Summary Ask-A-Geologist is an online virtual help desk designed to provide answers to geologically based questions. Submitted questions are answered by one of several USGS employees, retirees, and contractors who to participate in the project. The participating scientists have varying degrees of experience and include such titles as geologist, hydrologist, cartographer, and ... technician. Questions are answered by any one of the scientists who may or may not be the field specialist. Approximately 45% of all questions are answered within a few days and most other questions receive an automated reply of regret.
Sample questions and answers are povided in the "example" link yet there is no FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page. Ask-A-Geologist recommends that users search for answers from the search USGS web site (http://search.usgs.gov/) before submitting a question. Another useful site of information is the "USGS Science Challenge". It is linked from the Ask-A-Geologist page and contains a collection of questions and answers addressing Earth and Planetary Science topics. Questions on this site cover science disciplines such as volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, rocks and minerals, hydrology, biology, and cartography.
Users are encouraged to include a return e-mail address in the body of their message. Ask-A-Geologist scientists cannot answer student test question or provide reports. Personal location and financial questions are also not answered. You should receive a reply in a few days -- but we can't reply to every message. We answer about 45% of incoming messages.
Answers are not official policy of the USGS or the United States Government, are not reviewed or guarenteed for correctness or consistency. Questions requiring official answers should not be sent to Ask-A-Geologist.
Name:
REX
SANDERS
Phone:
(831) 427-4755
Fax:
(831) 427-4748
Email:
rsanders at usgs.gov
Contact Address:
USGS Pacific Science Center
400 Natural Bridges Drive City:
Santa Cruz
Province or State:
California
Postal Code:
95060
Country:
USA
Distribution Media
Distribution_Media:
electronic
Distribution_Format:
html
Personnel
TYLER
B.
STEVENS Role:
SERF AUTHOR
Phone:
(301) 614-6898
Fax:
301-614-5268
Email:
Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Global Change Master Directory City:
Greenbelt
Province or State:
MD
Postal Code:
20771
Country:
USA
Related URL
Link:
VIEW RELATED INFORMATION
Description:
Science Challenge Questions and Answersby Carol Lawson and Mary Ellen Lazarus
Open File Report Number: 98-507-A.
A collection of 196 questions and answers addressing Earth and Planetary
Science topics. Questions cover science disciplines such as volcanoes,
earthquakes, hydrology, biology, minerals and cartography. It is intended for
general audiences.
Creation and Review Dates
SERF Creation Date:
1999-12-08
SERF Last Revision Date:
2007-02-23