The NSF sponsored joint NCAR/NEON workshop, Predicting life in the Earth system – linking the geosciences and ecology, is an opportunity to bring together members of the atmospheric science and ecological communities to advance the capability of Earth system prediction to include terrestrial ecosystems and biological resources. The workshop’s overarching theme will focus on convergent research between the geosciences and ecology for ecological forecasting and prediction at subseasonal to seasonal, seasonal to decadal, and centennial timescales, including use of observations, required data services infrastructure, and models.