Purpose

The Science and Technology Committee will engage the scientific and technological communities in the development, implementation and use of a sustained GEOSS in order to ensure that GEO has access to sound scientific and technological advice.

Its objective is to enable GEO to make decisions based upon the best available and sound scientific and technological advice through the solicitation of input from a broad, trans-disciplinary scientific and technological community; to ensure scientific and technological integrity and soundness of annual GEO work plans; to monitor and review output and deliverables of GEO work plans; to identify individual experts and groups to participate in ad hoc GEO work groups; and to facilitate linkages and partnership with major relevant international research programmes as well as organizations willing to contribute.

Approach and Function

The Committee on Science and Technology (CST) will act on the request of the GEO Plenary. It will involve existing national, regional and international scientific and technological organizations in order to make best use of existing expertise and to avoid duplication of work. It may establish ad hoc Expert Groups as appropriate with clearly defined tasks and defined lifetime. The CST will inform the Executive Committee on the intention to form Expert Groups. It will also provide the link between the GEO Secretariat, other standing committees, and these groups to provide best scientific and technological advice and recommendations available in order to support the GEO Secretariat with fulfilling its tasks, thereby contributing to the realization of GEOSS.