Developing an Environmental Health Science Strategy for the USGS

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

USGS Environmental Health Strategic Science Planning Team

Opportunity on the Horizon Now is the time to set the course for USGS Environmental Health Science

• Climate and Land Use ChangeClimate and Land Use Change• Core Science SystemsCore Science Systems• EcosystemsEcosystems• Energy and MineralsEnergy and Minerals• Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health• Natural HazardsNatural Hazards• WaterWater

USGS Realignment in 7 Issue-based USGS Realignment in 7 Issue-based Mission AreasMission Areas

To develop a To develop a Strategic Science Plan for Strategic Science Plan for Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health that encompasses the that encompasses the portfolio of USGS science, and will serve as a portfolio of USGS science, and will serve as a framework for science activities for the next framework for science activities for the next decade. decade.

Strategic Science Planning Team ChargeStrategic Science Planning Team Charge

Patricia Bright (Contaminants Program) co-chairPatricia Bright (Contaminants Program) co-chairHerb Buxton (Toxics Program) co-chairHerb Buxton (Toxics Program) co-chairLaurie Balistrieri (Western Mineral & Environmental Science Center, WA)Laurie Balistrieri (Western Mineral & Environmental Science Center, WA)Larry Barber (National Research Program, Boulder, CO)Larry Barber (National Research Program, Boulder, CO)Paul Cross (Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, MT)Paul Cross (Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, MT)Frank Chapelle (South Carolina Water Science Center)Frank Chapelle (South Carolina Water Science Center)David Krabbenhoft (Wisconsin Water Science Center)David Krabbenhoft (Wisconsin Water Science Center)Geoffrey Plumlee (Crustal Geophysics & Geochem. Science Center, CO)Geoffrey Plumlee (Crustal Geophysics & Geochem. Science Center, CO)Jonathan Sleeman (National Wildlife Health Center, WI)Jonathan Sleeman (National Wildlife Health Center, WI)Don Tillitt (Columbia Environmental Research Center, MO)Don Tillitt (Columbia Environmental Research Center, MO)Patricia Toccalino (NAWQA Program, CA)Patricia Toccalino (NAWQA Program, CA)James Winton (Western Fisheries Research Center, WA)James Winton (Western Fisheries Research Center, WA)

Ione Taylor, ELT Champion Ione Taylor, ELT Champion

Environmental Health SSPTEnvironmental Health SSPT

We define We define Environmental Health Science as the multidisciplinary Environmental Health Science as the multidisciplinary study of relationships among the quality of the physical study of relationships among the quality of the physical environment, the health of the living environment, and human environment, the health of the living environment, and human health.health.

The health of aquatic and terrestrial organisms and people is threatened increasingly by pathogenic diseases and exposure to a diverse array of chemical contaminants.

FocusFocus

Integration of Mission Areas Integration of Mission Areas

Linkages and synergies among Linkages and synergies among Mission Areas will: Mission Areas will:

1.1.Bring the breadth of USGS science Bring the breadth of USGS science to each theme, andto each theme, and

2.2.Provide increased Provide increased opportunities to connect with key opportunities to connect with key stakeholders. stakeholders.

Draft GoalsDraft Goals1.1. Anticipate, detect and assess emerging threats from Anticipate, detect and assess emerging threats from

contaminants and diseases affecting aquatic and terrestrial contaminants and diseases affecting aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans. organisms and humans.

2.2. Characterize the environmental factors that control Characterize the environmental factors that control exposure to natural and anthropogenic contaminants, and exposure to natural and anthropogenic contaminants, and their effects on, aquatic and terrestrial organisms and their effects on, aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans. humans.

3.3. Elucidate the ecological and environmental factors that Elucidate the ecological and environmental factors that influence the occurrence and evolution of infectious influence the occurrence and evolution of infectious diseases affecting aquatic and terrestrial organisms and diseases affecting aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans.humans.

4.4. Determine the interactions among contaminants, Determine the interactions among contaminants, pathogens, environmental changes and other stressors that pathogens, environmental changes and other stressors that combine to affect the health of aquatic and terrestrial combine to affect the health of aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans. organisms and humans.

5.5. Enhance methods to anticipate and rapidly assess the Enhance methods to anticipate and rapidly assess the environmental impacts of natural or anthropogenic environmental impacts of natural or anthropogenic disasters on the health of aquatic and terrestrial organisms disasters on the health of aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans. and humans.

6.6. Synthesize and communicate integrated environmental Synthesize and communicate integrated environmental health science information to decision makers and the health science information to decision makers and the publicpublic

Draft GoalsDraft Goals

1. What are the most important Environmental Health issues facing the Nation in the next decade?

2. What are the core USGS capabilities in Environmental Health Science? What is missing from the USGS portfolio?

3. What are the essential cross-linkages between the Environmental Health and other Mission Areas ? How can these linkages best be made?

4. Does the USGS definition of Environmental Health Science resonate with you and the science issues you expect to deal with in the coming decade?

5. What stakeholders are key to a successful USGS Environmental Health Science agenda? What suggestions do you have for improving stakeholder connections?

Key Questions

Provide input by going to:http://www.usgs.gov/start_with_science/

Word Cloud of Chapter from Bureau Science StrategyWord Cloud of Chapter from Bureau Science Strategy

Or by sending an email to:conversation@usgs.gov