Communicating Science

USGS Fact Sheet 2005-3042 (rev)

October 2006

(PDF Version, 1.50 MB)

For science to have an impact, it must be communicated and easily accessible. The USGS National Wetlands Research Center communicates its research findings through several ways: publishing, the Web, the library, and education and outreach.

Publishing

Publications

Since 1978, NWRC has published some 2,000 journal articles and scientific reports (http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/pblctns.htm). To receive copies of reprints, contact our librarian at nwrclibrary@usgs.gov.

Synthesis reports

Some of the reports produced from 1978 to 1992 were in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s technical series. Of particular value were reports that synthesized scientific information on biological communities and estuaries. Digital versions of these profiles as well as other technical series can be accessed at http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/diglib.htm#biorepts. More recent and comprehensive synthesis reports include Status and Trends of the Nation’s Biological Resources located at http://biology.usgs.gov/s+t/SNT/index.htm.
Image of NWRC Contractor working on a publishing project

Awards

NWRC information products have received nearly 50 publishing awards, including three Notable Documents of the Year awards from the American Library Association, which selects a few reports each year deemed to be of exceptional interest or value.

Partnerships

On a limited basis, NWRC does special publishing projects with its partners. A recent project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map poster which may be viewed at www.geobotany.uaf.edu/cavm. It has received four national awards and has been nominated for an international award by the Society for Technical Communication. For more information on publishing, contact Beth_Vairin@usgs.gov.

Web Resources

Sites

Information about NWRC, its staff, research projects, and information products is available through NWRC's Web site, www.nwrc.usgs.gov. Each year, this site receives 5 million unique hits, 1.5 million page requests, and 2,000 e-mail information requests. Through the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act’s Federal task force, NWRC also supports a site on coastal Louisiana, www.lacoast.gov. This Web site received over 2 million page requests in 2004, transferred over 540 GB of data, and sent The Breaux Act Newsflash to over 1,300 subscribers.

Image of NWRC Web Site

DIMS

Because the Gulf of Mexico coastal area has so many critical natural resource issues, much scientific research is focused on this area. Consequently, there is a need for access to this research information. To meet this need, NWRC is developing the Data and Information Management System, which will give access to hydrologic, geologic, biologic, and spatial information about both offshore and onshore ecosystems of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas (http://gulfsci.usgs.gov).

NBII

Significant biological information resources covering the gulf coast and the States of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are available through the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). The NWRC is a cosponsor of the NBII's Central Southwest Gulf Coast Information Node (http://cswgcin.nbii.org) along with the Houston Advanced Research Center. Currently, the node highlights several study areas and provides a browse search to more than 350 sources of scientific information. For more information on Web resources, contact Gaye_Farris@usgs.gov.

Library

The NWRC Research Library and Information Center provides bibliographic research, interlibrary loans, and document delivery services to the NWRC staff. By special request, it also provides research and interlibrary loan for NWRC’s partners. The library collection contains 14,000 book titles, more than 200 print periodical titles, access to 270 full-text electronic journals, 11 subscription databases, and 15 free databases. To view the online catalog, go to the NWRC Library Search Page. For more information on the library, contact nwrclibrary@usgs.gov.

Education and Outreach

Education

The NWRC disseminates its information through education and outreach. Education includes biweekly scientific seminars, a geographic information system and other technical training (http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/training/training2007.htm), school visits and NWRC on-site tours, and special projects such as the Ecological Society of America’s Strategies for Ecological Education, Development and Sustainability (SEEDS). Additionally, NWRC produces educational kiosks and CDs (http://www.lacoast.gov/freestuff/cd-roms/index.htm), sponsors teachers’ workshops through the Coastal Planning, Protection and Restoration Act task force, and takes part in the mascot program of the America’s Wetland campaign.

Special events

Special events at NWRC include Acadiana Migratory Bird Day, GIS Day, National Wetlands Month, nature and art exhibits, and press conferences.

Visiting NWRC

Tours and special educational programs are available by reservation. Partners and groups with related missions are able to use the conference room facilities if they have a staff sponsor. For more information on education and outreach, contact Susan_Horton@usgs.gov.

For more information, contact

Gaye S. Farris
U.S. Geological Survey
National Wetlands Research Center
700 Cajundome Blvd.
Lafayette, LA 70506
337-266-8500
gaye_farris@usgs.gov
http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov