Geology Scientist Emeritus Program

Geologic Discipline Scientist Emeritus Program Policy Statement

Introduction

The GD Scientist Emeritus Volunteer Program is an important element in the U.S. Geological Survey’s service to the Nation. It allows individuals to contribute their time and wisdom to enhance U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) programs and to serve the public in various ways.

The purpose of the Scientist Emeritus Program is for retired USGS senior scientists/experts to volunteer their expertise, intellect, and creativity in efforts that allow them to remain active in the geoscience community, enhance the programmatic activities of the Geologic Discipline, and serve the public.

The SE Program, which is part of the Volunteer for Science Program as defined in Chapter 500.23 of the Survey Manual, is open to all scientists and technical experts who have demonstrated leadership qualities and contributed to the goals of the USGS during a productive career. As long as the individual applying has been a scientist or technical expert, the series, grade or title will not prohibit that individual from being considered for the SE Program. Those who don’t qualify for the SE Program should consider becoming part of the USGS Volunteer for Science Program.

Volunteers can contribute to the USGS in many ways:

Continue scientific investigations and complete products
Start new areas of research that are of importance to the USGS and the Nation
Provide expertise in support of USGS projects and programs
Provide seasoned counsel to managers and individual scientists
Mentor current or new employees and students
Provide an institutional memory within the Federal Government
Contribute to professional societies
Serve on scientific advisory committees
Review scientific manuscripts
Provide outreach to community groups about USGS activities and topics related to the scientist’s expertise

Categories of Scientists Emeriti

The Scientist Emeritus program includes two categories: Scientist Emeritus and Scientist Emeritus - Honorary.

Scientist Emeritus

Most Scientists Emeriti will be associated with teams and address priority issues established through the leadership of the supporting Program and Team. Scientists Emeriti can remain as active project members in order to complete publications or conduct project-specific work. They will be assigned to specific projects and will work on agreed upon tasks in BASIS+ projects.

They will be active members of the project team and will be encouraged to participate in meetings and project activities. Scientists Emeriti may also pursue activities such as outreach, staff support to management, library assistance, or overseeing a special project. They may also complete work from the past (experimental, mapping, interpretive) that is no longer associated with a project or new work that does not fit into an existing project.

Scientist Emeritus – Honorary

This category is reserved for scientists who have had long, distinguished careers with the USGS but who are now less involved in USGS science activities. Such SE will be assigned to an organizational unit based upon their geographic location and will receive some limited resources, such as access to a phone, email, and the internet.

Funding

The USGS routinely provides Scientists Emeriti with office space, a computer, and a telephone. Scientist Emeritus funding may come from different sources depending upon the work being completed by the Scientist Emeritus. Emeriti may receive support from their teams or on-going scientific projects or, if SE activities are outside the team/project level, from the Regions or Programs. It is possible that a Scientist Emeritus may receive funding from several sources, including the Bradley Scholar Program. Funding and other resource needs are evaluated on a yearly basis.

Scientists Emeriti are encouraged to talk to project chiefs, Team Chief Scientists as well as Program Coordinators for continued funding of their work. Most successful funding tends to be through on-going scientific projects. Team Chief Scientists are encouraged to provide $2,000-$3,000 annually to scientifically active, otherwise unfunded, Scientists Emeriti on their Teams.

The Bradley Scholar Program, http://geology.usgs.gov/Emeritus/bradley/index.shtml, provides up to $5,000 per Scientist Emeritus each year to fund legacy work or new research not funded through existing projects.

SE Guidelines

Uniform procedures and standards are used to administer the Scientist Emeritus Program. Regulations applying to the Volunteer for Science Program (Survey Manual, 500.23, dated 11/4/87) and the Volunteer for Science Program Handbook, 500-23-H (5/2000) also apply to the Scientist Emeritus Program. Volunteers are required to record the hours they work for the USGS.

Admission

Retiring or retired USGS scientists or technical experts may apply to the Scientist Emeritus Program by completing the online version of the USGS Individual Volunteer Services Agreement Form 9-2080 . Please discuss your plans with your Team Chief Scientist and review the guidance [http://geology.usgs.gov/Emeritus/se_agree/index.shtml] before completing the agreement form.

Annual Progress Review

Scientist Emeritus accomplishments from the previous fiscal year MUST be included in the next year’s volunteer form in Section 4 . For continuing appointments, the TCS or TCS designee will sit down with the Scientist Emeritus and discuss the contents of the form by means of an Annual Checklist . This discussion should result in a shared understanding of the Scientist Emeritus’ needs and what the cost center is able to provide.

Conduct and Ethics Issues

Scientists Emeriti are expected to follow ethics rules applicable to their status and position. Written agreement to abide by the Ethics Rules for Scientists Emeriti is an expected "condition of acceptance" into the Emeritus Program and continued adherence to them is a “condition of continuation” in the Emeritus Program.