OCS Scientific Committee Meeting Summary
Director, U.S. Geological Survey Presentation
USGS Science and MMS Needs: Improving the Fit. Dr. Charles Groat was
sworn in as the Director, U.S. Geological Survey on October 21, 1998. The USGS and MMS
have always effectively worked together on a person-to-person basis and have had generally
good, but sometimes less effective interactions on a bureau-to-bureau basis. As the USGS
looks to a future that includes a strong biologic research capability and a commitment to
providing science support to other DOI bureaus, it is time to explore anew the
opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between the organizations. While success
at doing this is tied to bureau management interactions, much is dependent on the USGS
having a clear understanding of MMS science priorities and a good understanding of where
our capabilities allow us to offer something of unique value. The USGS program planning
and management structure is evolving toward a much improved capacity to recognize and meet
needs for multidisciplinary science, an important addition to our more traditionally
organized capabilities. The OCS Scientific Committee has a critical role in mapping out
MMS science priorities and approaches to meeting them. The USGS welcomes opportunities to
work with this committee as well as MMS itself in shaping programs in relevant areas so
that they effectively support MMS science needs.
For more information, contact Julie Reynolds.
