About USGS
Can I volunteer with the USGS?
Do you offer teacher discounts for your maps and other cost products?
How do I contact the USGS?
The USGS is the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency. We provide science about natural resource conditions and problems.
What is the USGS policy about coming onto private property to conduct research? What is the USGS policy about coming onto private property to conduct research?
When conducting research on private property, United States Geological Survey (USGS) employees must comply with State and Tribal laws, including trespassing and privacy laws. USGS employees are required to obtain permission from the landowner when conducting new research and must make the data available at the landowner's request. Learn more: USGS Survey Manual: Obtaining Permission for Access to...
Do you offer teacher discounts for your maps and other cost products? Do you offer teacher discounts for your maps and other cost products?
Yes. Educational institutions qualify for discounts on purchases made through the online USGS Store. To receive any discounts you must first be set up in their system. Please fax your request on school letterhead (or on a purchase order) to 303-202-4693 and include your Federal Tax ID number ( not to be confused with your Federal Tax Exempt Number). For questions, call 1-888-MAP-DEAL (1-888-627...
Can I join the USGS? Can I join the USGS?
As a science agency for the United States government, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves all United States citizens. The USGS can only be “joined” by its employees, but citizens can get involved in USGS research through its Citizen Science programs . Some USGS Citizen Science opportunities are also listed at Volunteer.gov. In addition: Keep up with the latest USGS science by subscribing to...
Can I visit a USGS office? Can I visit a USGS office?
Very few USGS offices are set up to accommodate visitors. Before stopping by a USGS office, you should check their website or call ahead to make sure that visitors are welcome. There are USGS offices in each state. Members of the public are welcome to use libraries that are located at some USGS offices, but materials can only be checked out through Interlibrary Loan. Please note that most of our...
Does the USGS use volunteers to collect data? Does the USGS use volunteers to collect data?
Volunteers assist on some USGS projects. In all cases, the volunteers are carefully trained and are supervised by a federal employee while they work. To ensure quality-control, data collected by volunteers are checked by USGS supervisors. Volunteers must abide by the same rules, regulations, policies, and laws as employees. Some USGS volunteer opportunities are advertised at Volunteer.gov. Most of...
Can I volunteer with the USGS? Can I volunteer with the USGS?
Volunteer.gov is the best starting point for volunteer positions with the USGS and other federal agencies. However, many USGS volunteer positions are not formally announced, so they do not appear on that site. You can contact a local USGS office directly to ask about possible volunteer opportunities. Another way to get involved in USGS science is through one of our Citizen Science programs or...
How do I get USGS data? How do I get USGS data?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) provides data on many different science topics. Most of it can be downloaded for free from our website. Our Science Data Catalog and ScienceBase Catalog are good starting points. Also try using your browser's search engine and including the keyword "usgs.gov." If you are looking for a particular data set and cannot find it through Internet searches or our...
Where are USGS offices located? Where are USGS offices located?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has offices in every state. Our headquarters is located in Reston, Virginia. Need to contact a specific USGS office? Each Science Center has contact information listed on their "Connect" page. If you need assistance finding contact information for a Science Center or office, fill out the "General Questions" section on our Contact Us page, and USGS Science...
How do I contact the USGS? How do I contact the USGS?
For general science inquiries, message us through this website. For questions on the distribution of federal park passes, maps, books and other science products, or the status of existing orders, call 1-888-275-8747 or visit the USGS Store website. Most of our employees are listed in our online Staff Profiles. USGS offices are located in every state. Please note, however, that most of them perform...
Where can I find information on employment with the USGS? Where can I find information on employment with the USGS?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a Federal science agency in the U.S. Department of the Interior that provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useable...
Do you have internships, summer positions, or volunteer positions for teachers or students? Do you have internships, summer positions, or volunteer positions for teachers or students?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) does not have any positions specifically targeted to teachers, but motivated teachers can sometimes find volunteer positions by contacting a local USGS office directly, or by looking through the Volunteer.gov website. Student internships are designed for college-level students and recent graduates. The USAJOBS website has a section for Students & recent graduates...
I am not a citizen of the United States. Can I apply for jobs in the USGS? I am not a citizen of the United States. Can I apply for jobs in the USGS?
As a United States federal agency, the USGS is not permitted to hire non-U.S. citizens except in very rare circumstances. USGS positions are advertised at USAJOBS.