The Florida Integrated Science Center:
Leadership in Providing Science for the World

"The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life." In addition to the Survey's mission, the Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC) has a special mission to provide USGS science to Florida, the Southeastern States, the U.S. Caribbean, and elsewhere in the world. We are also leaders in seeking new and innovative ways to meet the critical need for sound, objective scientific information that can be applied to issues of local to international concern.

In May 2001 the Directors of the three Florida-based science units in Florida proposed a sharing of scientific resources and enlisted the help of the leadership of the USGS Eastern Region. In November 2002, the old units—the Center for Coastal Geology, the Florida Caribbean Science Center (Biology), and the Florida Water Resources District—were formally dissolved, and the "Florida Integrated Science Center" (FISC) was officially recognized.

Integration of the organization and its sciences continues, and is expected to go on well into the future. Although the FISC represents a new combination, each of its components provides the same high-quality disciplinary sciences offered by its predecessor organizations. What is new is an enhanced capability to apply our science in new combinations, providing more relevant and more insightful science when integrated efforts are called for.

Our goals are to build upon our excellence in the natural sciences by:

• Applying the full range of expertise needed to effectively address priority issues;
• Acquiring a more complete understanding of natural systems and their responses; and
• Providing the Nation with the science needed for informed decision-making.

Our role as a Federal science organization provides the opportunity to:

• Specialize in complex problems that may cross jurisdictions or other boundaries such as climate change;
• Marshal expertise in ways that for-profit organizations or universities cannot;
• Have long-term commitment to issues and tasks; and to
• Integrate results of diverse studies in ways to better inform decision-making on regulatory and policy issues.