Editors’ Note 4

1. Ecosystem & Biodiversity Science 6

  A. Participants 6

  B. Introduction 7

  C. Areas of Excitement and Progress 8

  D. Bottlenecks, Blindspots, and Opportunities in Ecosystem Science 10

  E. High-Value Applications for Research and Decision-Making 14

  F. Frameworks for Ethical, Aligned, and Non-Extractive Engagement 17

  G. Recommendations for Funders 19

  H. Conclusion: Toward a Shared Ecological Future 21

2. Climate & Earth System Modeling 22

  A. Participants 22

  B. Introduction 23

  C. Areas of Excitement and Progress 24

  D. High-Value Research Areas and Applications 26

  E. Persistent Challenges, Limitations, and Risks 30

  F. Recommendations for Funders 33

  G. Conclusion: Toward Actionable and Integrated Earth System Science 34

3. Biological Inference 35

  A. Participants 35

  B. Introduction 36

  C. Areas of Excitement and Progress 38

  D. High-Value Applications for Research and Decision-Making 41

  E. Persistent Challenges, Limitations, and Risks 44

  F. Recommendations for Funders 48

  G. Conclusion: Toward an Explanatory Paradigm in the Life Sciences 49

4. Neural Systems, Cognition, & Human Behavior 51

  A. Participants 51

  B. Introduction 51

  C. Areas of Excitement and Progress 53

  D. High-Value Research Applications 55

  E. Persistent Challenges, Limitations, and Risks 60

  F. Recommendations for Funders 62

  G. Conclusion: Toward a Convergent Neuro-Computational Science 64

5. Genomics & Human Variation 65

  A. Participants 65

  B. Introduction 65

  C. Areas of Excitement and Progress 67

  D. High-Value Research Applications 70

  E. Persistent Challenges, Limitations, and Risks 72

  F. Recommendations for Funders 78

  G. Conclusion: Toward a Causal Paradigm in Genomic Science 80