The Modeling Collaboratory for Subduction Integrative Group (MCS) held an in-person meeting July 1-2 at Boston College to identify goals and objectives for the 2024-2025 academic year. Support for the workshop was provided by the NSF MCS-RCN and Boston College.

Learn more about the MCS Integrative Group

Seven MCS members attended the meeting, joined by representatives from SZ4D's Operation Planning Committee for Activities (OPC-A), Collective Impact Committee (CIC), and GeoArray, as well as from the Computational Infrastructure for Geodynamics (CIG) and the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC).

The discussion identified five areas of focus:

• Developing a community of practice for modeling,

• Enhancing workflows to improve scientific reproducibility and next level model building,

• Supporting proposal submissions,

• Increasing engagement with SZ4D working groups, and

• Fostering scientific discussion and networking opportunities.

Community of Practice for Modeling

A sub-group will develop a proposal to support a survey and analysis to assess the modeling and training needs of the next generation of geoscientists. This will be presented at the CIG Community Meeting in August 2025.

Workflows for Scientific Reproducibility and Model Building

The group explored various strategies to enhance workflows, including training activities, with possible approaches including developing training activities, exploring new technologies like AI/ML, and collaborating with computational scientists to containerize codes, automate workflows, and improve input-output frameworks. The group also discussed the importance of creating to work toward next generation community models and cascading levels of data and model integration to allow for flexible data assimilation and adoption of model integration to different use cases and sets of constraints and assumptions. A goal for the next year was to develop one or two specific example workflows.

Proposal Submissions

MCS plans to integrate different community-led proposals to support MCS operation, such as resubmitting the Rheology Toolbox proposal to the NSF Geoinformatics program, and assessing the feasibility of a digital twin approach within a volcano dynamics context. The group is also looking to formalize collaborations with computational scientists, and contribute to larger SZ4D proposals like the MSRI.

Increasing Engagement with SZ4D Working Groups

The group also identified the need for increased engagement with the other SZ4D working groups, specifically as it pertains to data formats, pipelines, and constraining model inputs and outputs based on legacy data and data to be newly acquired as a part of the SZ4D Center and MSRI data infrastructure and acquisition efforts. The fusion of data and modeling in a flexible workflow and modular interpretation environment remains central to these efforts.

Scientific Discussions and Networking Opportunities

The group recognized the need for more science-driven discussions, particularly involving early career scientists, to encourage interdisciplinary discussion and collaboration on on research, modeling approaches, and data analysis techniques. This could be achieved through larger initiatives like meetings or lightning-style talks at group monthly meetings.

Another MCS activity in the upcoming year is to begin activities associated with the recently funded NSF CSSI proposal to couple the 3-D geodynamic code ASPECT with the Landlab toolbox for modeling surface processes.

Learn more