WHAT IS THE FORUM?

The Northwest Environmental Forum is being designed as a collaborative meeting and work space to bring together decision makers and stakeholders to apply scientific and policy information to address critical environmental and natural resource management issues. Potential users will include resource and environmental agencies; energy, forest, agriculture, and real estate interests; and land conservancies, environmental groups, tribes, and NGOs. Five core functions describe the Forum:

• Decision Making. Stakeholders and decision makers can discuss complex and often contentious issues in a neutral and science-rich setting. The flexible meeting spaces will support breakthrough discussions with scientists, decision support tools, presentation and data visualization technologies, and groupware. Clients will be able to compare ideas and alternative solutions, better understand and weigh trade-offs, and move toward resolution of complex issues.
• Collaborative Analysis. Scientists and policy staff will collaborate on research and analytical work that supports decision making. Spaces and tools will be arrayed so workers can organize their ideas and thoughts. Experts from diverse organizations will be able to participate directly and use advanced analysis and data displays and sophisticated information modeling tools.
• Information Repository. Complex projects need access to multiple databases and other information that often exist at dispersed locations. By providing on-line access to information, the Forum will be a centralized information access site to enable teams and individuals to acquire, process, and store information. Quick and virtual access to information will enable scientists and policy makers to question, analyze, and identify potential solutions.
• Educational Observatory. Forum space will have access for classroom interaction and student participation and work. Virtual access to environmental and natural resources projects will provide teaching, research, and project opportunities. Collaborative work by participants will afford new learning space and opportunities for innovative teaching and research applications.
• Research Aimed at Long-Term Solutions. The collaborative working partnership will integrate knowledge into political deliberations. Information gaps and research needs for future decisions will be identified. Research and teaching opportunities will quickly emerge.

THE FORUM AND OTHER REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The University of Washington will use the Forum to gain knowledge from universities, businesses, NGOs, tribes, and agencies. As examples, global climate and atmospheric change studies have great relevance to water, fish, and land management; and regional telecommunications and information technologies are essential in creating a collaborative and accessible environment.

THE FORUM AND OTHER UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CENTERS
The Colleges of Forest Resources and Ocean and Fishery Sciences will work closely with the Evans School of Public Affairs, the Jackson School of International Studies, the College of Architecture and Urban Planning, the College of Engineering, the Information School, the School of Law, and centers such as Water and Watershed Studies and Law, Commerce, and Technology. The Earth Initiative has been launched at the University of Washington that will integrate applied and long-term basic research, case study public policy analysis, and policy advisory interactions. At the Forum, collaborative problem resolution can identify new exciting initiatives that will form the research fabric of the Earth Initiative and the University.