Climate Adaptation Science Centers
About
The mission of the Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) is to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate. Our network is comprised of eight Regional CASCs, managed by the National CASC located at USGS headquarters in Reston, VA.
The mission of the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) is to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate. The domain of the CASC network covers the entire continental U.S., Hawai'i, the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, and the U.S. Caribbean.
The National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC), formerly named the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, was established by Congress in 2008. Housed within the USGS, NCASC was tasked with providing science to help managers of the country's fish and wildlife resources respond to the impacts of climate change. To meet this goal, NCASC established the 8 regional CASCs.
Each CASC is a collaborative arrangement between the USGS National CASC and a regional host university. Each CASC is reviewed on an annual basis, and a larger review is undertaken at the conclusion of each 5-year agreement. These requirements help ensure appropriate oversight of public resources and support USGS decisions regarding annual funding for and selection of new host institutions.