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APPENDIX C
USGS Historical
International Engagement:
Background Paper
The statement of task for this study calls for a background paper to be prepared in
collaboration with the USGS. This background paper provides a summary of past and
present USGS international scientific interactions and collaborations. It has been prepared
by the USGS International Programs Office and has been reviewed by the USGS Bureau
International Committee (BIC), but it is not an official document of the USGS.
THIS DOCUMENT IS IN REVIEW AND HAS NOT RECEIVED THE
DIRECTOR’S APPROVAL FOR RELEASE AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PREFACE
The National Academies, through its Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, have
been funded by USGS to examine: “Opportunities and Challenges for International Science
at the U.S, Geological Survey (USGS).” The Statement of Work for this study calls for a
background paper to be prepared in collaboration with the USGS. This background paper
is a summary of past and present USGS international scientific interactions and collabora-
tions. Its purpose is to assist the NAS study committee in its deliberations.
This background paper has been prepared by the USGS International Programs Office
and has been reviewed by the USGS Bureau International Committee (BIC), but is not an
official document of the USGS.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The role of the USGS in the international arena has evolved over its 131-year existence.
These changes have been influenced by changing national priorities, the available of fund-
ing, changing USGS expertise, and the evolution of foreign policy. However, throughout its
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history, the USGS has remained unique among the world’s earth science agencies in terms of
its size and breadth of expertise. No other geological survey has the ecosystem and satellite
missions of the USGS and few have national responsibility for both geology and hydrology.
The USGS and its partners in the Federal Government have examined the role of the
USGS in the international arena before. The salient aspects of these previous studies are
discussed in the pages that follow and in Annex 2. More recently, in 2010, the USGS has
been reorganized to emphasize its commitment to multidisciplinary science. In so doing,
the USGS established offices for six science “mission areas,” including: climate; ecosystems;
natural hazards; minerals, energy and health; water; and core sciences including mapping.
These recent changes make this an appropriate time for the USGS to make an objective
assessment of how the USGS can best serve the interests of the United States in the in -
ternational arena.
This background paper is a summary of past and present USGS international scien-
tific interactions and collaborations. It documents the early years of USGS international
engagement, the rapid growth of USGS international work in the years following WW II,
and the recent changes within the last decade as the USGS has increasingly emphasized
multidisciplinary work and has grappled with post 9/11-related changes. The paper cites
a number of different USGS international activities, not as a comprehensive discussion of
USGS work, but as examples of the breadth and depth of USGS international efforts. Fi-
nally, this paper examines some of the critical issues that will influence the future of USGS
international activities.
This background paper has been prepared to assist the National Academy of Sciences
committee regarding the study on “Opportunities and challenges for international science
at the U.S. Geological Survey,” USGS looks forward to the committee deliberations and
its recommendations and final report.
INTRODUCTION
At irregular intervals over the 131-year history of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
various efforts have been made to take stock of USGS’ unique scientific and technical
capabilities and to analyze the potential for an increased USGS role in international sci-
ence and in the Nation’s foreign affairs programs. Over the years studies have been carried
out by the USGS, the U.S. Department of State, and the National Academy of Sciences
(DOS and USGS 1983; NRC, 1987; NRC, 2001). The results of these studies have been
fairly consistent: they recognize USGS’ unique contributions and capabilities, encourage a
larger international role for the USGS, and acknowledge the financial, legal and political
constraints on the growth of USGS’ international activities.
A new study is being undertaken by the National Academy of Sciences in the 21st
century, with a new USGS Director, Dr. Marcia McNutt, a new science strategy (USGS,
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Appendix C
2007), a recent realignment of the USGS under “mission areas” and a vastly changed geo-
political scene. Global science issues such as climate and global change, invasive species,
food shortages, emerging diseases, changing ecosystems, biodiversity, energy and mineral
resources, natural hazards, and water quantity and quality are all of great concern today, and
are examples where USGS science is involved internationally. In addition, more than any
time in recent memory, there exists at this time a heightened expectation of the potential
for science diplomacy to inform foreign policy and contribute towards world peace and mu-
tual understanding around the globe. It is increasingly important that global science issues
be well understood before proceeding with foreign policy development, and the USGS is
playing an increasing role in advising the Department of State about global science issues.
This paper presents a historical summary of the USGS international activities and some
of the critical issues the USGS is currently confronting. This background paper is intended
to serves as a starting point in discussing ways that the USGS can become more effective
in addressing its priority issues in the international arena.
EARLY USGS INTERNATIONAL HISTORY FROM
1879 THROUGH WORLD WAR II
Beginning 131 years ago, the USGS established itself as a world leader in international
earth science, providing training, technical assistance and institution building on both a
bilateral and a multilateral basis, to countries around the world. The results of these efforts
can be seen in the earth science and hazard monitoring agencies in many Lesser Developed
Countries (LDC’s).
The first international efforts of the USGS were quite modest and included:
• 1882, Clarence Dutton conducted volcanic studies in the Kingdom of Hawaii.
