Draft. For review and discussion only. Not for broader distribution.
OMB Control Number: 0690-0038, Expiration Date: 7/31/2026
This NCA6 Onboarding Form is intended to onboard participants into the NCA6 process. All people filling out this survey are known individuals who have been invited or assigned to participate in NCA6’s development. Many of these questions are necessary to gather appropriate personal information to ensure the Program has accurate names, affiliations, chapter assignments, expertise, and many other elements of qualifications for tracking purposes. Additionally, demographic information is requested (but is optional for people to submit). The US Global Change Research Program prioritizes diverse scientific perspectives in order to ensure the broadest possible understanding of climate science and to deliver an assessment that is useful and usable by the people of the United States. In alignment with these federal priorities, Onboarding Form has a section dedicated to diversity and inclusion. Understanding of these metrics and participant perspectives are critical for fostering innovation, facilitating broader engagement, and ensuring a more complete assessment of the state of the science. We anticipate all participants (currently estimated at roughly 700-900 people, up to half of whom will likely be federal employees) will be asked to fill out the form.
Welcome! You have been invited to serve as a contributor to the Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA6).
Please fill out this form to begin your onboarding process. This should take no more than 10–15 minutes to complete.
Once you have completed this form and your participation is confirmed, you will receive additional information from your USGCRP point of contact on the next steps.
Note: This form must be submitted by all participants involved in the NCA6 process.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement:
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0690-0038. Without this approval, we could not conduct this information collection. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the NCA Chief of Staff Chris Avery at cavery@usgcrp.gov.
Privacy Act Statement:
Authority: The collection of this information is authorized under 5 U.S.C. § 301, Departmental regulations which authorizes the operations of an executive agency, including the creation, custodianship, maintenance and distribution of records, and 15 U.S.C. 1512, Powers and duties of Department.
Purpose: NOAA is gathering information needed to coordinate author teams and understand some of the professional demographics of our author pool. Contact information will only be used for National Climate Assessment-related purposes and will not be shared beyond staff. Your contact information and basic participant information are required; all other requested information is optional. Any optional information that you provide will be aggregated and anonymized before being used for internal author demographic analyses. It will not be used in any other way.
Routine Uses: Disclosure of this information is permitted under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a) to be shared among Department staff for work-related purposes. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all of the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE/NOAA-11, Contact Information for Members of the Public Requesting or Providing Information Related to NOAA’s Mission, and COMMERCE/DEPT-23, Information Collected Electronically in Connection with Department of Commerce Activities, Events, and Programs.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. Failure to provide this information may prevent you from being registered for a NOAA program or event. By providing this information, you are consenting to the use of that information only for the purpose for which it is submitted.
If you have any questions while filling this out, please contact NCA Chief of Staff Chris Avery at cavery@usgcrp.gov.
To begin, click Next.
All participants in the NCA6 development process must agree to abide by the USGCRP Code of Conduct.
USGCRP Code of Conduct
The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP, also known as the Program) is committed to ensuring all participants in the Program may participate in an inclusive, respectful, and safe environment. We seek to create a collegial environment where participants enjoy their experience and grow professionally and personally. USGCRP activities are guided by the highest ethical and professional standards, and participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect towards all other participants.
This code of conduct applies to anyone attending USGCRP meetings or events, or communicating about USGCRP within and outside the Federal family. This includes all USGCRP meetings and calls (both virtual and in person), email or exchanges on digital platforms about USGCRP activities, including public engagement workshops or outreach events, and any other interactions among participants.
Participants of any USGCRP activity are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and in a manner that is professional, respectful, tolerant, and responsible.
All USGCRP participants agree to:
Be Committed to creating a positive and enjoyable experience for all participants;
Be Respectful and considerate to colleagues at all times, using good practices for collaboration and acknowledging each other’s boundaries. Never use demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech;
Be Generous, kind, and respectful in both giving and accepting feedback. Work hard to contribute to a collaborative, positive, and healthy professional environment; and
Be Accountable: If mistakes occur, own up to them without being defensive. When organizers or participants fail to meet these guidelines, work together to identify problems and adjust policy and practice together.
Participants who observe any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment and bullying, are encouraged to notify a member of USGCRP staff or leadership. USGCRP staff are required to report any breaches of conduct to the federal leadership of USGCRP immediately.
For additional information, see the USGCRP Code of Conduct page on our website here: https://www.globalchange.gov/about-us/deija-and-code-conduct
By continuing this registration process, you are agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct when participating in any NCA6-related activity.
Check box:
I understand *
First Name *
Preferred First Name
If you prefer to be called by something other than your cited first name, provide that below. (If not applicable, leave blank.)
