Nurture Nature Center

THE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER (WPC) OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS) PROVIDES A BROAD SUITE OF FORECAST INFORMATION, INCLUDING HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL FORECAST PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS PRODUCTS FOR EXTREME TEMPERATURE, WINTER WEATHER AND GENERAL WEATHER INFORMATION. THESE PRODUCTS SERVE A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF PROFESSIONAL USERS AS WELL AS NWS FORECASTERS AND OTHER INTERNAL USERS. EVOLVING FORECAST CAPACITY AND TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS USER FEEDBACK GLEANED THROUGH SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND USER WORKSHOPS (HOGAN CARR ET AL, 2016; CLIMATE PROGRAM OFFICE 2020; NATIONAL CENTER FOR WEATHER AND CLIMATE PREDICTION 2020), HAS PROMPTED THE NEED FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF USER NEEDS FOR PRECIPITATION FORECAST PRODUCTS, INCLUDING THE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL OUTLOOK, MESOSCALE PRECIPITATION DISCUSSION, THE QUANTITATIVE PRECIPITATION FORECAST (QPF) AND THE PROBABILISTIC QPF, AND THE EXTREME PRECIPITATION MONITOR. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DASHBOARD FOR URBAN RAIN RATE FORECASTING, WHICH PROVIDES REAL-TIM

BUILDING INSIGHTS THROUGH OBSERVATION: RESEARCHING ARTS-BASED METHODS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH DATA

USASPENDING REPORT ATTACHED TO SINGLE AUDIT SECTION

CREATE RESILIENCE: CREATING RESILIENCE THROUGH EDUCATION, ART, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGAGEMENT

INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF EARTH SYSTEMS, SUPPORTS NASAS EDUCATION MISSION TO ADVANCE HIGH QUALITY STEM EDUCATION USING NASAS UNIQUE CAPABILITIES, NAMELY

MAKING SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY: IMPROVING THE USE OF HYDROLOGIC PROBABILISTIC INFORMATION IN DECISION-MAKING

PURPOSE FOR THE AWARD: TO UNDERSTAND THE RANGE OF FLOOD INFORMATION NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF UNDERSERVED AUDIENCES IN VARIOUS REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME URBAN, RURAL, AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS OF FLOOD FORECAST INFORMATION. ACTIVITIES: 1. FOCUS GROUP ACTIVITIES 2. ANALYSIS OF DATA AND PRODUCT REDESIGN 3. EVALUATION OF REDESIGN AND COMMUNICATIONS DELIVERABLE AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: A DETAILED USER NEEDS ASSESSMENT, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR END USERS, AND A FINAL REPORT THAT CONTAINS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRODUCT REDESIGN AND INFORMATION DELIVERY FOR A RANGE OF AUDIENCES. INTENDED BENEFICIARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

THIS PROJECT SEEKSINCREASE CONSUMPTION OF LOCALLY GROWN FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AMONG SNAP BENEFICIARIES IN THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY (GLV) REGION OFPENNSYLVANIA. THE USDA'S FOOD ACCESS RESEARCH ATLAS IDENTIFIES MORE THAN 20 CENSUS TRACTS IN THE GLV THAT HAVE LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS AND LIMITED ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE. THE GLV'S LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF FRESH FOOD INSECURITY BY ESTABLISHING ALTERNATE RETAIL OUTLETS, SUCH AS FARMERS MARKETS, FARM STANDS, FARM SHARE PROGRAMS AND MOBILE MARKETS TO BRING FRESH, LOCAL FOOD INTO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO WORK WITH CORNER STORE OWNERS TO SOURCE LOCAL PRODUCE AND OFFER SNAP INCENTIVES FOR THOSE ITEMS.TO EVALUATE THE PROJECT'S IMPACT, SNAP BENEFICIARIES WILL BE SURVEYED AND EGAGED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY ARE CONSUMING MORE FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE AS A RESULT OF INCENTIVES AND OUTREACH EFFORTS. LOCAL FARMERS AND OTHER RETAILERS WILL ALSO BE SURVEYED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT TO DETERMINE WHETHER IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE IN TRANSACTION PROCESSING, ETC. COMPARING YEAR-TO-YEAR DATA ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SNAP CUSTOMERS, WHETHER THEY ARE REPEAT CUSTOMERS AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY ARE SPENDING AT SNAP INCENTIVE LOCATIONS WILL ALSO PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL IN ENCOURAGING SNAP BENEFICAIRES TO PURCHASE AND CONSUME MORE FRESH, LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.BY PROVIDING SNAP INCENTIVES AT THESE LOCATIONS, CUSTOMERS ARE ABLE TO STRETCH THEIR FOOD DOLLARS FURTHER, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PURCHASING HIGH-QUALITY, NUTRITIOUS PRODUCE AND CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHO WILL HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO LOCAL FOODS, LOCAL FARMS WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL SALES OPPORTUNTIES, AND THE GLV AS A WHOLE AS MORE MONEY SPENT ON LOCAL FOOD STAYS IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