• 1884, the USGS began cooperative work on boundary waters with the Geological
Survey of Canada.
• 1890, Herbert Wilson studied irrigation in India.
• 1897, Willard Hayes and Arthur Davis assisted the Canal Commission with geo-
logical and hydrogeological studies of proposed routes for what would become the
Panama Canal.
Before and during World War II, USGS geologists, hydrologists and cartographers as-
sisted in the war effort by identifying sources of water for military installations, identifying
strategic mineral reserves, and compiling maps and charts of strategic international loca-
tions. In 1942, a Military Geology Unit (MGU) was started within the USGS, employing
approximately 100 scientists fully funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This unit
was later transformed into the Military Geology Branch. Much of this Branch’s work was
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APPENDIX C
international in nature and involved the preparation of hand layered (geologic, hydrologic,
lithologic and botanical) maps.
POST WW II THROUGH 1995 USGS INTERNATIONAL HISTORY
In the post WW II era, the USGS continued to expand its international engagement.
However, organizationally, the USGS conducted this work from separate international of-
fices that were administratively housed within the Geology, Mapping, and Water Divisions.
Significant activities included country specific work such as the following.
Brazil The USGS began new, significant, long-term international technical assistance
programs in Brazil involving 180 temporary duty assignments over 35 years.
Saudi Arabia One of the longest and most successful USGS international activities in-
volved hydrologic and geologic work in Saudi Arabia. This program extended over 40 years,
involved over 200 long-term, and more than 400 temporary, duty assignments, and resulted
in the establishment of the Saudi Geological Survey (Worl, 2003).
Pakistan In the 1950’s, the USGS began a technical assistance program in Pakistan that
included stationing hydrogeologists in country for several years to collaborate on groundwa-
ter resource assessments. This work led to the creation of the Geologic Survey of Pakistan.
D uring this period the USGS continued international work through its Military Geol-
ogy Branch. It made notable Cold War era contribution in the use of seismic monitoring to
assist the Defense Intelligence Agency and other federal agencies to detect nuclear weapons
testing around the world.
Also in the 1950s, the USGS Mapping Division began the Antarctic Research Program,
which continues to this day in close cooperation with the National Science Foundation
(NSF).
D uring the post WW II period, training became an increasing part of USGS inter-
national work. Between 1943 and 1963, more than 600 foreign geologists were trained by
USGS staff, while thousands of others were trained in cartography and hydrology. Ad -
ditionally, in the 1960s the USGS, in cooperation with NASA, began an Astrogeology
Branch in Flagstaff, AZ. That Branch trained astronauts for lunar missions and the USGS
was placed in charge of handling and testing the rock samples retrieved from the moon.
Beginning in 1963, the International Water Resources Branch coordinated the training of
thousands of foreign visitors, primarily through the Techniques of Hydrologic Investiga-
tions for International Participants (THIP) program.
This period also saw a dramatic rise in USGS engagement with international organi-
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Appendix C
zations. In 1973, the USGS co-founded the Circum Pacific Council (CPC), a non-profit
international organization of Earth Scientists and Engineers that continues to this day to
develop and promote research and cooperation among industry, government and academia
for the sustainable utilization of earth resources in the Pacific Region. The USGS also
began its involvement with UNESCO’s International Geological Correlation Program
(IGCP), a program which has been critical in bringing USGS specialists in contact with
similar specialists from around the world. In 1991, the USGS partnered with UNESCO
to develop the Reduction of Earthquake Losses in the Extended Mediterranean Region
(RELEMR) program. This program engages Middle East Countries by using seismology
and a common interest in reducing earthquake hazards as a means to bridge political dif-
ference and promote regional cooperation.
Additionally, in 1991, the USGS partnered with the United Nations Environmental
Program (UNEP), resulting in the USGS hosting the North American Node of its Global
Resource Information Database (GRID) at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and
Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (see Figure C.1). This is the only
UN office in the United States outside of New York and Washington (see figure showing
current world offices of UNEP GRID). Today the USGS has played a major role in the
popular UNEP publications—“One Planet Many People: Atlas of our Changing Planet”,
and “Africa Atlas of our Changing Environment”. The USGS is also supporting a planned
FIGURE C.1 Location of all UNEP GRID Centers. SOURCE: USGS.
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APPENDIX C
UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) atlas illustrating the
use of remote sensing to monitor endangered World Heritage Sites.
The USGS leadership in remote sensing and land characterization took a big step
forward in 1966 when it worked with the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion (NASA) and other U.S. agencies to provide continuous global coverage of the land
surfaces of the Earth. Since 1972, the United States has flown Landsat satellites that have
ably served the economic, security, and environmental interests of the United States and its
foreign partners. Recently, the 2010 U.S. National Space Policy confirmed USGS leadership
role for future land imaging, and directed the USGS, NASA, OSTP, and OMB to develop
plans and procedures to maintain continuity of land imaging satellite observations. Today,
the USGS owns and operates the Landsat system, and provides open and free access to the
entire Landsat archives, where over 4 million scenes have been downloaded and provided
to some 184 countries around the world (see Figure C.2 and Figure C.3). To maintain the
global archives, 14 Landsat ground stations are operated by a network of International Co-
operators that are members the international Landsat Ground Station Operators Working
Group managed by the USGS.
