In response to grand challenges in ecology and the environmental sciences, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has proposed that Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (NSF-MREFC) funds be used to implement a new and unprecedented research and education platform-NEON, the National Ecological Observatory Network. NEON is envisioned as:

"a continental scale research instrument consisting of geographically distributed infrastructure, networked via state-of-the-art communications. Cutting-edge lab and field instrumentation, site-based experimental infrastructure, natural history archive facilities and/or computational, analytical and modeling capabilities, linked via a computational network will comprise NEON. NEON will transform ecological research by enabling studies on major environmental challenges at regional to continental scales. Scientists and engineers will use NEON to conduct real-time ecological studies spanning all levels of biological organization and temporal and geographical scales. NSF disciplinary and multi-disciplinary programs will support NEON research projects and educational activities. Data from standard measurements made using NEON will be publicly available." (NSF 04549, 2004)

CalEON's affiliated programs:
National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
Consortium of Regional Ecological Observatories (COREO)