The History of Biogeosciences.org
Recognizing the growing research and educational challenges posed by bridging the Earth and life sciences the National Science Foundation began a new program in Biogeosciences in 2002. Biogeosciences is the study of the fundamental interactions between life and the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere, and potentially includes such life on other planets. The new program is housed in the Division of Earth Sciences, but cuts across all the divisions in NSF's Geosciences Directorate and interfaces with other Directorates as well. This is in clear recognition of the fundamental interdisciplinary nature of biogeosciences that includes all spatial and temporal scales and physical regimes (not just aquatic, terrestrial, etc).
An outside Biogeoscience Working Group (BWG) was formed to examine how the Biogeosciences Program might further develop within NSF and the science community. The BWG envisioned a Web site that would support the biogeoscience community and act as a conduit through which information would flow from funding agencies, program managers, societies, and others. This working group is no longer active.
In 2004, work began on Biogeosciences.org, with several supporting scientific societies. The goal of the Web site is to bring together the biogeoscience community, advance awareness of the subject and promote the study of biogeoscience.
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