In 1985, the USGS began the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) in co-
operation with USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). VDAP provides
training and technical assistance for volcano monitoring agencies in Lesser Developed
Countries. This program has saved thousands of lives and many millions of dollars in
property. One of its most notable successes was the 1991 early warnings of the pending
FIGURE C.2 Landsat 7 provides unique systematic coverage of the global land surface on a seasonal
basis via a long-term acquisition plan (LTAP). The legend shows the number of scenes collected over each
land area. SOURCE: USGS.
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Appendix C
FIGURE C.3 User reported primary use of Landsat data. SOURCE: USGS.
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, thus enabling the evacuation of Clark Air Base in the Philip-
pines and the saving of hundreds of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars in aircraft and
related equipment.
Recent (Post 1995) Developments at the USGS
In the decade of the nineties, the USGS continued to expand its international engage-
ment. In 1995, the Office of International Geology became a Bureau-level International
Programs Office, called the International Programs Office, under the Associate Director
for Geology. During this same time period, the USGS established the Biological Resources
Division (BRD) as a result of reorganization in the Department of the Interior. From this
time forward, the USGS international dimension was concerned with the science disciplines
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APPENDIX C
of geology, geography, water, and biology. The following is an accounting of a few of the
notable international efforts from 1995 to date.
Traditional Engagements
Post 1995 the USGS has continued, and expanded, many of its traditional areas of in-
ternational engagements. Often these are in support of, and funded by, USAID. Examples
of these efforts include:
FEWS: The USGS is continuing its highly successful involvement in the more than 25
years old Famine Early Warning System (FEWS) program. This program is able to detect
impending drought situations 3 month in advance of crop failures, thus providing assistance
agencies time to prepare an emergency response. Originally deployed in a few countries in
Africa, this very successful program is used throughout Africa and Asia and was one of the
first development tools used by the U.S. in Afghanistan.
USAID/OFDA: Supported by USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA),
the USGS has responded to disasters such as the December 2002 tsunami, the recent Haiti
earthquake, the eruption of Chiatin volcano in Chile, and volcanic eruptions in Kenya. Simi-
larly, OFDA has supported USGS development of the PAGER system, a system that rapidly
locates significant earthquakes, estimates their magnitude, estimates the intensity of ground
shaking, estimates the amount of infrastructure and numbers of people likely to have been
subjected to strong shaking, and then makes a preliminary evaluation of damage and loss
of life. PAGER has been repeatedly used by first responders to prioritize their relief efforts.
Finally, after the South Asian Tsunami of 2004, OFDA provided funds that allowed the
USGS to install a Caribbean Tsunami Warning System to help protect the Caribbean region.
Hurricane Mitch support: In 1998, with the support of USAID, the USGS launched
one of its first interdisciplinary efforts in the international arena. The successful Hurricane
Mitch Project involved USGS staff from the Geography, Geology and Water Divisions,
working together in four Central American nations under a USAID financed disaster re-
covery program. USGS was one of the many Federal agencies which joined together to from
the “Hurricane Mitch Reconstruction Task Force”, designed to provide aid and assistance
to the affected Central American countries. Resulting efforts, including training in GIS,
remote sensing application, coupled with The Treaty on Open Skies, produced photographs
and imagery to reveal detailed information about natural and man- made structures for
in-country decision makers.
International Wetlands Research and Observation: As part of the State Department’s
Lower Mekong Initiative, the USGS Delta Research and Global Observation Network
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Appendix C
(DRAGON) partnership is using its experience with the Mississippi River and its expertise
in earth science modeling to help the Mekong countries assess how climate change and
human activities could impact the ecology and food security of the Mekong basin. Despite a
geographic difference of twelve time zones, there are many cultural, economic and ecological
similarities between the Mississippi and Mekong River Deltas. DRAGON has created an
international community of practice among scientists and resource managers to share data
on the great deltas and rivers of the world. The Forecast Mekong project, a component of
the DRAGON partnership, will continue moving forward with building the foundation
for later activities through strengthening relationships with Mekong region scientists and
organizations, data sharing and joint research.
USGS Funded International Missions
As previously noted, as an agency within the Department of Interior, the USGS mostly
engages in domestic work. In large measure the budgets of USGS are directed nationally.
However, there are some notable exceptions where the USGS is funded out of its budget to
work internationally in order to be more effective domestically. Three examples are of note.
Global Seismic Network: The USGS is an active partner in setting up and operating the
Global Seismic Network (Figure C.4), a system which monitors earthquakes around the world.
FIGURE C.4 The Global Seismic Network. SOURCE: USGS.
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APPENDIX C
World Petroleum Assessment Program: Energy resources are critical to our Nation’s fu-
ture. The USGS World Petroleum Assessment program is an ongoing activity to estimate
total petroleum resources and identify new targets for exploration.
