Rudy Schuster, PhD
Dr. Schuster is Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey, Social & Economic Analysis (SEA) Branch, which leads projects that integrate social, behavioral, economic, and natural science in the context of human–natural resource interactions.
Rudy has an undergraduate degree in geology and chemistry, MS in geography, and Ph.D. in the Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management. He was an associate professor at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry on the Forest and Natural Resource Management Faculty before joining the federal government. Currently, Dr. Schuster is Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey, Social & Economic Analysis (SEA) Branch. The SEA Branch provides unique capabilities in the USGS by leading projects that integrate social, behavioral, economic, and natural science in the context of human–natural resource interactions. SEA has an interdisciplinary group of scientists whose primary functions are to conduct both theoretical and applied social science research, provide technical assistance, and offer training to support the development of skills in natural resource management activities. Rudy’s research interest focuses on conducting interdisciplinary science to inform public land management decision making.
Science and Products
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative (SECI)
HDgov: Multi-agency Website for Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
National Park Service Visitor Spending Effects
North American Waterfowl Management Plan
Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group
Building Social and Ecological Resilience to Climate Change in Southwestern Colorado: Phase 1
Bridging the research-management gap: Landscape ecology in practice on public lands in the western United States
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report
Rural-urban differences in hunting and birdwatching attitudes and participation
Communicating information on nature-related topics: Preferred information channels and trust in sources
Potential human impacts of overlapping land-use and climate in a sensitive dryland: a case study of the Colorado Plateau, USA
Landowner perceptions of three types of boating in the Saranac Lakes area of New York State׳s Adirondack Park
Social and Economic Analysis Branch: integrating policy, social, economic, and natural science
Rancher and farmer quality of life in the midst of energy development in southwest Wyoming
Climate change collaboration among natural resource management agencies: lessons learned from two US regions
A survey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees regarding topics for distance education-Summary report to respondents
Constraints to connecting children with nature--Survey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees sponsored by the National Conservation Training Center, Division of Education Outreach
The effect of offering distance education on enrollment in onsite training at the National Conservation Training Center
Science and Products
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Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative (SECI)
The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative (SECI) is to develop and enhance science and research on ecosystem services in support of improving natural resource management. This effort is in response to the fourth recommendation of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) July 2011 report: "Federal agencies with...HDgov: Multi-agency Website for Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
HDgov is an interactive and mobile-responsive online portal to interagency, academic, and non-government resources focused on the human dimensions of natural resource management. The web portal provides easy access to tools, publications, data, and methods that help ensure that the people side of natural resources is considered throughout the entire natural resource management process. The...National Park Service Visitor Spending Effects
The National Park Service (NPS) manages the Nation’s most iconic destinations that attract millions of visitors from across the Nation and around the world. Trip-related spending by NPS visitors generates and supports a considerable amount of economic activity within park gateway communities. USGS economists collaborate with the National Park Service social science program to estimate NPS visitor...North American Waterfowl Management Plan
The ultimate success of North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) depends on maintaining relevance to stakeholders and society. In order to be relevant, a first step is to better understand what people value in regard to waterfowl and their habitats.Eco-drought Actionable Science Working Group
The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center (NCCWSC) is currently engaged in an Ecological Drought initiative, focused on understanding the impacts of drought on natural ecosystems across the country. This project was designed to support the Ecological Drought initiative by creating a USGS EcoDrought Actionable Science Working Group. The goal of this working group was to identifyBuilding Social and Ecological Resilience to Climate Change in Southwestern Colorado: Phase 1
Southwestern Colorado is already experiencing the effects of climate change in the form of larger and more severe wildfires, prolonged drought, and earlier snowmelt. Climate scientists expect the region to experience more summer heat waves, longer-lasting and more frequent droughts, and decreased river flow in the future. These changes will ultimately impact local communities and challenge natural - Data
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Bridging the research-management gap: Landscape ecology in practice on public lands in the western United States
The field of landscape ecology has grown and matured in recent decades, but incorporating landscape science into land management decisions remains challenging. Many lands in the western United States are federally owned and managed for multiple uses, including recreation, conservation, and energy development. We argue for stronger integration of landscape science into the management of these publiAuthorsSarah K. Carter, David Pilliod, Travis S. Haby, Karen L. Prentice, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Zachary H. Bowen, John B. Bradford, Samuel A. Cushman, Joseph C. DeVivo, Michael C. Duniway, Ryan S. Hathaway, Lisa Nelson, Courtney A. Schultz, Rudy Schuster, E. Jamie Trammell, Jake WeltzinSustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report
