The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology: Current and future benefits to the university, the state, and the region

This study was commissioned by the College of Science, University of Nevada Reno (UNR), to assess the benefits of geological research and service by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (NBMG) and to consider future synergies between NBMG and the other geoscience units at UNR, while maintaining the core mission of NBMG. The study involved two steps: 1) review and assess the benefits derived from NBMG’s past geologic research and services, and 2) assess how best to focus available resources in the future. After studying NBMG’s past publications, a questionnaire was sent to over 1,800 users of geologic information in Nevada. The purpose of the campaign was to assess how users perceive the usefulness of geologic research and services of NBMG, both in terms of its quality as well as in monetary terms. The results of the questionnaire are reported in this publication.