Democratizing data through the NSF NCAR Data Commons Initiative
May 30, 2025
Exciting news: the cross-lab effort to implement the NSF NCAR Data Commons is entering its final phase, with major milestones expected to be complete by fall 2025. This strategic initiative is transforming how we manage, integrate, and share data across the organization to support AI/ML readiness, interdisciplinary collaboration, and long-term scientific discovery.
What is it?
An ongoing effort to consolidate the siloed Climate Data Gateway (CDG) and Geoscience Data Exchange (GDEX) into a modernized, infrastructure-reinforced Research Data Archive (RDA), laying the foundation for the NSF NCAR Data Commons.
Why is it important?
This initiative advances FAIR data access by establishing shared infrastructure, standardized formats, and metadata-rich services. The result: analysis-ready datasets that improve efficiency, enable AI/ML research, and foster cross-domain insight. It also sets the stage for future integration of datasets curated across individual NSF NCAR labs.
What's new?
CDG and GDEX are actively being consolidated into the modernized RDA—also referred to as the Next Generation GDEX. This final integration phase is underway, with updates, interface changes, and communications rolling out through fall as part of the transition.
For more information, please see our project page. For inquiries or opportunities to get involved, please contact Doug Schuster.
