Thursday, July 31, 2025
Dear SCEC Community,

As we are working hard to prepare a successful Annual Meeting, we would like to share news about the 2026 SCEC Science collaboration.

As many of you are aware, the ongoing federal funding challenges have created significant uncertainty for research programs across the nation, including SCEC. After extensive internal discussions, thoughtful consideration of input from the SCEC community through our recent leadership retreat meeting in May, and careful evaluation of alternatives for supporting the Center’s priorities, we have made the difficult decision not to issue a regular Request for Proposals (RFP) for 2026.

This was a difficult decision; however, given the limited resources available during this transitional period, we believe it is essential to focus on efforts that will have the greatest impact on sustaining and advancing our mission for the long term. Our strategy for 2025/2026 will emphasize:
  • Preserving and maintaining SCEC’s community activities that underpin integrative earthquake science and seismic hazard models.
  • Addressing key milestones and deliverables of SCEC proposals that should be finalized in 2026
  • Communicating SCEC’s unique value proposition and societal impact to stakeholders, partners, and funding agencies.
  • Laying the groundwork for future growth by building visibility, and aligning with state and national research priorities
Central to this strategy is SCEC’s commitment to continue to support the activities that bring our community together, including the annual meeting, science workshops, and funding several strategic Technical Activity Groups (TAGs) that fuse the interdisciplinary expertise of our community. We will also create and support special opportunities for engaging students and early-career scientists to ensure their continued involvement in the center and in shaping the future of earthquake system science. In our discussions, these core activities were identified as priorities for keeping the SCEC community engaged and SCEC relevant as we adapt to an evolving environment.

This is a period of transition, and it is critical that we work together to maintain the coherence and strength of the SCEC community. By focusing our limited resources strategically and collectively, we can emerge stronger, and ready to pursue new opportunities as the funding landscape evolves. Your participation and contributions at the Annual meeting will be essential as we discuss these challenges and opportunities, and develop a collective vision for the future of the Center.

Thank you for your understanding, your dedication, and your continued engagement with SCEC. We are confident that, together, we can navigate these challenges and build a future where SCEC continues to lead in integrative earthquake system science with societal relevance.

On behalf of the SCEC Executive Committee,

Yehuda Ben-Zion (SCEC Director)
Greg Beroza (SCEC Co-Director)
Ahmed Elbanna (SCEC Director Designate)
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