NSF has made several awards this past year with relevance to subduction zone science and the goals of SZ4D. The Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT) has a specific focus on the science related to seismic hazards from the Cascadia Subduction Zone (2225216). Creating an Offshore Subduction Zone Observatory (COSZO) takes advantage of the existing NSF-funded Regional Cabled Observatory to add seismometers and seafloor pressure gauges on the continental slope and shelf (2329819). These large projects continue to add to a portfolio of shoreline-crossing science that NSF and the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) are pleased to support. We also continue to welcome (and support) SZ4D-relevant proposals to the many programs across OCE and EAR.

The National Academies Ocean Study Board is developing a Decadal Survey (2025-2035) for the NSF Division of Ocean Sciences to guide investments in research, infrastructure, and workforce development. Some areas that will be covered in the resulting report include 1) Opportunities to develop collaborations with NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP); 2) Opportunities to promote multidisciplinary approaches to study challenges related to environmental change; 3) Development of a concise portfolio of compelling, high-priority scientific questions; 4) Identification of the research infrastructure needed to advance these scientific questions; 5) Development of a framework that can encourage greater collaboration with partners such as other NSF units, other federal agencies, and the private sector. Scientific questions and infrastructure related to scientific ocean drilling are a special emphasis in the Decadal Survey. Many of these topics have the potential to connect to SZ4D, so we encourage community engagement where and when it’s possible.