CIMSS is a Cooperative Institute formed through a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in 1980. Directed by Dr. Steve Ackerman, CIMSS operates as an institute within the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC). CIMSS scientists conduct research using remote sensing systems for meteorological and surface-based applications.
The CIMSS mission includes three goals:
- Foster collaborative research among NOAA, NASA, and the University in those aspects of atmospheric and earth system sciences that exploit the use of satellite technology;
- Serve as a centre at which scientists and engineers working on problems of mutual interest can focus on satellite-related research in atmospheric and earth system science;
- Stimulate the training of scientists and engineers in the disciplines involved in atmospheric and earth science.