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The National CASC, based at USGS headquarters in Reston, Virginia, is a national center for independent and collaborative research on climate change vulnerability and adaptation. It also serves as the managing entity for the broader CASC network, providing leadership and guidance in administration, communication, partnership coordination, and data/program management.

A National Leader in Climate Adaptation Science 

Our mission is to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate. 

Climate change has broad and complex effects on natural systems, impacting everything from how plants grow to how often a region floods. Traditional management paradigms, which look to the past to guide decisions, are becoming less effective in this changing world. As a result, many resource stewards are searching for new and innovative tools to help guide their landscapes into the future.  

The National CASC (NCASC) generates science and decision-making tools to help our nation respond to novel resource management challenges brought on by climate change. 

NCASC scientists build relationships with natural resource managers and conservation practitioners to understand and address on-the-ground needs. Whether it is quantifying climate change effects on a commercially valuable species or creating a new approach to conducting climate-informed vulnerability assessments, NCASC science supports proactive and effective climate adaptation planning across regional, national, and international scales. 

 

Leader within the CASC Network 

The NCASC also plays a unique role within the CASC network, serving as a center of leadership and guidance for the regional CASCs.  

NCASC professional staff facilitate many aspects of the day-to-day functions of the CASC network, from administration and budgeting to cataloguing and managing science and data products. The NCASC serves as a liaison between consortium universities and the federal government, helping to ensure CASC compliance with federal regulations and coordinating broad initiatives such as annual project solicitations. NCASC also supports a robust communication team to create news stories, visualizations, and other products to help extend the reach of CASC science. NCASC communication staff work to maintain a consistent voice across the CASC network and support the outreach efforts of regional CASCs. 

 

Science

Science

Career Development

Career Development

Communications

Communications

Data Management

Data Management

Partnership Coordination

Partnership Coordination

Program Management

Program Management

Administration and Budget

Administration and Budget