An update on the continuing transformation of EarthScope

[Robert Woodward]

Dear EarthScope Community:

This message provides an update on the continuing transformation that started when UNAVCO and IRIS merged to create the EarthScope Consortium – a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the geophysical research community. The internal structure of EarthScope is changing to better align with EarthScope principles and the goal to create the most efficient, capable, and equitable organization possible. To this end, and by design, changes are being made in how the PASSCAL Instrument Center is being operated. 

Many in the community rely on the service and support they receive from the PASSCAL Instrument Center, which for the past 25 years has been hosted by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) in Socorro, New Mexico, operating under a subaward from EarthScope (formerly from IRIS). Rest assured, this service and support will continue. But two important changes are now taking place. First, the PASSCAL Instrument Center (PIC) has become the EarthScope Primary Instrument Center (EPIC), to create a single hub for seismology and geodesy instrumentation activities, particularly those activities supporting the National Science Foundation-funded SAGE and GAGE awards. Second, as part of this transition the EPIC will operate as an EarthScope facility staffed by EarthScope personnel. The existing staff at the PIC have become direct EarthScope employees and are continuing their current work at the EPIC, uninterrupted. It is exciting to see that these staff believe in and support the vision and mission of the EarthScope Consortium.

With the changes described above, the EPIC will continue to operate as a center of excellence, but with a broader range of geophysical instrumentation and support. And for those who have relied on the deep and broad expertise of the staff at IRIS, UNAVCO, or NMT, you will now find all the same great people working as a single team at EarthScope.

EarthScope salutes the NMT faculty and administration who have hosted the PIC for the past 25 years, and who have worked closely and collaboratively with EarthScope throughout the transitions described above. Both EarthScope and NMT look forward to working together under this new organizational structure, in service to the geophysical community. 

Sincerely,

For EarthScope:

Becks Bendick, Chief Executive Officer

Bob Woodward, Chief Operating Officer

For New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology:

Daniel Lopez, President

Sue Bilek, Professor and Principal Investigator on the PASSCAL Instrument Center Subaward