platform that provides in-situ and remotely sensed observational data about the atmosphere.
The FAAM Science Strategy Committee is a key element of the management of the FAAM facility, providing leadership, advising on investment decisions and scientific direction, and serving as a high-level link to the user community. It meets twice a year in Cranfield.
With the future of the FAAM aircraft now assured for the next ten years, and plans well advanced for a major mid-life upgrade to the aircraft and instrumentation, we invite established scientists with an interest in airborne measurements to join the Science Strategy Committee.
Appointments are normally for three years in the first instance, and may be extended with the agreement of the FAAM Board.
Applicants are asked to complete the online application form by Friday 14th February 2020.
You may also wish to read the Terms of Reference, which have been included below:
FAAM Science Strategy Committee Terms of Reference
Objective: To advise on optimising the scientific utility of FAAM. The Strategy Committee will provide recommendations to the NERC Director of Strategic Partnerships and the Director of NCAS on the following:
1) Strategic development of the facility, including prioritising new capital investment.
2) Scientific exploitation of the facility, especially involvement in international programmes.
Membership: The committee will have a core membership (1-5 below) which will consider both objectives above, and additional members who will consider either 1 or 2. For objective (1) they will be the Chairs of the FAAM Working groups, who report to the Strategy Committee on instrument performance and strategic requirements in the areas of Clouds, Aerosols, Meteorology, Radiation and Chemistry. For objective (2) they will be appointed members of the scientific community.
1) The NERC Director of Strategic Partnerships (chair)
2) Director of NCAS (co-chair)
3) NCAS Director of Observations
4) Head of FAAM
5) Chairs of the FAAM instrument working groups
6) Appropriate member of NCAS and the HEI community (not more than 3)
7) Representatives of each of the FAAM “Gold” Strategic Partner organisations. Strategic Partners are external organisations which have a formal, long-term and contractual relationship with FAAM for access to the facility. “Gold” partners are those which contract to receive the highest level of service and collaboration. From April 2019, the Met Office became the first “Gold” partner.
All recommendations made by the Committee will be subject to approval by the FAAM Board.
Frequency: The committee should meet twice a year, once for strategic development and once for scientific exploitation.
Remit: The committee should consider:
1) Reports from FAAM – FAAM should report to each meeting on the progress of the scientific flying campaign, the issues that have arisen and potential solutions. FAAM should flag specific problems for which they would like insight from the committee.
2) Reports from Working Groups – The committee should consider reports from the working groups and make recommendation on the working group comments.
3) Delivery of a strategy for instrumentation for the facility – Based on information received from FAAM, the Working Groups and the scientific strategies of NERC, NCAS and Met Office the committee should develop plans for capital investment into the scientific instrumentation of the facility.
4) Future Scientific campaigns – The committee should consider the future plans for FAAM from a scientific perspective, identifying opportunities (e.g. international programmes) and gaps (e.g. scientific areas where FAAM could contribute but is not currently doing so). This role will include approval of science plans for FAAM usage within NERC National Capability Long Term Science programmes.