Pierre Glynn, Ph.D., has now retired from his USGS management positions and is devoting his time to conducting interdisciplinary research to advance the science, policy, and management of complex systems and issues. He is currently Emeritus Scientist with the USGS Science and Decisions Center (USGS/SDC) in the Northeastern Region.
Pierre also serves as an Affiliated Scholar with Arizona State University’s Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes (ASU/CSPO) in Washington D.C.
Pierre’s current research includes studies on:
- water and natural capital accounting (USGS/SDC),
- value of Information – useability and actionability (USGS/SDC),
- Chesapeake Bay watershed modeling and its associated social systems (USGS/SDC),
- examining the role of narratives and information in managing natural resources and societal hazards (ASU/CSPO),
- adaptive management, participatory modeling, public participation in science, and the creation of “Records of Engagement and Decision-Making” (mainly ASU/CSPO),
- integrated modeling and System of Systems modeling (USGS/SDC), and
- the role of human biases, beliefs, heuristics, values, and norms in the conduct of science and policy (USGS/SDC).
Pierre was recently awarded (through ASU/CSPO) a Catalyst Leaders Fellowship from the Royal Society of New Zealand to study water science and policy issues (centered around Lake Taupo) in collaboration with the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science, New Zealand).
Pierre’s academic background includes a B.A. in Geological Sciences from Columbia College, an M.Sc. from University of Quebec in Montreal in isotopic environmental geochemistry, and a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo, where his studies focused on groundwater and geochemical modeling.
Professional Assignments:
Jan. 1989 – March 2021: Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Reston, VA
- May 2019 – March 2021: Acting Chief, Hydro-Ecological Interactions Branch, Water Mission Area (WMA), USGS
- October 2017 – April 2019: Chief, Water Cycle Branch, WMA
- March 2005 – September 2017: Chief, Eastern Branch, National Research Program (NRP), WMA
- December 2015 – April 2016: Acting Associate Director for Energy and Minerals, and for Environmental Health Mission Areas
- November 2001 – February 2005: Staff Assistant to Chief Scientist for Hydrology, WMA
- January 1989 – November 2001: Research Hydrologist, NRP, WMA
January 1987 – January 1989: National Academy of Sciences Research Associate
Science and Products
Data release for Integrating physical and economic data into experimental water accounts for the United States: lessons and opportunities
Water provides society with economic benefits that increasingly involve tradeoffs, making accounting for water quality, quantity, and their corresponding economic productivity more relevant in our interconnected world. In the past, physical and economic data about water have been fragmented, but integration is becoming more widely adopted internationally through application of the System of Enviro
Data Release for Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast
Ecosystems benefit people in many ways, but these contributions do not appear in traditional national or corporate accounts so are often left out of policy- and decision-making. Ecosystem accounts, as formalized by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA), track the extent and condition of ecosystem assets and the flows of ecosystem services they p
Filter Total Items: 33
Opportunities for businesses to use and support development of SEEA-aligned natural capital accounts
Global understanding of the interconnections between the environment and economy has increased, driving the development of frameworks and standards that support the measurement and valuation of natural capital and ecosystem services by both governments and businesses. This paper outlines how businesses can use natural capital accounts (NCA) aligned to the System of Environmental Economic Accountin
Value of information: Exploring behavioral and social factors
There is growing interest within and beyond the economics community in assessing the value of information (VOI) used in decision making. VOI assessments often do not consider the complex behavioral and social factors that affect the perception, valuation, and use of information by individuals and groups. Additionally, VOI assessments frequently do not examine the full suite of interactions and out
Water-use data in the United States: Challenges and future directions
In the United States, greater attention has been given to developing water supplies and quantifying available waters than determining who uses water, how much they withdraw and consume, and how and where water use occurs. As water supplies are stressed due to an increasingly variable climate, changing land-use, and growing water needs, greater consideration of the demand side of the water balance
Lessons learned from development of natural capital accounts in the United States and European Union
The United States and European Union (EU) face common challenges in managing natural capital and balancing conservation and resource use with consumption of other forms of capital. This paper synthesizes findings from 11 individual application papers from a special issue of Ecosystem Services on natural capital accounting (NCA) and their application to the public and private sectors in the EU and
Try, try again: Lessons learned from success and failure in participatory modeling
Participatory Modeling (PM) is becoming increasingly common in environmental planning and conservation, due in part to advances in cyberinfrastructure as well as to greater recognition of the importance of engaging a diverse array of stakeholders in decision making. We provide lessons learned, based on over 200 years of the authors’ cumulative and diverse experience, about PM processes. These incl
Integrating physical and economic data into experimental water accounts for the United States: Lessons and opportunities
Water management increasingly involves tradeoffs, making its accounting highly relevant in our interconnected world. Physical and economic data about water in many nations are becoming more widely integrated through application of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounts for Water (SEEA-Water), which enables the tracking of linkages between water and the economy. We present the first national
Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast
Ecosystem accounts, as formalized by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA), have been compiled in a number of countries, yet there have been few attempts to develop them for the U.S. We explore the potential for U.S. ecosystem accounting by compiling ecosystem extent, condition, and ecosystem services supply and use accounts for a ten-state reg
Records of engagement and decision making for environmental and socio-ecological challenges
We propose creating and maintaining records of engagement and decision-making (RoED) to help us and our communities better understand ourselves, our goals, our decisions, and the dynamic systems in which we all live. The purpose of RoED is to go well beyond noting that dialogue occurred or a decision was reached. The records should, in ways appropriate to the context and participants, document int
The natural capital accounting opportunity: Let's really do the numbers
