THE USNC-IUGS: EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE ENGAGEMENT

Overseen by the National Academies’ Board on International Scientific Organizations (BISO), the role of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences (USNC-IUGS) has long been to “maintain…the viability and relevance of geological sciences internationally.” This has included providing guidance and input to the IUGS, supporting U.S. geoscience leadership to programs of international science governance, sponsoring symposia at international scientific meetings, and advocating for geoscience participation in multidisciplinary international collaborations. The committee also acts as the U.S. adhering body to the International Geological Program (IGCP), a joint IUGS/UNESCO program to facilitate international geological research. Finally, and in coordination with BISO, members of the USNC-IUGS formally represent the U.S. at international scientific assemblies including the International Geological Congress (IGS) as well as the International Council of Science (ICSU). Despite the value of these diverse international activities, however, significant budgetary challenges for the Committee in recent years have led the USNC-IUGS to work closely with the National Academies in revisiting and re-evaluating its core mission and organizational model. Specifically, the USNC-IUGS has been looking at emerging international engagement opportunities that both maximize the value of the Committee to diverse U.S. geoscience organizations while elevating the visibility and impact of U.S. geoscience voices internationally. Four key opportunities developing from these discussions include (1) increased engagement in advancing the practice of science diplomacy in the geosciences, (2) advocating for the inclusion of geoscience voices in leadership of international earth system sustainability programs such as ICSU’s Future Earth, (3) continuing the close relationship with UNESCO geoscience interests, from the IGCP partnership to supporting the development of potential U.S. geoheritage sites, and (4) engaging the U.S. geoscience community in discussions of how to best inform advancement of Post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals – from climate change to water and food security - that must engage thought leaders from the geoscience community.