Charter FY-2007

Background:  Geology for a Changing World:  A Science Strategy for the Geologic Division
of the U.S. Geological Survey, 2000-2010 (http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1172/ ) has been used for the last eight years to guide the science of the programs and annual planning within the Geology Discipline.  Its effect on the science we do has been sweeping and highly successful.  The new USGS Science Strategy, Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges – U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007-2017 (http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2007/1309/), was developed by the USGS Science Strategy Team and provides a comprehensive vision, science goals and priorities needed for the bureau to address future challenges.  Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges provides guidance to USGS science programs and currently is being used to begin initiatives across the Bureau.  This charter provides for creation of a new Geology Science Strategy that builds upon Geology for a Changing World and Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges. Programs covered by this strategy include: Earthquake Hazards, Volcano Hazards, Landslide Hazards, Global Seismographic Network, Geomagnetism, Earth Surface Dynamics, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping, Coastal and Marine Geology, Mineral Resources, Energy Resources, and National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation.

Many documents have been developed in the last decade that describe the challenges and opportunities for the scientific community to contribute to our nation’s goals. These source materials and those developed by the bureau and our customers will provide primary source material for the development and discussion of goals and strategies through which Geology programs can most effectively contribute to society’s needs. The new Geology Science Strategy (GSS) will be created by a small team of internal and external scientists who represent the principal scientific areas under our programs.  An expanded team of technical experts will work with them as they develop ideas. All recommendations and ideas will be reviewed and vetted within the USGS and by our stakeholders before finalization.

Scope and Objectives: The GSS will guide science planning and help identify program priorities for the next decade.  It should be a 25-30 page document that is issue driven and forward looking with clear concise goals and objectives. The document should be succinct and should focus on the major scientific, societal, and policy drivers for the activities of the USGS and Geology programs.  It should be consistent with the broad guidelines/outlines of the USGS Science Strategy and the Department of Interior (DOI) Strategic Plan (http://www.doi.gov/ppp/strat_plan_fy2003_2008.pdf ) and goals and should consider the full breadth of USGS science, independent of sources of funding (e.g. Congressionally appropriated, reimbursable funding for domestic work and international work).  Although the strategy should be largely independent of the organizational structure of the USGS it should focus on future opportunities where the Geology programs can most effectively contribute to the Nation and the world. The focus also should be on the balance of our present scientific portfolio (e.g. monitoring, assessment, and research) and where that balance might be in the future, anticipating changing societal questions and needs. It should describe new and/or altered capabilities USGS must develop to exert science leadership and contribute significantly in core areas. Both infrastructure and personnel skills should be considered.

While the GSS should be visionary and integrative, it should also consider the long-term core science activities that must be retained and evolved to provide earth science for the Nation. A critical part of the GSS should take into account USGS’s existing scientific infrastructure, skill mix and science capabilities and provide recommendations for changes necessary to achieve desired outcomes. Identifying new and expanded opportunities for cooperation and collaboration with partners should be an important goal of the strategy, as well as a subject of first level objectives in accomplishing our goals.

Team Membership: The Geology Science Strategy Team (GSST) will comprise the Chief Scientist for Geology as Chair, eight internal members appointed by Geology Roundtable (the Roundtable includes the Associate Director for Geology, Chief Scientist for Geology, and Regional Executives for Geology), and at least one external member. Appointment is for the duration of the development process of the GSS.  Members of the Team will represent the three major programmatic thrusts of Geology programs – hazards, geologic landscapes, and resources – as well as the major scientific disciplines of the USGS.  Collectively the committee should represent a broad cross section of backgrounds and experience in Geology programs and its partner programs. Advice from internal and external communities shall be obtained through a number of means including discussion, stakeholder listening sessions, and document review.  The GSST will rely on subteams as needed to gather and evaluate information, to analyze information provided, and to help with crafting parts of the  Strategy

Role of the Roundtable: The Roundtable will establish the GSST and will provide executive oversight and interaction with the team.  Roundtable members can attend stakeholder meetings and actively engage the USGS and external communities in dialogue concerning the content of the science strategy.

Duration: The creation of the GSST from beginning to the final production of a document shall be completed within 9 months – expected completion by December 2007.

Process:  Discussions and listening sessions, possibly in a panel format like those used by the National Academy of Sciences, will involve USGS scientists and managers and some of the following internal and external stakeholder groups and others: State agencies; leaders from academic institutions; members of the non-profit sector; business and industry leaders; scientists and resource managers from within the DOI; representatives of other Federal agencies; the Office of Science and Technology Policy; the U.S. Congress; and professional societies.

A special effort should be made to solicit input from USGS employees at the beginning of the process by distributing an all Geology employees message, with distribution to the ELT and Chief Scientists, soliciting ideas on broad strategic objectives and by instituting an electronic suggestion box. This box will be open during the entire time that the GSS is developed.  A web site will be developed to post relevant documents and to provide updates on the status of the GSS.

Review of the new Geology Science Strategy will involve technical and non-technical expertise, and internal as well as external experts. Geology senior management will conduct the final review of the strategy document.  The Associate Director for Geology will consider all recommendations and has final approval responsibility.