The nation’s economic accounts provide objective, regular, and standardized information routinely relied upon by public and private decision makers. But they are incomplete. The U.S. and many other nations currently do not account for the natural capital — such as the wildlife, forests, grasslands, soils, and water bodies—upon which all other economic activity rests. By creating formal natural ca
Twelve questions for the participatory modeling community
Participatory modeling engages the implicit and explicit knowledge of stakeholders to create formalized and shared representations of reality and has evolved into a field of study as well as a practice. Participatory modeling researchers and practitioners who focus specifically on environmental resources met at the National Socio‐Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) in Annapolis, Maryland, over
Tools and methods in participatory modeling: Selecting the right tool for the job
Various tools and methods are used in participatory modelling, at different stages of the process and for different purposes. The diversity of tools and methods can create challenges for stakeholders and modelers when selecting the ones most appropriate for their projects. We offer a systematic overview, assessment, and categorization of methods to assist modelers and stakeholders with their choic
Science and Products
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Data release for Integrating physical and economic data into experimental water accounts for the United States: lessons and opportunities
Water provides society with economic benefits that increasingly involve tradeoffs, making accounting for water quality, quantity, and their corresponding economic productivity more relevant in our interconnected world. In the past, physical and economic data about water have been fragmented, but integration is becoming more widely adopted internationally through application of the System of EnviroData Release for Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast
Ecosystems benefit people in many ways, but these contributions do not appear in traditional national or corporate accounts so are often left out of policy- and decision-making. Ecosystem accounts, as formalized by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA), track the extent and condition of ecosystem assets and the flows of ecosystem services they p - Publications
Filter Total Items: 33
Opportunities for businesses to use and support development of SEEA-aligned natural capital accounts
Global understanding of the interconnections between the environment and economy has increased, driving the development of frameworks and standards that support the measurement and valuation of natural capital and ecosystem services by both governments and businesses. This paper outlines how businesses can use natural capital accounts (NCA) aligned to the System of Environmental Economic AccountinValue of information: Exploring behavioral and social factors
There is growing interest within and beyond the economics community in assessing the value of information (VOI) used in decision making. VOI assessments often do not consider the complex behavioral and social factors that affect the perception, valuation, and use of information by individuals and groups. Additionally, VOI assessments frequently do not examine the full suite of interactions and outWater-use data in the United States: Challenges and future directions
In the United States, greater attention has been given to developing water supplies and quantifying available waters than determining who uses water, how much they withdraw and consume, and how and where water use occurs. As water supplies are stressed due to an increasingly variable climate, changing land-use, and growing water needs, greater consideration of the demand side of the water balanceLessons learned from development of natural capital accounts in the United States and European Union
The United States and European Union (EU) face common challenges in managing natural capital and balancing conservation and resource use with consumption of other forms of capital. This paper synthesizes findings from 11 individual application papers from a special issue of Ecosystem Services on natural capital accounting (NCA) and their application to the public and private sectors in the EU andTry, try again: Lessons learned from success and failure in participatory modeling
Participatory Modeling (PM) is becoming increasingly common in environmental planning and conservation, due in part to advances in cyberinfrastructure as well as to greater recognition of the importance of engaging a diverse array of stakeholders in decision making. We provide lessons learned, based on over 200 years of the authors’ cumulative and diverse experience, about PM processes. These inclIntegrating physical and economic data into experimental water accounts for the United States: Lessons and opportunities
Water management increasingly involves tradeoffs, making its accounting highly relevant in our interconnected world. Physical and economic data about water in many nations are becoming more widely integrated through application of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounts for Water (SEEA-Water), which enables the tracking of linkages between water and the economy. We present the first nationalTesting ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast
Ecosystem accounts, as formalized by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA), have been compiled in a number of countries, yet there have been few attempts to develop them for the U.S. We explore the potential for U.S. ecosystem accounting by compiling ecosystem extent, condition, and ecosystem services supply and use accounts for a ten-state regRecords of engagement and decision making for environmental and socio-ecological challenges
We propose creating and maintaining records of engagement and decision-making (RoED) to help us and our communities better understand ourselves, our goals, our decisions, and the dynamic systems in which we all live. The purpose of RoED is to go well beyond noting that dialogue occurred or a decision was reached. The records should, in ways appropriate to the context and participants, document intThe natural capital accounting opportunity: Let's really do the numbers
The nation’s economic accounts provide objective, regular, and standardized information routinely relied upon by public and private decision makers. But they are incomplete. The U.S. and many other nations currently do not account for the natural capital — such as the wildlife, forests, grasslands, soils, and water bodies—upon which all other economic activity rests. By creating formal natural caTwelve questions for the participatory modeling community
Participatory modeling engages the implicit and explicit knowledge of stakeholders to create formalized and shared representations of reality and has evolved into a field of study as well as a practice. Participatory modeling researchers and practitioners who focus specifically on environmental resources met at the National Socio‐Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) in Annapolis, Maryland, overTools and methods in participatory modeling: Selecting the right tool for the job
Various tools and methods are used in participatory modelling, at different stages of the process and for different purposes. The diversity of tools and methods can create challenges for stakeholders and modelers when selecting the ones most appropriate for their projects. We offer a systematic overview, assessment, and categorization of methods to assist modelers and stakeholders with their choic