V1, 7/18/05 11 mechanism is the provision of raw and processed data directly to users.  To enlarge this activity we must first identify additional/specific user groups and what is needed to best present data/information to them.  Initially we have identified the modelers and the educators as two user groups that we have started to work with.  The new “Teams” approach as recently adopted will help to improve on these matters raised.  It is also necessary to ensure utility for users by making sure that the web site provides reliable access, which requires switching over to a back up site during power failures due to unforeseen events, e.g. hurricane impacts. · The Committee recommends that SEACOOS member scientists (modelers, observationalists…) be viewed as one of the primary test user groups. Through internal governance mechanisms SEACOOS can require that its members 1) be users of the SEACOOS IM system in the daily conduct of their own research and other tasks; and 2) provide regular, constructive feedback to the SEACOOS data managers in order to shed light on those  aspects of the  IM system requiring enhancement. As SEACOOS moves into routine analysis, model data assimilation and validation we will utilize SEACOOS IM to provide access to the observations.   We understand what SEACOOS IM can do to facilitate access to SEACOOS data for all SEACOOS members, as well as potential users outside SEACOOS.   In that way, we can design the Information Management system so that it actually facilitates information access and is preferentially selected by the scientists within and without SEACOOS. · The SEACOOS IM strategy recognizes the importance of data standards. A clear and largely successful effort has been made to investigate the existing, relevant data standards and to utilize them.  In some (most) cases the existing standards have fallen short of meeting SEACOOS needs in significant details.  In order to remedy those deficiencies SEACOOS has independently drafted new documents and proposed them as standards (e.g. “Data Dictionary” and “SEACOOS CDL”). Although the standards drafted are of high quality, SEACOOS must engage in community-wide efforts to define data standards. The Committee’s recommendations regarding data standard development are excellent and totally consistent with our near-term planning.  There are at least three primary groups that we need to interface with to ensure that are SEACOOS developments are consistent with “larger” standards development initiatives.   These are (1) the Cooperative Ocean/Atmosphere Research Data Service (COARDS; http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/people/julia.collins/coop/  , a NOAA/university cooperative for the sharing and distribution of global atmospheric and oceanographic research data sets ; (2)  the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC; http://www.opengeospatial.org/ ), non-profit, international, voluntary consensus standards organization working on development of geospatial and location based services standards, and (3) the Marine Metadata Interoperability Initiative (MMI;