ESIP has a new staff member. Bruce Caron has agreed to join as our community architect. Bruce is a familiar face, he was a member of an original ESIP, and was elected ESIP President in 2001-2002. He has also served as the chair of several committees and working groups (Finance, Constitution and Bylaws, Partnership, Commercialization, Visioneers, Drupal). So he's well aware of the value of volunteer time. Bruce has a PhD in Social Anthroplogy from UC Santa Barbara, and has an active research interest in the cultural work of open science.
We are thrilled that he's accepted this position and could go on, but we'll let him tell you what he brings to ESIP and why he's joining the staff:
The ESIP Federation is the oldest (almost 20!) and the most successful member-governed, volunteer-led virtual science and data organization anywhere. It is the model that newer organizations choose to copy. It is commonly known as a “place where things get done.” Lately, I’ve been hearing conversations talk about “the ESIP way” of doing things. I have been fortunate to have worked in and through and along side of ESIP for many years. This week I have started to work at ESIP. Now I’m feeling extra fortunate, since I can spend more time doing what I can to help the finest volunteer-run organization on the planet move into its next phase. People have asked me what I mean by “community architect”? I wrote a short piece about this a couple years ago. Mostly it is centered on organizations like ESIP becoming more reflexive and intentional in their activities and self-governance.
In the coming year, ESIP will be moving ahead to rebuild a nimble governance that combines the ESIP strategy planning with the Foundation’s legal standing. ESIP is at the front end of a new strategic plan, and is looking to build/borrow platforms and services to accelerate progress into this goal. ESIP is also at a point where it can begin to be more reflexive about how it became as successful as it is right now, and what changes would either endanger ESIP future or guarantee this. For example, should ESIP continue to add new members? What is an optimal size for ESIP? How can end-users play a more direct role in ESIP? And what new capabilities will enhance ESIP’s role in innovation and open-data practice? Should ESIP be working toward a global Earth-data commons?
The ESIP staff already supports two dynamic meetings a year, and helps the membership stay active in the intervening months. I will be helping out there, bringing a decade of volunteer Visioneering insights into the mix. What more can and should ESIP be doing to help its members make data matter? What are the opportunities that new open-science resources bring to this project? I am really looking forward to working with each ESIP member to realize the future that we can build together. Feel free to reach out to me any time with your ideas at brucecaron@esipfed.org.