Global Mineral Resource Assessment Project: mineral resources are also of National
importance and the USGS Global Mineral Resource Assessment Project attempts to as-
sess the global availability of selected critical minerals while the USGS minerals informa-
tion team tracks the global supply and demand for virtually all minerals commodities. An
example is provided as USGS (2010). As Figure C.5 shows, the U.S. is heavily reliant on
imports for most minerals and such information is critical for anticipating and responding
to minerals shortages. China’s recent restriction on exports of rare earth elements, materi-
als that are critical for manufacturing of many high tech products, highlights the need for
this information.
Global Wildlife Disease News Map: The USGS has created the Global Wildlife Disease
News Map (see Figure C.6), which displays news articles from the Wildlife Disease News
Digest.1 On it users can easily see wildlife disease headlines both locally and globally. The
Map displays Wildlife Disease News Digest articles that have been posted within the last
45 days that have a geographical reference. The complete collection of articles, going back
to December 2005, can be found on the online Digest.2 With no global surveillance system
in existence for the monitoring of wildlife health, this tool helps to fill the void by harvest-
ing unstructured, disparate information about disease outbreaks and other wildlife related
topics. Not only supplied for the wildlife professional, the information is directly applicable
to those who study diseases of concern for livestock, domestic animals, and human health.
Invasive Species: Invasive species represent a serious threat to many vital U.S. interests,
including the livelihood of commercial fishermen, the danger to threatened species and
sensitive habitats, and the importation of wildlife and human disease agents. By definition,
invasive species have entered the U.S. from other countries, and to understand their biol-
ogy and thus mitigate the damage they cause, it is essential to work collaboratively with
foreign researchers. USGS scientists study the life cycle of the non-native Asian carp to
better understand how to manage this invasive species in the Missouri River. Asian carp
were introduced into the United States for use in aquaculture production of food fishes,
and biological control of plankton in aquaculture ponds and sewage treatment lagoons.
The carp escaped confinement, however, and spread to the waters of the Mississippi River
basin and other large rivers. Today, the carp live in 23 states; their population numbers
See wildlifedisease.nbii.gov/wdinNewsDigestMap.jsp.
1
See wdin.blogspot.com.
2
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Appendix C
6
2009 U.S. NET IMPORT RELIANCE FOR
SELECTED NONFUEL MINERAL MATERIALS
Major Import Sources (2005-08)1
Commodity Percent
ARSENIC (trioxide) 100 China, Morocco, Belgium, Hong Kong
ASBESTOS 100 Canada
BAUXITE and ALUMINA 100 Jamaica, Brazil, Guinea, Australia
CESIUM 100 Canada
FLUORSPAR 100 China, Mexico, South Africa
GRAPHITE (natural) 100 China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil
INDIUM 100 China, Japan, Canada, Belgium
MANGANESE 100 South Africa, Gabon, China, Australia
MICA, sheet (natural) 100 China, Brazil, Belgium, India
NIOBIUM (columbium) 100 Brazil, Canada, Germany, Estonia
QUARTZ CRYSTAL (industrial) 100 China, Japan, Russia
RARE EARTHS 100 China, Japan, France, Russia
RUBIDIUM 100 Canada
STRONTIUM 100 Mexico, Germany
TANTALUM 100 Australia, China, Brazil, Japan
THALLIUM 100 Russia, Germany, Netherlands
THORIUM 100 United Kingdom, France, Canada
VANADIUM 100 Czech Republic, Rep. of Korea, Canada, Austria
YTTRIUM 100 China, Japan, France
GALLIUM 99 Germany, Canada, China, Ukraine
GEMSTONES 99 Israel, India, Belgium, South Africa
ANTIMONY 93 China, Mexico, Belgium
BISMUTH 90 Belgium, China, United Kingdom, Mexico
GERMANIUM 90 Belgium, China, Germany, Russia
PLATINUM 89 South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada
BARITE 80 China, India
TIN 80 Peru, Bolivia, China, Indonesia
RHENIUM 79 Chile, Netherlands
DIAMOND (natural industrial stone) 78 Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, India
STONE (dimension) 78 Brazil, Italy, China, Turkey
ZINC 76 Canada, Peru, Mexico, Ireland
COBALT 75 Norway, Russia, China, Canada
POTASH 73 Canada, Belarus, Germany, Russia
TITANIUM MINERAL CONCENTRATES 73 South Africa, Australia, Canada, Ukraine
TITANIUM (sponge) 67 Kazakhstan, Japan, China, Ukraine
SILVER 63 Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile
TUNGSTEN 63 China, Germany, Canada, Bolivia
PEAT 60 Canada
PALLADIUM 47 Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Belgium
NITROGEN (fixed), AMMONIA 40 Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Russia, Ukraine
CHROMIUM 39 South Africa, Kazakhstan, Russia
VERMICULITE 39 China, South Africa
GARNET (industrial) 37 India, Australia, China, Canada
DIAMOND (dust, grit and powder) 35 China, Ireland, Russia, Republic of Korea
MAGNESIUM METAL 35 Canada, Israel, Russia, China
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS 28 China, Austria, Canada, Australia
SILICON (ferrosilicon) 27 China, Russia, Venezuela, Canada
COPPER 24 Chile, Canada, Peru, Mexico
PERLITE 21 Greece
GYPSUM 19 Canada, Mexico, Spain
SALT 19 Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru
ALUMINUM 18 Canada, Russia, Brazil, Venezuela
NICKEL 18 Canada, Russia, Australia, Norway
MICA, scrap and flake (natural) 11 Canada, China, India, Finland
CEMENT 8 China, Canada, Republic of Korea, Thailand
IRON and STEEL SLAG 8 Japan, Canada, Italy, France
IRON and STEEL 7 Canada, European Union, China, Mexico
SULFUR 4 Canada, Mexico, Venezuela
PUMICE 3 Greece, Turkey, Iceland, Mexico
BERYLLIUM 2 Kazakhstan, United Kingdom, Kenya, Ireland
LIME 2 Canada, Mexico
STONE (crushed) 2 Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas
PHOSPHATE ROCK 1 Morocco
1In descending order of import share.
