The mission of the US Geological Survey’s National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC) is to provide managers, policy-makers, and other stakeholders with information and decision-making tools to respond to effects of climate change on natural resources. In support of this goal, the NCASC has supported exceptional mentoring experiences for graduate students from select partner institutions in developing policy-relevant products related to managing climate change impacts on fish, wildlife, and/or ecosystems. For many graduate students conducting research on the impacts of climate change on natural resources, disseminating results of their research to managers, policy-makers, or other stakeholders is not required as part of training they may receive from their academic institutions. Consequently, results of their research that could directly aid in developing adaptation strategies may go unused by stakeholders most in need of such information. This project has supported a mentoring experience that attempts to address that limitation. Students chosen for the experience have been paired with mentors from the NCASC network. Together with their mentors, the students developed projects that have enhanced their graduate research results and that have ensured that results have been shared with stakeholders who may benefit from such information. Students also received additional benefits from the mentoring experience including gaining exposure to the NCASC, its approach to supporting scientific research, and its dedication to providing needed information to natural resource managers, policy-makers, and other stakeholders. Students have also enhanced their professional networks through this experience, and they have learned effective strategies for ensuring that results of their scientific research will be used.
