Leon M. Carl, who holds three degrees from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, this week became the Midwest regional executive for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
In his new position, Carl is responsible for meeting the diverse research needs of USGS science and research partners, which are housed in 11 science centers across three disciplines. A six-year USGS veteran, he previously was director of the Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor. He also serves in adjunct faculty positions at SNRE and Michigan State University.
One of his first initiatives will be leading the Midwest region in exploring the effects of mining - both legacy and new - on the environment. "The USGS reorganized its field offices on geographic lines to enhance a multidisciplinary large-scale approach to solving societal questions related to natural resources," Carl said. The work on the mining project will be one of the first tests of this new collaborative model. "We will consult with our partners extensively on their needs and then outline what major science issues we can work with our partners on."
As part of his duties, Carl manages 11 science centers: the six Water Science Centers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky; three biology centers; the Eastern Region Minerals Teams; and the Eastern Region Energy Team. Last year, the centers and teams had a combined budget of more than $85 million and employed more than 750 people.
Carl earned his bachelor's in 1974, his master's in 1976 and his doctoral degree (in Fisheries Biology, Fisheries Management) in 1980. During his doctoral studies, he received a doctoral fellowship from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. He later received a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council post-doctoral fellowship to work with the Pacific Biological Station in British Columbia, Canada.
Earlier in his career, Carl managed the trout stocking program for the Alberta, Canada, Fish and Wildlife Division. From there, he moved to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to serve first as coordinator of Inland Lakes Research, later as a research scientist and then as director of the Watershed Science Centre of Trent University in Ontario.
He has served on several councils and chaired workshops and working groups related to fisheries and natural resources. Currently, he is a member of the Council of Great Lakes Research Managers; the Council of Great Lakes Fishery Managers; and the Cooperative Science Initiative, Bi-national Executive Committee. He has authored more than 40 papers related to the ecology and management of a variety of fish species.
The USGS is a science organization with no management or regulatory authority, but which is known for providing unbiased information in the natural sciences. Its operations nationally are categorized under four divisions. The Geology Division provides earthquake and volcano warning information as well as estimates of oil and mineral reserves in the United States. The Water Division provides real-time flood warnings, water availability estimates and water quality data. The Biology Division includes the Great Lakes Science Center, which does cutting-edge research on the Great Lakes. That division is also involved in diverse science such as polar bears, VHS and avian influenza. And the Geography Division provides maps for the nation as well as Landsat images.
About the United States Geological Survey
The 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. As the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. The diversity of our scientific expertise enables us to carry out large-scale, multi-disciplinary investigations and provide impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers.
http://www.usgs.gov/
About the School of Natural Resources and Environment
The School of Natural Resources and Environment's overarching objective is to contribute to the protection of the Earth's resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. Through research, teaching, and outreach, faculty, staff, and students are devoted to generating knowledge and developing policies, techniques and skills to help practitioners manage and conserve natural and environmental resources to meet the full range of human needs on a sustainable basis.
http://www.snre.umich.edu/