FIGURE C.5 2009 U.S. net import reliance for selected nonfuel mineral materials. SOURCE: USGS.
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APPENDIX C
Afghanistan: Since 2002, the USGS has had a significant program in Afghanistan, includ-
ing a more than 2 year long assignment of a resident advisor at the U.S. embassy in Kabul.
With funding from USAID and, more recently, DOD, the USGS has conducted interdis-
ciplinary studies of energy, mineral, and water resources, hazard assessments, and capacity
building (Peters et al., 2007). These assessments are intended to promote Afghanistan’s use
of its natural resources and to stimulate its sustainable economic development. One result of
these efforts is the recently released evaluations of Afghanistan’s mineral resource potential,
work that shows that large mineral deposits are likely to be present (Figure C.8). In evalu-
ating this work, one Deputy Undersecretary of Defense noted that, “The USGS work has
fundamentally changed the discussion of how Afghanistan might economically develop.”
FIGURE C.8 USGS preliminary mineral resource assessment of Afghanistan. SOURCE: USGS.
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Appendix C
Iraq: In 2009, the USGS executed an intense, year-long effort to evaluate Iraq’s mineral and
water resources, while also providing capacity building in the geological and hydrological
sciences. One result of this training and new instrumentation is that Iraq can now directly
monitor the snow fall and water resources outside of its borders and thus is in a stronger
position to discuss trans-boundary water issues with its neighbors.
Additional support to DOD Commands: The USGS continues to cooperate with DOD
in a number of other areas. It has a full time employee in Colorado serving as a liaison
with the Northern Command (NORTHCOM). It has cooperated in a series of training
exercises with the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). As noted above it has been ac-
tive in its support of the Central Command (CENTCOM) with work in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Currently, the USGS is also working with the recently established African Command
(AFRICOM) to detail a USGS scientist to Stuttgart, Germany to support AFRICOM’s
“soft power” agenda in Africa.
Department of State Support
In the post 9/11 world, the U.S. Department of State has placed renewed emphasis on
science diplomacy. President Obama’s Cairo speech is one example of this. Not surprisingly,
the Department of State has repeatedly recognized the USGS as one of its most important
partners in its science diplomacy efforts. The Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans,
Environment, and Science (OES) is one of the principal groups with which the USGS
engages. Recently, OES identified its 5 priority topics. In order, these are:
• Climate Change
• Science Diplomacy
• Global Health
• Water and Sanitation
• Environmental Protection
• Clean, Safe, Secure Oceans and Polar Regions
• Sustainable Natural Resource Management
There is clearly significant overlap between these priorities and the new USGS restruc-
turing into mission areas (see discussion of Organization Structure above; also note that
OES priorities that closely match USGS mission areas are marked in bold text.)
Although “science diplomacy” is not a USGS mission, many of the USGS international
scientific activities clearly support diplomatic objectives. A previously cited example is
USGS leadership of the RELEMR program which uses earthquakes to bring Middle East
countries together. Similarly, USGS leadership of the Middle East EXACT program used
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APPENDIX C
common interests in water resources to bring Israel together with Jordan and the Palestinian
Authority to discuss water resource concerns. Both efforts were funded by the Department
of State as part of its Middle East Peace Process. Science diplomacy efforts are becoming
increasingly important and one may reasonably expect them to become a larger part of
USGS’ international activities.
Embassy Science Fellows Program: The USGS is an important participant in the State
Department’s Embassy Science Fellows (ESF) program, which began in 2002. Participants
in the program are detailed to an embassy, consulate, or cooperating host country institution
for a short period of time to address a particular issue or problem. Most Embassy Science
Fellows are assigned 1-3 months at post. Because the embassy only provides office space and
some housing, the main cost of the program is borne by the USGS. This cost has limited
USGS participation to only one to three scientists per year.
