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Conducting critical scientific research to advance NOAA's mission

Trusted Research. Results that Matter.

Every American relies on dependable scientific information. The NOAA Science Council oversees the process of research to development and public use across NOAA’s portfolio. The results are NOAA products and services that keep our communities safe, our economy strong, and our nation moving forward.

Scientific Research at the Highest Standard

NOAA Science Serves Our Nation

The NOAA Science Council is a dedicated group of senior scientists from every part of NOAA with a single, guiding mission: to ensure NOAA’s science serves the American people.

We do this by directing research to solve society’s pressing needs, embracing new technology to stay ahead of future challenges, and ensuring projects run efficiently to maximize the value of our work.

Science-based Decisions that Matter

How NOAA Science Serves the Nation and Drives the Economy
Fewer Flight Delays
Our strategic guidance on aviation weather research helps airlines fly safer, more efficient routes. That means less time you spend waiting at the gate.

See Our Contribution to Aviation Weather
A 2-to-1 Return on Hurricane Safety
For every dollar taxpayers invest in our work to improve hurricane forecasts, America sees double the benefit in protected lives and property.

Read About Our Investment in Hurricane Science
A Stronger Economy
We ensure NOAA’s scientific data is highly dependable, helping farmers protect their crops, fishermen manage their stocks, and businesses navigate supply chains.

Learn About Our Drought Monitoring

NOAA's Framework for Impact

Setting the Standard for NOAA's Science

Shaping NOAA's Science

The NOAA Science Council authors and oversees the official policies that ensure all NOAA research and development meets the highest scientific and ethical standards.

Explore Our Policies

The Annual NOAA Science Report

Explore the 2025 NOAA Science Report, an annual report showcasing NOAA's most significant research and development accomplishments and their societal impacts.

Read the Report

A Vision for NOAA's Science Now and into the Future

The NOAA Science Council leads the strategic planning and prioritization for NOAA's research and development, creating a vision to guide research addressing the needs of today and into the future.

See Where We're Headed

State of the Science Fact Sheets

These two-page resources communicate our current understanding of important science topics impacting the planet. Become informed with the latest bite-sized information on these major science topics.

Download State of the Science Fact Sheets

Scientific Integrity Commons

The NOAA Science Council oversees NOAA's Scientific Integrity Committee, a body responsible for upholding NOAA's commitment to objective and transparent research.

Visit the Scientific Integrity Commons

The Value of Our Work: NOAA by the Numbers

This collection of key statistics and findings demonstrates the tangible economic value and return on investment that NOAA’s programs deliver to the nation.

See the Statistics

Meet the Leaders Guiding Our Science

Our Members

When I think about the challenges that society faces today and in the coming century, of which many are intricately tied to climate change, NOAA Research’s mission addresses so many of those challenges. The breadth of the NOAA Research mission is very impressive due to the extensive opportunities it provides to explore and solve these societal challenges.

Before I started at NOAA Research, I served as the director and deputy director of NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS from 2013 to 2022. Prior to joining NCCOS, I was the coordinator of NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. During my time at NOAA, I have partnered with NOAA Research labs and programs to address some of the most pressing challenges along our coasts, and I have always been impressed with the ingenuity and passion of the staff. I am excited and humbled to be joining these dedicated professionals in service to the American public.

Meet Our NOAA Science Council Members

Steve Thur, Ph.D

NOAA Science Council Chair and NOAA Research Assistant Administrator

Our Research Success Stories

Highlights from the Annual NOAA Science Report
NOAA Satellites Reached New Heights in Space Weather Observations

Data from instruments carried by NOAA satellites serve as an early warning system for space weather headed towards Earth from the sun.

Breakthroughs in Data Collection from Inside of Tropical Cyclones

New technology broke records in data collection gathering observations from some of the hardest-to-reach areas of tropical cyclones.

Monitoring Marine Life from Space with Satellite Technology and AI

Satellite technology and artificial intelligence were used to help detect marine life from space and support conservation of endangered marine species.

Early Detection of Water Conditions Toxic to Humans and Animals

NOAA used robots to provide early detection of harmful algal blooms offshore before harmful effects reached inshore areas and impact health of fish and humans.

Building the Framework to Advance the Nation's Seafood Production

NOAA developed a framework to identify and plan sustainable aquaculture farming sites with minimal disruption to other environmental and ocean uses in these areas.

Discover a Year of Breakthroughs