THE [R]EVOLUTION OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

USGS educational activities have gone through considerable evolution over the years. A new emphasis began in November 2000, when USGS Director Chip Groat convened two committees, one with internal USGS employees involved in education, and the second with science educators from outside of the USGS to address the question, "What should the USGS role in education be?" Each committee met independently, reviewed the current status of USGS education activities for background, looked at USGS strength as an agency, and made recommendations for USGS’s role in education. A final report was developed incorporating both committees’ recommendations.

The final report identified USGS strengths as possessing a wealth of in-depth, unbiased, interdisciplinary, real-time earth science information. With approximately 400 offices across the Nation involving over 2000 partners, the USGS offers an abundance of place based earth science information. Using this wealth of place-based earth science information as a foundation, it was recommended that the USGS develop a formal education infrastructure including staff and funding, make USGS information available to the education community in an easily accessible form, and work with other education organizations to incorporate USGS information into their curriculum materials. Identified goals for USGS in education include: contribute to the improvement of earth science education for all students, bring science to a diversity of students, encourage students to consider a career in earth science, and create an educated populace who understands the value of scientific information.

The USGS Executive Leadership Team approved the recommendations made by the education committees in January 2001. The USGS will implement the recommendations by establishing a standing advisory committee comprising outside educators and scientists, establish an infrastructure by reassigning existing staff, informing USGS employees of educational material and activities, focus on partnerships to leverage resources utilizing USGS information, implement evaluation methods to assess the success and value of the program, and link education activities to the USGS strategic plan.