Conflict Diamonds: In response to the Department of State’s support of the Kimberley
Process, an effort to reduce the trade in “Conflict” diamonds, the USGS has performed a
number of geologically based diamond production capacity assessments and capacity build-
ing work in Liberia, Ghana, the CAR, Mali, and Guinea.
Muslim Majority Countries: In 2009 President Obama gave a speech in Cairo which
emphasized the importance of U.S. science and technology engagement with Muslim
Majority countries. Subsequently, the USGS has been actively supporting the President’s
position with S&T engagements in Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.
USGS Organizational Outreach and Support
Since 1995, USGS engagements with international organizations have significantly
expanded. The USGS continued its outreach efforts by providing scientists to a wide variety
of organizations, and included many opportunities to lead development of international
science plans and standards.
The USGS has a long history of support for UNESCO. This support continued, even
during the period when the U.S. was not a UNESCO member, and has included direct
support for UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) activities
and the previously mentioned USGS/UNESCO RELEMR program. Now the United
States is fully engaged in UNESCO and the USGS continues to provide U.S. leadership to
UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP), UNESCO International Geo-
logical Correlation Program (IGCP), and the UNESCO Category II Center (the Interna-
tional Center for Integrated Water Resources Management) that is to be established in the
United States. Finally, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.S. Mission to UNESCO has recently
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Appendix C
requested a USGS detailee to support the U.S. science agenda at UNESCO headquarters
in Paris, France.
The USGS has been active in carrying out cooperative trainings and studies with a
variety of other UN organizations (UNDP, IAEA, FAO, and the World Meteorologi-
cal Organization, WMO). These have provided multiple benefits as well as the ability
to interact with scientists from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with the
United States.
The USGS has also been a leader or cooperator with several smaller earth science or-
ganizations, including CCOP, CPC, OAS, SOPAC, PAIGH, and Eurogeosurveys (see list
of acronyms in Annex 3). The USGS also has a special relationship with some of the more
established bilateral and multilateral earth science organizations. Collaborative research,
sharing of equipment and reciprocal visits of scientists are common with these comparable
agencies, including BGR (Germany), BGS (UK), BRGM (France), GA (Australia), GSC
(Canada), Environment Canada, and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Re-
search Limited (New Zealand).
The USGS has leadership roles in efforts to promote Geospatial Data Infrastructure
(GSDI), Global Biological Information Facility (GBIF), the International Union of Geo-
logical Sciences (IUGS), the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN),
the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN), and the hydrology program at
the WMO. Traditionally, at least two USGS staffers are members of the National Academy
of Sciences’ National Committee for Geological Sciences.
Another highly successful USGS engagement has involved the Group on Earth Ob-
servation (GEO), the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), and efforts to
implement the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). USGS leadership
in these efforts started in 2003 and continues to the present day. As an example, the USGS
just participated in the Earth Observation Summit in Beijing in November 2010. The
USGS provides critical resources for GEO, such as maintaining the global clearinghouse for
remote sensing and geospatial data, and participation in the agriculture, climate, disasters,
ecosystems and energy societal benefit areas. More than 80 percent of the imagery for the
GEO project on Global Land-Cover Data Initiative can be obtained from USGS Landsat
missions. In addition, for the past three years, the USGS has funded an employee in Geneva
to serve on the GEO Secretariat.
The USGS has also played a key role in the International Charter for Space and Natu-
ral Disasters. Since 2005, this effort has involved 19 agencies that have worked to provide
a unified system to acquire remote sensing imagery and to delivery those images to areas
affected by natural or man-made disasters. The USGS participates in the Charter insures
that it receives foreign remote sensing data in support of U.S. disaster response and recov-
ery efforts. In turn, the USGS involvement ensures provision of U.S. land imaging data to
support foreign disaster response and recovery efforts.
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APPENDIX C
Future Directions and Challenges
USGS international work has a long and distinguished history. From its beginning in
1882 through the post World War II era, the USGS international work supported its do-
mestic research priorities as well as provided support to many developing countries. During
World War II, the Military geology branch played a role in supporting the Nation’s security
and foreign policy. In the post 9/11 world, USGS international work has increasingly em-
phasized issues associated with national security and support for U.S. foreign policy. At the
same time, USGS international work has also increasingly emphasized multi-disciplinary
science, an emphasis that reflects organizational changes within the USGS. The transfer
of USGS International Programs into the Director’s office in 2010 emphasizes the USGS
commitment to have International Programs represent all of the USGS science capability
and its six “mission” areas.
Although the USGS is part of a domestically oriented Department of the Interior
(DOI), the scientific research it conducts is not limited by international, political boundar-
ies. The USGS has long recognized the mutual benefits that ensue from interaction with
scientific colleagues overseas. Such interactions contribute to a better understanding of earth
and life science issues here in the United States. In addition, there are many scientific issues,
such as invasive species and climate change, which can only be dealt with on an international
scale. For example, significant lessons have been learned about the San Andreas Fault in
California by studying the similar Anatolian Fault in Turkey. As described in 2000 by the
Science Priorities Team for International Activities, “In a world that increasingly recognizes
that the earth is a system, the USGS has a unique opportunity and responsibility to provide
global scientific leadership” (USGS, 2000b).