TARGETED GROWTH FOR PRODUCER MARKETS IN THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY

WINTER STORM SEVERITY INDEX: IMPROVING STORM READINESS THROUGH SEVERITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT FORECASTING

SCIENCE ON A SPHERE AND FLOOD FORUMS: EDUCATION TO ACTION

FLOOD EXTENT AND INUNDATION MAPS ARE A COMMON WAY TO COMMUNICATE FLOODING RISK, BUT THERE IS LITTLE RESEARCH ON SUCH PRODUCTS' CONTENT, DESIGN, DISSEMINATION BEST PRACTICES, AND USE IN DECISION-MAKING. THE NURTURE NATURE CENTER PROPOSES TO CONDUCT A SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT ABOUT FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NATIONAL WATER MODEL, RIVER FORECAST CENTERS AND ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE SYSTEMS. THIS RESEARCH WILL INVOLVE FOCUS GROUPS IN THE MID-ATLANTIC RIVER FORECAST CENTER AREA AND THE WEST GULF RIVER FORECAST CENTER AREA. PRE- AND POST- FOCUS GROUP SESSION SURVEYS WILL BE COLLECTED AND A FOLLOW-UP ONLINE SURVEY WILL PROVIDE INPUT ON POTENTIAL RECOMMENDED DESIGN AND USE OPTIONS. BOTH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS WILL INFORM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRODUCT DESIGN AND DELIVERY AND ADDRESS QUESTIONS RELATED TO BARRIERS TO USE AND UNDERSTANDING. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE: 1) USE CASE DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE KINDS OF DECISIONS USERS WILL MAKE WI

FLOOD RISK AND UNCERTAINTY: ASSESSING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE'S FORECAST AND WARNING TOOLS

WINTER STORM SEVERITY FOR ALASKA

THE NURTURE NATURE CENTER'S PROJECT TITLED "CREATE RESILIENCE RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY LEARNING HUB'" WILL START A NEW INITIATIVE IN EASTON, PA TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY, RESOURCES, AND EDUCATIONAL AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. THE CREATE HUB WILL PROVIDE THE KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES, AND CONNECTIONS SO THAT COMMUNITIES CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND TURN THOSE CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR ABILITY TO ADAPT AND PREPARE. SPECIFICALLY, THE HUB WILL CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO EXPERTS AND NOAA RESOURCES AND ASSETS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO CREATE EFFECTIVE PLANS RELATED TO RESILIENCY, VULNERABILITY, AND ADAPTATION, WHILE PROVIDING TEMPLATES THAT ENABLE COMMUNITIES TO STRATEGIZE ABOUT, MAP, AND UNDERSTAND THEIR ASSETS AND HOW TO ENGAGE THOSE ASSETS TO PREPARE FOR THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD.

PROMOTION OF DIRECT PRODUCER TO CONSUMER

BUILDING THE LEHIGH VALLEY LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

INCREASING FRUIT & VEGETABLE PURCHASES BY SNAP PARTICIPANTS IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY