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Office of Science Quality and Integrity

The Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI) preserves and protects the long tradition of objective, unbiased USGS science in service to the Nation. 

OSQI champions scientific excellence, non-advocacy, and quality through the peer review and approval of thousands of USGS publications each year. OSQI serves the public through the development of strong practices and oversight, including in the areas of Science Quality, Scientific Integrity, Tribal Relations, Evaluations of Research Scientists, Fundamental Science Practices, and more.

 

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Man on a boat uses a scalpel to surgically implant radio tag in to the belly of a small sturgeon (approx. 18" long).
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Science

OSQI enhances USGS science by engaging the next generation of scientists and science support staff. The office also provides retired USGS scientists and technical experts the opportunity to remain active in the science community, enhance the programmatic activities of the USGS, and serve the public.

Youth and Education in Science

Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program

USGS Emeritus Program

 

 

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A scientist working in a laboratory
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Quality

OSQI programs uphold the Bureau’s scientific reputation and Fundamental Science Practices, and underscore its mandate to provide reliable science to address pressing societal issues. The office provides monitoring and oversight of internal and external review of USGS science programs and supports administration of internal award and participation in external award programs.

Fundamental Science Practices

Quality Management System

Research and Equipment Development Grade Evaluation

 

 

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Image: Tribal Training -- Sediment Devices
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Integrity

OSQI helps to ensure that employees adhere to professional values and practices when conducting and applying the results of science and scholarship. OSQI also coordinates with Native American governments and organizations to facilitate access to, and collaborate on, USGS scientific research that can help support tribal natural resource management.

Scientific Integrity

Ethics Office

Office of Tribal Relations

 

News

First Federal Advisory Committee on science quality and integrity formed

First Federal Advisory Committee on science quality and integrity formed

Get to Know a Scientist Emeritus—Randolph Kirk

Get to Know a Scientist Emeritus—Randolph Kirk

Get to Know a Scientist Emeritus—Julio Betancourt

Get to Know a Scientist Emeritus—Julio Betancourt

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Publications

Scoping decision-maker needs and science availability to support regional natural capital accounting in the U.S. Colorado River Basin Scoping decision-maker needs and science availability to support regional natural capital accounting in the U.S. Colorado River Basin

Natural capital accounting has the potential to yield important policy insights at multiple scales, but there remains a disconnect between regional-scale natural capital accounts and their use for informing policy. In this paper, we propose a roadmap that could lead to the creation of policy-relevant regional accounts, with steps split across an initial scoping phase and a subsequent...
Authors
Aaron Enriquez, Kenneth Bagstad, Katharine G. Dahm, Alicia Torregrosa, Rudy Schuster
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center, Office of Science Quality and Integrity, Colorado River Basin: Actionable and Strategic Integrated Science and Technology, Drought

Sensitivity analysis of a dynamic vegetation-sediment transport model using equadratures: Exploring inorganic accretion on a marsh platform Sensitivity analysis of a dynamic vegetation-sediment transport model using equadratures: Exploring inorganic accretion on a marsh platform

Salt marsh systems require a net import of inorganic sediment to maintain their structure in response to sea‐level rise. Marshes are affected by physical processes including tides, waves, sediment transport, and the influence of vegetation, and these processes interact in complex ways leading to sediment accretion or erosion. We implement a 3‐D hydrodynamic sediment transport model in an...
Authors
Rachel Allen, Neil K. Ganju, Tarandeep Kalra, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Jessica Lacy
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Office of Science Quality and Integrity

Plants as vectors for environmental prion transmission Plants as vectors for environmental prion transmission

Prions cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases and exhibit remarkable durability, which engenders a wide array of potential exposure scenarios. In chronic wasting disease of deer, elk, moose, and reindeer and in scrapie of sheep and goats, prions are transmitted via environmental routes and the ability of plants to accumulate and subsequently transmit prions has been hypothesized, but not...
Authors
Christina Carlson, Samuel Thomas, Matthew Keating, Nicole Gibbs, Haeyoon Chang, Jamie Wiepz, Annabel Austin, Jay Schneider, Christopher Johnson, Joel Pedersen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, National Wildlife Health Center, Office of Science Quality and Integrity
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Science

Image shows a geologic map of Louisiana

What We Do

About the Louisiana Water Science Center Office Locations What We Do Data Collection Database Capabilities
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Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Office of Science Quality and Integrity, Science for a Changing World
What We Do

What We Do

About the Louisiana Water Science Center Office Locations What We Do Data Collection Database Capabilities
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Hurricane Joaquin seen from space

Forecast Information and Imagery

River and Coastal Forecasts The USGS is not a forecasting agency, but the National Weather Service (NWS) is, and they make extensive use of the data we collect in their effort to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date forecasts of many Louisiana rivers and streams, and weather along the coast. The links below will provide you with direct access to the NWS forecasts for different areas...
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Office of Science Quality and Integrity
Forecast Information and Imagery

Forecast Information and Imagery

River and Coastal Forecasts The USGS is not a forecasting agency, but the National Weather Service (NWS) is, and they make extensive use of the data we collect in their effort to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date forecasts of many Louisiana rivers and streams, and weather along the coast. The links below will provide you with direct access to the NWS forecasts for different areas...
Learn More
Stream in Boston Mountains - Arkansas

Regional Hydraulic Geometry Characteristics of the Boston Mountains in Arkansas

LMG-WSC hydrologist, in collaboration with Arkansas Natural Resource Commission scientist are analyzing stream channel geomorphic characteristics at 15 gaged stable stream sites in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. Field data collection entails topographic surveys of selected stream reaches and analysis of bed and bar sediments. Topographic surveys, running from hundreds to thousands of feet, are...
By
Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Office of Science Quality and Integrity
Regional Hydraulic Geometry Characteristics of the Boston Mountains in Arkansas

Regional Hydraulic Geometry Characteristics of the Boston Mountains in Arkansas

LMG-WSC hydrologist, in collaboration with Arkansas Natural Resource Commission scientist are analyzing stream channel geomorphic characteristics at 15 gaged stable stream sites in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas. Field data collection entails topographic surveys of selected stream reaches and analysis of bed and bar sediments. Topographic surveys, running from hundreds to thousands of feet, are...
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