TY - JOUR
T1 - Changing roles of State Geological Surveys in the USA
T2 - Experiences from Illinois
AU - Stumpf, Andrew J.
AU - Berg, Richard C.
AU - Curry, B. Brandon
N1 - Funding Information:
For the last decade, almost half of the total revenue to SGSs was from state government appropriations (Fig. 2). This is significantly less than compared with appropriations over the previous 50 years, when over 90% of SGSs’ financial support was included in state operating budgets. The AASG (2019) noted the SGSs were forced to diversify their revenue sources when the legislatures reduced funding. The SGSs responded by placing greater reliance on federal and non-governmental funding. This is particularly the case for the three largest SGSs, Texas, California and Illinois, where recurring state appropriations constitute only 7, 14 and 20% of total revenues, respectively. Particularly in Texas and Illinois, federal funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) has been a reliable source of long-term support in the past couple of decades.
Funding Information:
The operation of the ISGS over the last 115 years has been possible only because of the strong and stable core funding from the Illinois legislature. This continued support has allowed geologists to depend less on short-term contracts and grants and to conduct advanced research and develop externally funded programmes leading to scientific breakthroughs. In addition, the geologists have the ability to obtain appropriate expertise and put proven concepts and results in place to address societal issues before the non-geologic community recognizes the issues exist. However, larger grants have spurred a great deal of compensatory research and provided budgetary relief, especially over the past decade as overall funding from the state has decreased. The effective communication of these scientific innovations to the legislature, stakeholders and the public has kept the ISGS from pursuing research on a ‘user pays’ basis, which would limit anticipatory research and leave the survey unprepared for changes and opportunities that could otherwise have been anticipated. As part of the PRI, the ISGS is situated in a unique position between government and academia – having the privilege of service to the local community, the state, the country, and the world – and is the recipient of an immense opportunity to reimagine public engagement efforts. Since becoming part of the PRI, the ISGS has enhanced its collaboration, co-operation, and partnerships in the State and with universities, governments, industry organizations and other geoscience organizations elsewhere in the country and internationally. The ISGS has taken a leading role in developing state partnerships within new federal geoscience programmes, including the USGS’ Earth MRI 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), and reauthorization of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Act. This involvement upholds the ISGS’ vision to ‘serve as the North American model for multidisciplinary geological survey research in the twenty-first century’.
PY - 2020/1/31
Y1 - 2020/1/31
N2 - State Geological Surveys (SGSs) in the USA play vitally important roles, providing sound, unbiased scientific information to each state and the nation. Although implementation of each survey’s scientific programme has evolved differently, these organizations are often the principal drivers of economic development, and they consult on policies for protecting land and water, mitigating geologic hazards and promoting sustainable development. The SGSs are represented by the American Association of State Geologists. For more than 110 years, they have partnered with the federal government on important geoscience issues concerning topographic and geologic mapping, water, mineral and energy resources, and geologic hazards. These collaborations continue to develop and expand across multiple specialties, providing critical support to the SGSs. The future role of SGSs will depend on legislative decisions, contributions to research and development and scientific advancement, and ability to leverage support from existing and new collaborations with academia and with federal, state, county and municipal agencies. The Illinois State Geological Survey, one of the largest SGSs, has continually pursued relationships across geoscience sectors to develop a strong multidisciplinary scientific programme. Going forward, all SGSs will be challenged to develop an effective data stewardship programme to communicate with a diverse clientele.
AB - State Geological Surveys (SGSs) in the USA play vitally important roles, providing sound, unbiased scientific information to each state and the nation. Although implementation of each survey’s scientific programme has evolved differently, these organizations are often the principal drivers of economic development, and they consult on policies for protecting land and water, mitigating geologic hazards and promoting sustainable development. The SGSs are represented by the American Association of State Geologists. For more than 110 years, they have partnered with the federal government on important geoscience issues concerning topographic and geologic mapping, water, mineral and energy resources, and geologic hazards. These collaborations continue to develop and expand across multiple specialties, providing critical support to the SGSs. The future role of SGSs will depend on legislative decisions, contributions to research and development and scientific advancement, and ability to leverage support from existing and new collaborations with academia and with federal, state, county and municipal agencies. The Illinois State Geological Survey, one of the largest SGSs, has continually pursued relationships across geoscience sectors to develop a strong multidisciplinary scientific programme. Going forward, all SGSs will be challenged to develop an effective data stewardship programme to communicate with a diverse clientele.
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U2 - 10.1144/SP499-2019-128
DO - 10.1144/SP499-2019-128
M3 - Article
VL - 499
SP - 183
EP - 201
JO - Geological Society Special Publication
JF - Geological Society Special Publication
SN - 0305-8719
IS - 1
ER -