Ideas for New USGS Program Directions Date: Fri, 27 Sep 1996 15:36:24 -0500 To: "E - All WRD Employees" From: "Robert M Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist, Reston, VA " (Robert Hirsch) Subject: Ideas for New USGS Program Directions Cc: " , WRD Archive File, Reston, VA " In Reply Refer To: Mail Stop 409 MEMORANDUM September 27, 1996 To: All Water Resources Division Employees From: Robert M. Hirsch (signed) Chief Hydrologist Subject: Ideas for New USGS Program Directions RESPONSE BY OCTOBER 21, 1996 As part of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) program planning, we have now begun a new process to solicit ideas on an annual basis. The purpose of this memorandum is to encourage anyone in the Water Resources Division (WRD) with an idea for a new USGS program direction to work with your peers and your supervisor in developing a short idea statement (1 to 2 page maximum). I am asking office managers to work with staff members who come forward with ideas. This is not intended to be a burdensome or time-consuming process. If you do not have any specific ideas for new program directions at this time, that is okay. However, we want to make sure that anyone who has an idea for a new program is heard. Our goal is not to come up with fully-developed proposals for new programs or changes in direction of existing programs. Rather, we are asking for science ideas or ideas for new products or services that can be developed over time into a new area of emphasis for the USGS. The short idea statement should provide the following information: What is the issue or topic? Why is it important? Who are the potential partners and customers for the information? What is the potential USGS role? How does the idea relate to the USGS Strategic Plan? The ideas should be of sufficient scope (national or regional) to warrant consideration as new program directions for the USGS. You may have an idea that is based on a project you have proposed or conducted in a single State or a single site. What we are asking you to do here is to generalize that idea to a program that could apply to the whole Nation or a type of environment that exists in many locations around the Nation. Ideas that have already been suggested include: occurrence and effects of endocrine disrupting compounds, real-time coastal storm monitoring, and science for floodplain management. It is not necessary to specify the amount of funding that would be required or which USGS program might provide or seek funds. Suggestions will be accepted at any time throughout the year. Once a year, the accumulated suggestions will be compiled and a follow-up strategy will be developed for each promising suggestion. Please send your ideas to Gail Mallard (gmallard) or Jim Peters (jgpeters) via e-mail, with a copy to your supervisor. They will review the ideas for duplication or potential consolidation. Those ideas that arrive by October 21, 1996, will be discussed at the October 22-24 WRD Senior Staff meeting, forwarded to the Program Council on November 1, shared with all USGS program managers in late November, and considered as potential topics for development during the next year through interdivisional workshops or other mechanisms. The essence of what is required to put your science idea forward is contained in this e-mail message. For those who have a special interest in this topic, a more complete discussion of the program development process is provided in a memorandum from the USGS Program Council which is available at url: h2o.usgs.gov/usgs/prgm_council_memo.html Thank you for your willingness to help improve the quality and the relevance of our programs. I look forward to reading about your ideas and working with you to develop them into new opportunities for the USGS. ************************************************************* Robert M. Hirsch Phone: 703/648-5215 Chief Hydrologist Fax: 703/648-5002 409 National Center Internet: rhirsch@usgs.gov U.S. Geological Survey Reston, VA 20192 *************************************************************