The Bureau Science Strategy as of March, 29 2006

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The Bureau Science Strategy as of March, 29 2006
Martin Goldhaber Kevin Gallagher
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Science Strategy
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Our Interpretation Consider the View from a
High Altitude! Engage the Entire Bureau.
Science-Based
Our Charter

• a comprehensive vision, science goals and
  priorities that unite all bureau capabilities
  toward challenges for the future
• a big picture focus that is forward looking
  with clear concise goals and objectives.

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What is the USGS Science Strategy?

• The USGS Science Strategy is a unified
  bureau-wide planning effort that will provide the
  USGS a renewed and shared strategic science
  vision, and one that will encourage imagination
  and resourcefulness, which are engines of
  scientific inquiry. This strategy will unite
  our diverse scientific talents and capabilities
  and take advantage of our strengths, unique
  positions, and potential roles, while keeping us
  focused on serving important societal needs.

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Why do we need a USGS Science Strategy?

• There is broad scientific consensus in the United
  States and worldwide that the Earth is facing
  enormous pressure from burgeoning human
  populations and societal activities. The
  problems associated with observing,
  understanding, interpreting, and managing natural
  resources transcends our traditional USGS
  structure, and requires broad interdisciplinary
  thinking and action. The science strategy will
  be a definition of priority areas and
  opportunities where USGS can make scientific
  advances to serve society's and the Nations
  pressing needs.

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Who is the audience for the USGS Science Strategy?

• There are three major audiences
• The scientists and program managers of the USGS
• the stakeholders and customers of our information
  and science, including DOI and,
• the scientific community at large, who look to us
  to be leaders in provision of Earth System
  Science.

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WILL IT MATTER?
USGS scientists and managers will use the new
science strategy to set science priorities for
the next decade, to guide the design of
scientific investigations, and to help make
important decisions concerning the investment of
resources, such as budget initiatives and
workforce development and deployment. from Pat
Leahy memo to workforce, 2/10/06 Interpretation
It matters propose a strategy that will result
in a USGS that is as good as it can be
Constraints Timeline is six months!
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Initial Steps

• All hands email from Pat Leahy
• Implemented a Lotus Notes Quickplace site for
  collaboration among the team members
• Established a weekly conference call
• Set up an Email drop box
• Set up Intranet site (updated weekly) bios,
  FAQs
• Established a communications subcommittee
• Developed and summarized a reading list of
  visioning documents
• Developed an Approach

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Launching the process
Second Meeting in Fort Collins
Initial Meeting in Reston
Literature Review Summary
Feb 28, March 1
Feb 8-27
February 6-7
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Our Approach Define a hierarchical
structure Societal Issue Challenge Science
Questions Role of Science Role of the
USGS Plus Cross-Cutting Issues Reviewed
Existing Visioning documents and took an initial
shot at populating the top three levels (Fort
Collins meeting)
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Draft Societal Issues (These are tentative
Additions and combinations are expected based on
feedback from our outreach efforts.)

• Biodiversity
• Climate
• Ecosystems
• Energy and Minerals
• Health
• Landscape Change
• Natural Hazards
• Water

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Example Societal Issue Water

• Challenge How do we ensure sufficient quality
  and quantity of water for a sustainable society
  and environment?
• Science Question How much water do we have? How
  much water is available in our surface and ground
  waters?
• Science Question How variable is the amount and
  quality of water available for human activities
  and environmental needs? What do we need to know
  about surface and ground water interactions to
  more wisely manage these resources?
• Science Question Given competing demands for
  available water supply, how can we balance needs
  such as providing sufficient water of adequate
  quality for maintaining aquatic life with other
  needs such as municipal and agricultural supply?

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The Near Future
Prepare For External Outreach
Third Meeting in Menlo Park
Obtain input from SAG and STs

April 3-5
April 30
March 18
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The Near Future

• Process input from the SAG and ST
  questionnaire (March 18-April 1)
• Develop an outreach document and focused
  questions for internal and external information
  seeking (By April 10)
• Prepare for other outreach efforts.

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Getting Input

• Internal input (in Process- Communications
• sub-team, Leadership 201 Action Learning
  Scenario)
• Specific groups
• PCs
• REXs
• Chief Scientists
• Team Chief Scientists
• Senior Scientists (STs)
• Science Advisory Group (SAG)
• Focus groups
• All Employee Input mechanism TBD

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Input from Partners, Clients, Customers

• Pat Leahy established a process for
• feedback from DOI using DOI RD Council
• National Listening Session May 1, Wash. D.C.
• USGS Coalition and other interest groups
• Contacts suggested by BPC, PCs REXs and
  others.

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Rough Timeline
March
APRIL
PREPARE DETAILED OUTREACH STRATEGY

WE ARE HERE
MAY
COLLECT OUTREACH DATA
JUNE
SYNTHESIS
JULY
WRITE REPORT
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YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL BE APPRECIATED
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Begin with the end in mind
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What are some of the committees top concerns

• Making sure that views from inside the USGS get a
  full airing
• Making sure that theres buy-in from internal and
  key external constituencies
• Making sure that major supporters see themselves
  in the document
• Making sure that the benefits of the proposed
  strategies are clear to key internal and external
  constituencies

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Questions?