USGS Wester Region Center: Open House 2000
Program conducted by: U.S. Geological Survey

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey's Western Region Center in Menlo Park, CA has held public open houses every three years since 1985. Our most recent Open House 2000 was a multi-media event that attracted approximately 14,000 people over a period of 3 days, May 12, 13, and 14, 2000. May 12 was a special VIP and school preview day, and May 13 and 14 were open to the general public.

Multiple audiences were targeted. The event, open to the general public, attracted children and families, college students, teachers, neighbors, USGS cooperators, and scientists from nearby universities. The San Francisco Bay Area is not only a very large metropolitan area, but it's also home to Silicon Valley, the high tech-industry, two major universities, and a highly educated, well-informed populace. Bay Area residents typically seek out information, and are tuned into science and nature issues. We are filling a large demand for timely and accurate natural science information. The first day of the open house (Friday, 5/12/00) was by invitation only to local school groups, Congressional representatives, local government officials, and our own employees.

We wanted to show who we (USGS) are, what we do, and why we do it. This is our regular triennial event to give back to the community in a fun and educational manner. Our local community has not forgotten the 1994 threat to abolish the USGS, nor the 1997 threat to move us out of Menlo Park. Years later we still get regular inquiries about our continued existence. The open house is one visible reminder of our commitment to the community

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the USGS Western Region Center is on the leading edge of a major tectonic plate, and in a geologically active area. People have a need and desire to understand the natural processes at work all around us. The open house is a way for the USGS to share unfiltered information about local earthquakes, landslides, water pollution, and numerous other critical issues affecting the 9 million people living in the Bay Area.

We used every medium we could think of, in order to reach the widest audience possible. This multi-media extravaganza had something for everyone. During the event, there were hands-on activities and crafts for kids, poster displays (technical and non-technical), a video theater, laboratory tours, and music and dance performances. American Sign Language interpreters were available throughout the event, and led guided tours. The open house is a rare opportunity for the public to come see behind the scenes in a large government facility, and speak to research scientists face-to-face in a friendly informal setting. It is a way for the taxpayer to see first hand what we do.

The event included more than 250 exhibits, a printed program, passport, poster, a companion web site, http://openhouse.wr.usgs.gov, with most information online, and included both the presentation of A/V materials, and the creation of them as a record of the event.

The concept of a USGS open house began in Menlo Park, CA in 1985, and we've held them every three years since then. The successes of early open houses lead to the establishment of similar events in other USGS regional centers in Denver and Reston, VA. Questionnaires distributed to the attendees beginning in 1985, greatly influenced later open houses. Starting in 1997, we distributed a questionnaire to our own employees. Responses to the questionnaires, and countless anecdotal stories, led to the continued improvement of subsequent open houses. With little advertising, almost 20,000 people attend each three-day open house, many of them repeat visitors from past open houses. All year long we receive calls asking when the next open house is scheduled, and school groups are disappointed they have to wait three years for the next one.

We distributed a questionnaire to the public during the event, and received a written response from approximately 1-2% of the attendees. These questionnaire responses help us shape future outreach events, and always serve to cheer us on, because of the many positive comments we receive. The tremendous morale boost received by all the employees who participated was an unexpected result of the open house. The open house has further shaped many of our other outreach activities. For example, our evening public lecture series, evening hours in ESIC (map sales), and a new visitor center are all outgrowths of the open house.

Beginning as a humble one-day event in 1985, and growing to a mammoth three-day event attracting close to 20,000 people in 1997, the event has out grown us as an organization. Our largest cost is staff time and we have shrunk from around 2000 employees in 1985, to less than 750 employees in 2000. Our success has become an enormous burden in recent years. The huge amount of work involved in an event of this size has led us to reconsider doing another one of comparable scale. Instead we are considering conducting much smaller open-house-like events, more frequently. Instead of a huge open house every three years, involving virtually every employee and facility on campus, we will likely host smaller events focusing on a narrower subject matter, involving only one or two organizational units and buildings.

Budget
$100K materials and operating expenses
plus 13,800 staff hours

Contact
Leslie C. Gordon
Geologist/Education Coordinator
U.S. Geological Survey
345 Middlefield Road, MS 919
Menlo Park, CA 94025-3591
(650) 329-4006 voice
(650) 329-5125 fax
lgordon@usgs.gov

Web Site
http://openhouse.wr.usgs.gov

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Created: 5/18/2002
Last updated: 12/09/02
Contact: inquiries@nist.gov