Last Name *
Preferred Pronouns (multiple selections allowed)
She/Her
He/Him
They/Them
Prefer not to answer
Other
Name for Publication Credit *
The complete name you use for publication purposes
Demographics
Demographic data help USGCRP understand who is participating in the NCA and where we can do more to increase the diversity of our author team. Submission of this material is completely voluntary and will not be shared with anyone, including chapter leadership, other than NCA staff.
What is your gender? Select all that apply.
Female
Male
Transgender, non-binary, or another gender
Prefer not to say
Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino
Race
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Are you affiliated with a Tribe? (select one from drawdown)
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
What is your current state, territory, or affiliated island? (select one from drawdown)
AL; AR; AK; AZ; CA; CNMI; CO; CT; DE; DC; FL; GA; GU; HI; ID; IL; IN; IA; KS; KY; LA; ME; MD; Marshall Islands; MA; MI; Micronesia; MN; MS; MO; MT; NE; NV; NH; NJ; NM; NY; NC; ND; OH; OK; OR; Palau; PA; PR; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; VT; VA; VI; WA; WV; WI; WY
Other (open ended)
Prefer not to say
Job title *
Affiliation *
You may include up to two levels of affiliation, for example "US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration" or "Columbia University, International Research Institute for Climate and Society".
If you are affiliated with a Tribe and would like to list your Tribal affiliation, you may do so and also list one layer level of professional affiliation. For example, "Citizen Potawatomi Nation and University of Michigan" or “Taíno (Borikén) and Colorado State University”.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Chris Avery at cavery@usgcrp.gov.
Email to be used for NCA6 correspondence *
Phone number (including area code) *
Mailing Address
Address line 1*:
Address line 2:
City*:
State*:
Zip*:
What chapter will you be working on? *
(Insert chapter list once finalized)
What is your role for this chapter? Please select all that apply. *
Federal Coordinating Lead Author (CLA)
Chapter Lead (CL)
Chapter Author (CA)
Graphics Development Lead (GDL)
Technical Contributor
Review Editor
Staff
Other (specify)
If you are working on a second chapter, please select it from the list below.
(Insert Chapter List once finalized)
If you are working on a second chapter, please indicate your role. *
Coordinating Lead Author (CLA)
Chapter Lead (CL)
Chapter Author (CA)
Technical Contributor (TC)
Review Editor
Staff
Other (specify)
Which past NCAs have you participated in, if any? Select all that apply.
NCA1
NCA2
NCA3
NCA4
NCA5
None of the above
If you have participated in past NCAs, please list the chapter you worked on and your role.
Participants should be aware that the workload on this project will ebb and flow. Work periods of assessment and writing may constitute a month or more, depending on where we are in the development process. Some work periods may be intense and require multiple hours per week and fast turnarounds in order to meet deadlines. There will also be periods of time where authors will not need to take action while other groups are reviewing or editing their chapter. Participants should understand that there will be regular calls, briefings, reading assignments, and other work that they will need to undertake to fulfill their role.
Authors: You are also aware that if you are unable to fulfill your author obligations due to changes in life circumstances, personal interest, or any other reason, you may be asked to serve as a Technical Contributor instead.
By agreeing to serve as a Participant, you are agreeing that you will do your best to integrate the workload of NCA6 development into your schedule.
Check box:
I understand *
Participants should be aware that NCA6 will be developed via an iterative writing process. Author teams will write and revise multiple drafts of their chapter, and reviews will be conducted by various federal, technical, and public participants throughout the NCA6 process.
Participants will be obligated to track and report out on the technical science behind their writing and their team’s assessment approach. This includes (but is not limited to) development of Traceable Accounts, formal written responses to comments, and ongoing conversations with technical support staff and the chapter’s assigned review editor.
Check box:
I understand *
Participants are obligated to participate in regular virtual meetings with their author team, as organized by their chapter leadership. Participation in these meetings is crucial for effective chapter development, and by participating as an author you are agreeing to prioritize these meetings when they are scheduled.
Authors will also be expected to attend two multi-day meetings with the full NCA6 author team. The first, NCA6 All-Author Meeting #1, is where authors will finalize their annotated outlines prior to public review, which are called the Zero Order Draft. The second, the NCA6 All-Author Meeting #2, is where chapter teams will respond to reviews by the federal agencies, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), and the general public. This second meeting will be used to work toward finalizing your chapter and will take place in the middle of the development process.
The timing for both All-Author Meetings are yet to be determined, and participants will be notified of the timing and location for these meetings as soon as it is available.
Members of chapter leadership will have additional meetings requested of them, as needed, to ensure they have the full suite of information necessary to fulfill their role.
Your attendance at all of these meetings is critical to the success of your chapter.
Check box:
I understand *
Please indicate which of the following apply to you *
Current federal employee
Retired federal employee
Federal contractor
Non-federal employee
Other (specify)
What kind of organization do you work for?
