Future USGS Science Directions

To supervisors, managers, and team leaders:  Please ensure that employees 
without access to email receive a copy of this message.


                                                       July 28, 2000

                         MEMORANDUM


To:             All USGS Employees
From:           Chip Groat (signed)
                Director
Subject:        Future USGS Science Directions

Over the past several months the Associate Directors (Denny Fenn, Bob 
Hirsch, Pat Leahy, and Dick Witmer) and the Science Associates (Sue 
Haseltine, Gail Mallard, Steve Bohlen, and John Kelmelis) have been 
working with the Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis (SPA) to 
discuss future science directions for the USGS.  At my request, these 
discussions have centered on topics that contain societal issues and 
challenges that would benefit from, or could be solved by using, our 
science and information.

As an initial step, the group identified eight topics that encompass 
important societal issues.  These areas provide a framework where science 
can and must make an impact on society, and within which the USGS can 
build the science that will move us forward:
·       Coastal Environments
·       Earthquakes
·       Ecosystems
·       Energy
·       Ground Water
·       Invasive Species
·       Land Surface Change
·       Rivers

All of these subject areas are well within our core mission and we already 
have important work underway in these areas.  The future science 
directions are priorities--areas of increasing emphasis and growth for the 
Bureau in the next decade--but they are not all that we will be doing.  We 
will increase our focus on these areas and build upon successes and 
projects that are relevant to these priorities.  Science in these areas 
will complement the important contributions we will continue to make in 
other areas.  These science directions are consistent with the strategic 
planning efforts that the divisions engaged in over the last several 
years--efforts that many of you had the opportunity to participate in and 
comment on. 

Short white papers describing each of these topics are on the USGS 
Intranet site at http://www.usgs.gov:8888/director/spa/fsd/index.html
Using these white papers as a starting point, we would like to engage you 
in a discussion that will capture the dimensions of these future science 
directions and develop a plan that incorporates the critical science 
needed to accomplish our goals and objectives. 

I invite you to submit your comments and thoughts on the following 
questions to the web site, and to review any or all of the future science 
directions and share your ideas and suggestions.  Please provide your 
comments by September 30, 2000.

1.  Do you think that focusing on these (or any) science directions 
will position the USGS to address the major natural science issues the 
country will be dealing with in the future?  If not, what is missing from 
the vision; how would you modify it? 

2.  Do these eight directions provide a solid framework for the future 
focus of USGS science?   Are they the most promising directions?

3.  What is your assessment of the objectives described for each of 
these eight areas as the foundation of future science directions of the 
USGS?  Are the objectives realistic given the state of the science and the 
time frame in each; are the objectives far reaching enough that they will 
encourage true scientific advancement; will achieving these objectives 
make a significant impact on reaching the long term goal; are there 
objectives missing or that should be deleted?

4.  Should some of the eight be combined? Or deleted?  Are there 
others that should be added?  If so, please provide a short description of 
your science direction, the issue and the long-term goal in the format of 
the original eight, and mail to the Office of Strategic Planning and 
Analysis: spa@usgs.gov

5.  What are the scientific research, monitoring, and assessment 
advancements that must be accomplished and capabilities that must be 
developed to realize the future envisioned in each case?

6.  Are there synergies or cross cutting issues that might lead to 
scientific breakthroughs and hence are worthy of special attention?

7.  Do you think the directions will resonate with our external 
customers?

I want your participation in these discussions about our scientific 
future. Your input at this time is particularly valuable.  You can play a 
critical role in defining the science and, as these programs evolve, 
developing the hypotheses and designing the experiments that will allow us 
to achieve the objectives outlined in the science directions. 

Your ideas, comments and suggestions will be available on the USGS 
Intranet http://www.usgs.gov:8888/director/spa/fsd/index.html
as they are received.  We will provide updates to you as the science 
directions are reviewed and refined based on your comments. 

Thank you in advance for sharing your views and I look forward to 
continuing a dialogue on science with all of you in the coming months.