MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR
The world around us continues to change rapidly and dramatically, and this accelerated pace of change adds new and exciting challenges for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS motto, "Science for a Changing World," expresses an important concept: As the world changes, USGS must continue to adapt and renew its people and organization. But simply responding to change is not enough, only through seizing the opportunities that change makes possible can USGS remain healthy and relevant to society.
Thomas J. CasadevallUSGS activities cover a broad range of physical, chemical, and biological systems. This diversity of disciplines gives USGS great strength in dealing with the problems facing society that we are being called upon to address. Increasingly, we are being recognized for science that is interdisciplinary in scope and highly relevant to the issues important to the Nation. USGS is striving to increase this interdisciplinary approach to address issues with an integrated manner, particularly in making our data sets integratable with one another. We are encouraging and building science integration and data integrateability to ensure continued future success.
Over the past year, a great deal of thought and energy at the USGS has gone into looking both inward and outward, assessing our programs, partnerships, fiscal management systems, outreach activities, goals for the future, and many other crucial aspects. This intense assessment has resulted in some significant changes in the way USGS does business. We've taken the opportunity to extend the Bureau's energy and vision outwardly to vigorously access our customers and the broader scientific enterprise in this country. USGS currently works with nearly 2,000 partners in government at all levels, academia, and the private sector.
USGS is especially active in strengthening the bureau's role in the nation's scientific enterprise, including ties with the academic community to increase the diversity of our workforce and to bring in new perspectives and strength. Just as diversity in the scientific disciplines increases our ability to understand and solve problems, so does diversity in our workforce. An important aspect of developing closer ties with the academic community ensures that academia, as they train the workforce of the future, understand our needs for higher skilled, diverse future employees. Continued strong partnerships with colleges, graduate schools and other academic institutions will promote this educational process.
Our number one job at USGS is maintaining and enhancing our scientific and technical excellence. Our mission is to provide the Nation with reliable, impartial scientific information to describe and understand the Earth. USGS does not manage lands or regulate natural resources -- but we do provide the scientific and technical information that others need for sound decision-making.
The USGS has a strong, proud tradition of scientific excellence, built on its past but substantiated by our ability to face the challenge of providing "science for a changing world" and integrating our science to address the ever complex issues facing the Nation.
Thomas J. Casadevall
Acting Director
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