Background

Synthesis has been identified as one of the four fundamental areas for CUAHSI to pursue since its inception. As used by CUAHSI, "synthesis" refers to a mode of research in which extant data are brought together to address questions which may differ from those for which the data was originally intended. Typically, synthesis activities include scientists from a range of disciplines. A technical report, written in 2004, laid out the need for a National Synthesis Center (CUAHSI-TR5). A proposal for such a center was unsuc-cessful, but two "synthesis activities" were chosen in 2006. Lessons learned from these projects should inform the future directions CUAHSI will take in advancing synthesis in the hydrologic and related sciences.

Charge

The Synthesis Standing Committee recommends to the CUAHSI Board on the objectives and policies that CUAHSI should adopt with respect to the synthesis mode of research. In addition, the committee may recommend activities that the consortium should undertake or should seek funding to undertake. The foremost responsibility of the committee is that the needs of the aca-demic research community are met by the objectives and policies that CUAHSI adopts and by the activities it undertakes. Download the Charge in PDF format.