Fran Lightsom's (she/her) professional calling is to make scientific information available to the world so that people can make wiser choices about how to live. I pursue this calling as a manager of people and projects that manage data, by serving as the USGS Ocean Data Ambassador, and by working with teams and committees that improve the quality and availability of our scientific products.
Science and Products
Geographic Searches for USGS Publications (Bureau-wide Application)
The purpose of this project is to improve the USGS Publications Warehouse (Pubs Warehouse) so that a person can search for USGS publications by geographic region in addition to existing search criteria; for example, one could search using map zooms or congressional districts. The addition of geographic searches allows users to narrow their search results to specific areas of interest, which reduce
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Data Library
The Data Library maintains the data produced by research at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) and provides access to a wide variety of digital data through online portals. In addition, visitors to the library can examine the original analog data in person and request copies for use in their own research projects.
Building a Roadmap for Making Data FAIR in the U.S. Geological Survey
FAIR is an international set of principles for improving the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of research data and other digital products. The PIs for this CDI project planned and hosted a workshop of USGS data stakeholders, data professionals, and managers of USGS data systems from across the Bureau’s Mission Areas. Workshop participants shared case studies that foste...
Content Specifications to Enable USGS Transition to ISO Metadata Standard
USGS will soon transition to the international metadata standards known collectively as ISO 19115. The open-ended nature of ISO benefits with much greater flexibility and vocabulary to describe research products. However, that flexibility means few constraints that can guide authors and ensure standardized, robust documentation across the bureau. This project proposed that the USGS data community
Geographic Searches for USGS Publications (Bureau-wide Application)
The purpose of this project is to improve the USGS Publications Warehouse (Pubs Warehouse) so that a person can search for USGS publications by geographic region in addition to existing search criteria; for example, one could search using map zooms or congressional districts. The addition of geographic searches allows users to narrow their search results to specific areas of interest, which reduce
Use of Controlled Vocabularies in USGS Information Applications: Requirements Analysis for Automated Processes and Services (Bureau-wide Application)
Large online data catalogs use controlled vocabularies to categorize datasets in ways that allow end users to sort and select data matching their needs. The eventual goal of this project is to build functional services so that the USGS Thesaurus and other USGS-controlled vocabularies will be available to the English-speaking scientific community, especially within the USGS where they can be used t
Science and Products
- Science
Geographic Searches for USGS Publications (Bureau-wide Application)
The purpose of this project is to improve the USGS Publications Warehouse (Pubs Warehouse) so that a person can search for USGS publications by geographic region in addition to existing search criteria; for example, one could search using map zooms or congressional districts. The addition of geographic searches allows users to narrow their search results to specific areas of interest, which reduceWoods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Data Library
The Data Library maintains the data produced by research at the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) and provides access to a wide variety of digital data through online portals. In addition, visitors to the library can examine the original analog data in person and request copies for use in their own research projects.Building a Roadmap for Making Data FAIR in the U.S. Geological Survey
FAIR is an international set of principles for improving the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of research data and other digital products. The PIs for this CDI project planned and hosted a workshop of USGS data stakeholders, data professionals, and managers of USGS data systems from across the Bureau’s Mission Areas. Workshop participants shared case studies that foste...Content Specifications to Enable USGS Transition to ISO Metadata Standard
USGS will soon transition to the international metadata standards known collectively as ISO 19115. The open-ended nature of ISO benefits with much greater flexibility and vocabulary to describe research products. However, that flexibility means few constraints that can guide authors and ensure standardized, robust documentation across the bureau. This project proposed that the USGS data communityGeographic Searches for USGS Publications (Bureau-wide Application)
The purpose of this project is to improve the USGS Publications Warehouse (Pubs Warehouse) so that a person can search for USGS publications by geographic region in addition to existing search criteria; for example, one could search using map zooms or congressional districts. The addition of geographic searches allows users to narrow their search results to specific areas of interest, which reduceUse of Controlled Vocabularies in USGS Information Applications: Requirements Analysis for Automated Processes and Services (Bureau-wide Application)
Large online data catalogs use controlled vocabularies to categorize datasets in ways that allow end users to sort and select data matching their needs. The eventual goal of this project is to build functional services so that the USGS Thesaurus and other USGS-controlled vocabularies will be available to the English-speaking scientific community, especially within the USGS where they can be used t - Multimedia
- Publications
- Software
- News