Federal agencies need credible scientific information to determine the production and value of ecosystem services in an efficient and timely manner. The U.S. Geological Survey addresses this scientific information need through the Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative project. The project has relied on U.S. Geological Survey expertise related to water, fisheries, advanced modeling, and econoAuthorsChristopher Huber, James Meldrum, Rudy Schuster, Zachary H. Ancona, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Scott M. Beck, Daren Carlisle, Peter R. Claggett, Fabiano Franco, Heather S. Galbraith, Michelle Haefele, Kristin R Hoelting, Dianna M. Hogan, Kristina G. Hopkins, Tim Kern, Collin B. Lawrence, Stacy Lischka, John B. Loomis, Julie M. Mueller, Gregory B. Noe, Emily J. Pindilli, Brian Quay, Darius J. Semmens, Wilson Sinclair, Daniel E. Spooner, Brian Voigt, Barabara St. John WhiteRural-urban differences in hunting and birdwatching attitudes and participation
Outdoor recreation facilitates important connections to nature and wildlife but is perceived differently across population segments. As such, we expected that current and past socio-demographic characteristics of individuals would influence intention to participate in outdoor recreation. We solicited 5,000 U.S. residents. (n = 1,030, 23% response) to describe their perceptions of hunting and birdwAuthorsEmily J. Wilkins, Nicholas W. Cole, Holly M. Miller, Rudy Schuster, Ashley A. Dayer, Jennifer N. Duberstein, David C. Fulton, Howard W. Harshaw, Andrew H. RaedekeCommunicating information on nature-related topics: Preferred information channels and trust in sources
How information is communicated influences the public’s environmental perceptions and behaviors. Information channels and sources both play an important role in the dissemination of information. Trust in a source is often used as a proxy for whether a particular piece of information is credible. To determine preferences for information channels and trust in various sources for information on naturAuthorsEmily J. Wilkins, Holly M. Miller, Elizabeth Tilak, Rudy SchusterPotential human impacts of overlapping land-use and climate in a sensitive dryland: a case study of the Colorado Plateau, USA
Climate and land-use interactions are likely to affect future environmental and socioeconomic conditions in drylands, which tend to be limited by water resources and prone to land degradation. We characterized the potential for interactions between land-use types and land-use and climate change in a model dryland system, the Colorado Plateau, a region with a history of climatic variability and lanAuthorsStella M. Copeland, John B. Bradford, Michael C. Duniway, Rudy SchusterLandowner perceptions of three types of boating in the Saranac Lakes area of New York State׳s Adirondack Park
In order for natural resource managers to better understand conflicting landowner perspectives related to non-motorized, motorized, and personal watercraft use, this study examines the demographic and experiential characteristics, values, attitudes, and beliefs of landowners in the Saranac Lakes area of the Adirondack Park in New York State. A mixed-methods approach, composed of 20 in-depth intervAuthorsDiane Kuehn, Rudy Schuster, Erik NordmanSocial and Economic Analysis Branch: integrating policy, social, economic, and natural science
The Fort Collins Science Center's Social and Economic Analysis Branch provides unique capabilities in the U.S. Geological Survey by leading projects that integrate social, behavioral, economic, and natural science in the context of human–natural resource interactions. Our research provides scientific understanding and support for the management and conservation of our natural resources in supportAuthorsRudy Schuster, Katie D. WaltersRancher and farmer quality of life in the midst of energy development in southwest Wyoming
Quality of life (QOL) is usually defined as a person’s general well-being, and may include individual perceptions of a variety of factors such family, work, finances, local community services, community relationships, surrounding environment, and other important aspects of their life, ultimately leading to life satisfaction. Energy development can have an effect on QOL components for rural residenAuthorsLeslie Allen, Jessica Montag, Katie Lyon, Suzanna Soileau, Rudy SchusterClimate change collaboration among natural resource management agencies: lessons learned from two US regions
It has been argued that regional collaboration can facilitate adaptation to climate change impacts through integrated planning and management. In an attempt to understand the underlying institutional factors that either support or contest this assumption, this paper explores the institutional factors influencing adaptation to climate change at the regional scale, where multiple public land and natAuthorsChristopher J. Lemieux, Jessica Thompson, D. Scott Slocombe, Rudy SchusterA survey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees regarding topics for distance education-Summary report to respondents
This report provides a summary of responses to the questions included in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) Distance Education survey conducted from January 26, 2010, to February 8, 2010. The survey included questions for two studies sponsored by the Division of Education Outreach (DEO) at the NCTC. The first study identifies the topics of interesAuthorsJoan M. Ratz, Rudy M. Shuster, Ann M. MarcyConstraints to connecting children with nature--Survey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees sponsored by the National Conservation Training Center, Division of Education Outreach
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) names "connecting people with nature" as one of its top six priorities in the online Service Employee Pocket Guide. The National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) took the initiative to identify issues that impede greater progress in addressing constraints to connecting children with nature. The Division of Education Outreach at NCTC formed a working relaAuthorsJoan M. Ratz, Rudy M. SchusterThe effect of offering distance education on enrollment in onsite training at the National Conservation Training Center
The objective of this study was to explore the effect that providing distance education courses would have on enrollment in courses offered on the campus of the National Conservation Training Center. This is an exploratory study and the results should be interpreted as preliminary rather than conclusive. The study included two components: analysis of existing training-enrollment data for the timeAuthorsJoan M. Ratz, Rudy M. Schuster, Ann H. Marcy - News