ESIP enables critical earth science research by being highly effective at bringing together leading technology and earth science communities in a manner that actively generates innovation.
There are very few forums for these communities to meet, and even fewer that actively facilitate collaborations. I don't know of any other organisation or meeting that is so effective at pairing these communities in a manner that allows rapid prototyping, development, and deployment of technologies that efficiently meet the needs of earth scientists to carry out their research more effectively. And they further do so in a manner that promotes openness, engagement, and community driven direction.
ESIP helped me find a voice in my profession. I was able to contribute as a student fellow throughout my graduate and doctoral work. I was accepted warmly into a group of highly diverse experts who are interested in collaborating across institutional and disciplinary boundaries. The meetings twice a year and the monthly teleconferences on certain topics allows us to connect on a regular basis. Now that I am in my career, I don't always have a chance to go to the meetings, but when I do, I can pick up where I left off and always get an idea of community ideas that are coming to the fore. And when I see folks at other venues - we have a shared experience from our participation in the meetings. I think ESIP is a great first step for young professionals is Earth Science Data work and as a way to connect through time with great folks who provide a space to be creative and share experiences surrounding the work that we do. I am very thankful they exist.
While originally seeded by NASA Earth Science, the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) organization has been an amazing success story of a grass-roots organization and continues to provide huge benefit to a growing cross-section of the Earth science community. No one if funded to participate in ESIP, so all the members and participants are there because they are truly interested in the topics and are willing to share information on their experiences and projects. Since ESIP is independent of any one government agency's control, the information and idea exchange within the group is much more open and free flowing, leading to extremely productive discussions and projects. The free-form nature of pop-up special interest clusters has been a successful way to openly nurture the advancement of technology ideas and discussions - something not typically seen in these types of organizations.
While not solely funded by any one government agency, several of the agencies are beginning to take cues from ESIP activities to decide on the direction of future research opportunities, and the opportunity to network with like-minded researchers at ESIP have led to many successful collaborations - funded and otherwise.
Bottom line is that ESIP has been a great success and has been very instrumental in the advancement of Earth science information technologies and research - making data matter.
ESIP is a great virtual organization most of the year: they help folks across the country (and around the world) work together and provide leadership opportunities for anyone who is willing to take them. Twice per year, ESIP facilitates fantastic user-centered meetings that help a broad and diverse community of folks move their goals forward. ESIP's work makes Earth Science data collected by satellites, weather stations, ocean buoys, drones, and other sensors useable. This work is invaluable to folks who set policy and make decisions about our planet.
Where else can scientists, technologists, data scientists and data managers hang out together to move the whole world of science and data forward in ethical ways. It's a place where folks from government agencies, industry, academia, etc. get together to problem solve and prevent the reinvention of the wheel. It's an open and extremely welcoming organization. Totally bottom up driven - any member can start a group to work on a problem. It certainly has helped my career!