Each scientific theme within EarthScope will be overseen by a Working Group. Each WG will be composed of 3-5 active researchers in the field who are responsible for advocating for, communicating results of , and coordinating scientific advances within the WG's scientific theme. WGs will do most of their work through email and teleconferences, with ad-hoc meetings arranged as needed in association with larger meetings such as AGU, GSA or the EarthScope National Meeting.Working groups should be populated by the same nomination process as the ESSC and the two subcommittees. The process is described in the ESSC roles and responsibility document.. One member of each working group will be a member of the EarthScope Steering Committee.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide advice and guidance to the ESSC to advance EarthScope science goals
• Provide periodic reviews of EarthScope progress toward meerting program goals
• Help keep EarthScope science plan current
• Develop/coordinate content for the science section to the EarthScope website.
• Make recommendations regarding cyberinfrastructure to meet EarthScope science goals
• Provide/solicit highlights of new science results for EarthScope communications
• Provide/solicit EarthScope science accomplishments for E & O activities
• Organize workshops to advance science goals, as needed.

EarthScope themes:

•Convergent margin processes
•Crustal strain and deformation
•Continental deformation
•Continental structure and evolution
•Faults and earthquake processes
•Deep Earth structure
•Fluids and magmas