The international activities of the USGS continue to evolve to meet other National
needs. Often this work is in support of USAID’s foreign assistance efforts, work that almost
invariably incorporates training, technical assistance and institution building. Increasingly,
USGS international efforts have had and will continue to have an element of support for
U.S. foreign policy. The most recent example is the DOS effort to promote S&T engage-
ment with Muslim-Majority Countries. The USGS has a more than 50-year record of
successful S&T engagement with the Islamic world, work that includes cooperative projects
with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab
Emirates. Most recently, the USGS has worked with DOD in a number of efforts to pro-
mote regional stability and economic growth.
The new USGS reorganization makes this an excellent time to review past USGS
international engagements and contemplate what changes might be made to support and
strategize future USGS international science. In making these evaluations, it will be critical
to consider the role of international work in supporting the USGS core responsibilities as a
domestically focused agency that is committed to multi-disciplinary science. It will also be
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Appendix C
critical to consider the increasing demands that other organizations, such as the Department
of State, USAID, and the Department of Defense, are making of the USGS in support of
foreign development, international diplomacy, and National security. In that connection, it
may be useful to balance an idealistic vision with realistic constraints posed by limited and
uncertain funding and restricted legal authorities for international work (USGS, 2005).
The USGS looks forward to the NAS findings and recommendations as a critical part in
developing a new international strategic plan and engagement strategy.
ANNEX 1
USGS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE
In 1995, the Office of International Geology became a Bureau-level International
Programs Office under the Associate Director for Geology. During this same time pe-
riod, the USGS established the Biological Resources Division (BRD). BRD was formed
at the behest of Secretary of Interior Babbitt who transferred most of the research bi-
ologists from the various Bureaus of DOI into this new USGS Division. The result of
these changes was that International Programs assumed responsibility for representing
all USGS scientific disciplines (geology, hydrology, cartography, and biology) in the in-
ternational arena.
Further changes occurred in 2010, at which time the USGS completed an internal
reorganization that moved it from a discipline focused (geology, water, mapping, biology)
Agency, to one focused in the application of integrated science in support of critical “mis-
sion areas”. The scientifically focused mission areas are:
1. Ecosystems
2. Climate and Land-Use Change
3. Energy and Minerals, and Environmental Health
4. Natural Hazards
5. Water
6. Core Science Systems
An additional result of this change was that International Programs was administra-
tively placed directly under the Director of the USGS. As a Bureau-level function, Inter-
national Programs is supported by contribution from all of the USGS mission areas.
Although the USGS structure has changed, International Programs Office remains
charged with representing USGS interests and capabilities in the international arena. New
emphasis is placed on the broader USGS interest in pursuing integrated science in support
of all of its critical mission areas.
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APPENDIX C
To accomplish this, International Programs Office has five regional specialists whose
primary jobs are to represent USGS interest and coordinate USGS activities around the
globe. The five regions covered by these specialists are:
• Europe and the Former Soviet Union
• Africa and the Middle East
• Asia and the Pacific
• Latin America and the Caribbean
• Canada, the Arctic, and the Antarctic
In practice, these specialists have extremely diverse tasks which include support of USGS
scientists engaged in international work, representing USGS to organizations such as
USAID, Department of State, Department of Defense, and the World Bank, and devel-
oping contacts and programs in the countries that are part of their region. A number of
programs and activities developed and coordinated by these specialists are discussed in this
background paper/
The second group within the International Programs Office is the Bureau Support
Unit. Their primary task is to obtain passports, visas, State Department clearances, and
other logistical support that is required for USGS international travelers, which amount
to over 1000 per year. Additionally, this group processes and maintains the approximately
70 international bilateral agreements which the USGS has in place. Finally, the Bureau
Support Unit also is shepherding approximately 30 additional international agreements
through the often lengthy approval process.
In 1997, the Bureau International Committee (BIC) was established to support In-
ternational Programs and to promote closer coordination between IP and the operational
scientific parts of the USGS. The BIC makes contributions in two main areas. First, it
provides advice used to set Bureau international policy. Second, when needed, it can help
to identify the scientific units and scientists that might best respond to an international
opportunity. The BIC is now transitioning to include representatives from all the USGS
Mission Areas.
ANNEX 2
PREVIOUS USGS INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS
In January 1983 the State Department and the USGS completed a joint report titled
“International Role of the U.S. Geological Survey”. This report drew heavily on previous
USGS summaries of international activities that were updated about once every decade.
In 2000, the Associate Director for Geology convened a Bureau wide meeting to discuss
international science priorities for the USGS. This meeting followed on the heels of the
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Appendix C
decision by the Director to consolidate the Bureau’s international activities into a single
office under the leadership of Associate Director for Geology. The results of this meeting
are summarized in the report, “Science Priorities Team for International Activities” (USGS,
2000b).
