The User Working Group (UWG) of NASA's Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) operated by Columbia University’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) met virtually June 25–26, 2020, to discuss recent SEDAC progress and plans for the coming year.
The meeting was chaired by Barbara Ryan, former secretariat director of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO), and included participation by seven new UWG members as well as seven continuing members. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on travel and meetings, the meeting utilized video conferencing technologies to facilitate presentations and discussions of key issues. The meeting was organized by CIESIN director Robert Chen and associate director for science applications Alex de Sherbinin, who serve as SEDAC manager and deputy manager, respectively, and by research scientist Susana Adamo, SEDAC's project scientist.
UWG member Navin Ramankutty of the University of British Columbia gave a presentation “Developing Global Data on Farm Size and Smallholder Agriculture.” NASA participants included SEDAC program scientist Nancy Searby from NASA′s Applied Sciences program, together with representatives from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and other NASA data centers.
The UWG thanked four members whose terms ended in 2020: Guido Cervone of Pennsylvania State University, Audrey Dorélien of the University of Minnesota, Bill McConnell of Michigan State University, and Lela Prashad of NiJeL.