Federal government (including contractors)
State government
Local government
Tribal government
Academic/research institution
Nongovernmental organization
Private sector
Retired/emeritus
Other (specify)
ORCIDs *
ORCIDs are unique digital identifiers for researchers. If you have one, please provide it below. If you don't have one, you can learn more about them and sign up here: https://orcid.org/. All participants must provide their ORCID to register as an NCA participant.
How would you classify yourself?
Physical scientist
Biological scientist
Social scientist
Engineer
Practitioner
Other (specify)
What is your area of technical expertise? (multiple selections allowed)
Agronomy
Anthropology
Archaeology
Atmospheric science
Behavioral science
Biology
Chemistry
Communication
Ecology
Economics
Engineering
Geography
Geology
Health sciences
History
Hydrology
Indigenous studies
International studies
Law
Mathematics
Medicine
Meteorology
Oceanography
Physics
Political science
Psychology
Public health
Sociology
Urban/environmental planning
Other (open ended)
How do you categorize your career stage?
Undergraduate student
Graduate student
Early career (up to 10 years since terminal degree)
Mid-career (11-20 years since terminal degree)
Late career (more than 20 years since terminal degree)
Retired/Emeritus
Please provide a link to your preferred online biography
Ideally, this page should be from your organization rather than a personal website.
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I do not have any conflicts of interest that prevent me from serving in this capacity. I understand that a “conflict of interest” refers to any current professional, financial, or other interest which could: i) significantly impair my objectivity in carrying out my duties and responsibilities for NCA6, or ii) create an unfair advantage for any person or organization. For the purposes of this effort, circumstances that could lead a reasonable person to question an individual’s objectivity, or whether an unfair advantage has been created, constitute a potential conflict of interest.
Should there be any change to this status during the course of my participation in developing NCA6, I will notify the NCA team immediately to determine if and how I can continue to contribute. This includes any change that occurs before or during my work with NCA6 and through the period of my engagement up to finalization or publication of the assessment.
Additionally, I understand that I am responsible for ensuring that I review and assess the widest possible body of literature available to me when contributing to my chapter. While self-citing is acceptable if need be, I understand that my own work cannot be the sole basis for my chapter’s content.
Note: If you feel you have a potential conflict or need to discuss with the NCA team before certifying, please reach out to Chris Avery at cavery@usgcrp.gov.
Check box:
I understand *
I understand that my participation in the NCA must be under one of the following scenarios:
Provide work to the NCA on an individual basis only. This means that any work I contribute to the NCA will be done, or was done, on my own personal time and my own personal equipment. I will not, and did not, use my employer’s or another third party’s equipment (such as computers, research databases, and office space) to create any such work. I will not do, and did not do, work for the NCA on official time for my employer. As a result, I acknowledge that I alone have the right to disclaim the ownership rights in the work I contribute to the NCA, and I do so; or
Provide work to the NCA as part of my employment and/or for the benefit of my employer, meaning that I will do so, or did so, on official time for my employer, using my employer’s equipment. I understand that I have an affirmative responsibility to work with my employer to ensure that they disclaim any potential ownership rights they may have in my work for the NCA as an employee.
Note: Please contact Chris Avery at cavery@usgcrp.gov if you have any questions about which of the above scenarios should apply to your NCA contribution. Please note that you must work under only one scenario. The Federal Government cannot accept work that was done partly in your personal capacity and partly in your employment capacity.
Finally, please note that by contributing to the NCA, you are acknowledging the understandings stated in the Federal Register Notice (85 FR 65433), restated below:
I, or my employer (depending on the scenario under which I will contribute to the NCA), understand(s) that by contributing work to the NCA:
I am creating work for the Federal Government, or submitting pre-existing work to the Federal Government, and my work will be incorporated into the NCA at the Federal Government’s discretion, including the possibility of modification, without any compensation to me or to my employer and without redaction under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or otherwise.
My contributions to the NCA of text and original figures (those newly created for NCA and not previously published) will be released under the Creative Commons 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0 1.0). I agree that my contributions will not be protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights. My contributions of data, algorithms/models, and software used to create or support the creation of text and original figures will also be publicly released in connection with the NCA. In some cases, such data, algorithms/models, and software code may be subject to copyright restrictions prohibiting both their use for commercial purposes and the creation of derivative works, such as CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, but any such restrictions may not prohibit their use for the purpose of reproducing results.
I assume any and all risks associated with my participation in the NCA. I waive all claims against the Federal Government and its related entities, except for claims based on willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits (whether direct, indirect, or consequential) arising from participation in the NCA.
I agree to indemnify the Federal Government in the event that it suffers liability or damages as a result of its use of my contribution.
Check box:
I understand *
Thank you! Your responses have been recorded. Your USGCRP point of contact will be in touch with you shortly to finish your onboarding and give you access to all the information you will need to get started.
Thank you for your willingness to participate in the National Climate Assessment!
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Adrienne.Thomas |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2024-07-20 |