In 2001, the National Academy of Science National Research Council published the
results of a study “Future Roles and Opportunities for the U.S. Geological Survey”. This
study (NRC, 2001), made several references to the potential international role of the USGS
and made several recommendations including:
…it is appropriate for the USGS to become more active at international and global
levels as well. By playing a strong role on behalf of the U.S. in promoting, facilitat-
ing, and conducting international and global studies to develop critical science in-
formation, the USGS lends support to national security as well as foreign policy…
(p. 52)
Because many science issues today are global and international in nature, the USGS
in the 21st century should place high priority on the following:
• Performing a more vigorous role in pursuing foreign area and global studies,
• Providing increased technical assistance to foreign countries,
• Becoming more active internationally. (p. 63)
…the USGS is encouraged to play a stronger international role, on behalf of the
United States, in order to accomplish its mission. The Committee believes that the
importance to the United States of USGS international activities and collaboration
cannot be overstated. (p. 87)
In 2007, the USGS developed its Science Strategy for the coming decade (USGS,
2007). The USGS is implementing the recommendations outlined in this Strategy by
realigning its management and budget structure around the six scientific mission areas pro-
posed in the Science Strategy. The six mission areas, which are inherently international or
global, include global climate change, water resources, natural hazards, energy and minerals,
ecosystems, and data integration.
ANNEX 3
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AFRICOM Africa Command, DOD, Stuttgart, Germany
ARC Arctic Resource Center, USGS, Reston, VA
BGR German Geologic Survey
BGS British Geologic Survey
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APPENDIX C
BIC USGS Bureau International Committee
BRD Biological Resources Discipline or Division, USGS
BRGM French Geologic Survey
CCOP Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and
Southeast Asia
CCP Circum Pacific Council
CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
CPC Circum Pacific Council
CTWS Caribbean Tsunami Warning System
DOD Department of Defense
DOE Department of Energy
DOI Department of Interior
DOS Department of State
DRAGON Delta Research and Global Observation Network
EDC/EROS EROS Data Center/Earth Resources Observation and Science Center
ESF Department of State’s Embassy Science Fellows Program
FAO Food & Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Rome
FEWS Famine Early Warning System
GA Geoscience Australia
GBIF Global Biological Information Facility
GEO Group on Earth Observations
GEOSS Global Earth Observation System of Systems
GISIN Global Invasive Species Information Network
GRID Global Resource Information Database
GSC Geological Survey of Canada
GSDI Geospatial Data Infrastructure, USGS
GSN Global Seismic Network
IABIN Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
ICA International Cooperative Agency
IGCP International Geological Correlation Program (UNESCO)
IHP International Hydrologic Program (UNESCO)
IOC Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
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Appendix C
IOTWS Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System
IUGS International Union of Geological Sciences
LDC Lesser Developed Countries
MGU Military Geology Unit, USGS
NAS National Academy of Sciences
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NEIC USGS National Earthquake Information Center
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NRC National Research Council
NSF National Science Foundation
OAS Organization of American States
OES Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science
OFDA USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
OIG Office of International Geology
OMB Office of Management and Budget
OSTP Office of Science & Technology Policy, White House
PAGER Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response
PAIGH Pan American Institute of Geography and History
RELEMR Reduction of Earthquake Losses in the Extended Mediterranean Region
RGEG USGS’ Research Grade Evaluation Guide
S&T Science and Technology
SOPAC South Pacific Council
SPTIA Science Priorities and Training for International Affairs
THIP Techniques of Hydrologic Investigations for International Participants
UAE United Arab Emirates
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNEP United Nations Environmental Program
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris
USAID U.S. Agency for International Development (aka “AID”)
USGS United States Geological Survey
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APPENDIX C
USTDA U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Dep’t. Of Commerce
VDAP USAID/USGS Volcano Disaster Assistance Program
WMO United Nations World Meteorological Organization, Geneva
ANNEX 4
REFERENCES
DOS and USGS (U.S. Department of State and U.S. Geological Survey). 1983. “International Role of the U.S. Geological
Survey.” USGS internal document.
NRC (National Research Council). 1987. International Role of U.S. Geoscience. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
NRC. 2001. Future Roles and Opportunities for the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Peters, S.G., S.D. Ludington, G.J. Orris, D.M. Sutphin, J.D. Bliss, and J.J. Rytuba (eds.) and the USGS-Afghanistan Min-
istry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team. 2007. Preliminary Non-Fuel Mineral Resource Assessment
of Afghanistan. Open-File Report 2007-1214.
USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). 1976. Historical Review of the International Water-Resources Program of the U.S. Geologi-
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USGS. 2000a. Implications for Earthquake Risk Reduction in the United States from the Kocaeli, Turkey, Earthquake of
August 17, 1999. USGS Circular 1193.
USGS. 2000b. “Science Priorities Team for International Activities” (SPTIA), Denver, CO. USGS internal document.
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USGS. 2007. Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges: USGS Science in the Decade 2007-2017. USGS Circular 1309. Available at
pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2007/1309/.
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