Geoscience Reference
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ORD scientists, although it supports several small but important programs in the
regions. . . . Program and regional offices manage their scientific workforces
relatively independently, with some organizations providing stronger support
than others.” Given the need for integrated, transdisciplinary, and solutions-
oriented research to solve 21st century environmental problems, the existing
structure focused on ORD as the “science center” that establishes the scientific
agenda of EPA will not be sufficient; ORD only makes up a portion of EPA's
scientific efforts, and more than three-fourths of EPA's scientific staff work
outside ORD (EPA SAB 2012b). When science integration or collaboration oc-
curs, it involves largely short-term needs and problems. Although ORD has sur-
veyed regional and program offices for science and data needs and it will be
necessary to continue to conduct regular and systematic assessments of regional
and program offices to inform its planning, the focus on ORD planning alone
will not be adequate to address science needs for 21st century challenges. As
noted above, the development of strategic, coordinated multiyear agency-wide
science integration plans, overseen by enhanced science leadership empowered
by the administrator, are critical for the agency to coordinate and deliver science
in and outside of the agency more effectively in the future. Such integrated plans
would also assist the agency in determining where resources outside the agency
may be used.
STRENGTHENING SCIENCE CAPACITY
Science flourishes where scientists flourish, and scientists flourish where
they have opportunities to work on interesting, challenging problems, interact
synergistically with colleagues, have an impact, and earn recognition for their
work. In seeking to strengthen its science capacity, EPA needs to attend to the
structure of its research operations; to attract, retain, and develop scientific talent
within the agency; to contribute to environmental-education efforts to build the
talent pool for the future; to support science outside the agency; and to ensure
that science is conducted with the utmost integrity. Those points are addressed
below.
Enhancing Expertise in the US Environmental Protection Agency
As discussed in Chapters 2 and 3, EPA will need to continue to be pre-
pared to address a wide array of environmental and health challenges and their
complex interactions. In some cases, the agency will need to advance scientific
understanding through inhouse research efforts; in others, it will need to assimi-
late and influence scientific efforts that are undertaken elsewhere. Strategic
workforce planning when hiring new staff will help to ensure that EPA has ex-
pertise it needs in critical fields. Equally important, EPA should carefully attend
to the challenge of continuing science education to ensure that scientists are pro-
ductive throughout their careers even as the pace of change in scientific tools,
techniques, and challenges increases.
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