Steven Sobieszczyk
About Steven Sobieszczyk
Steven Sobieszczyk is a Public Affairs Specialist currently working at the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of the Interior. He has extensive experience in hydrology, public information, and education, along with a background in various roles within government agencies and academia.
Work at U.S. Geological Survey
Steven Sobieszczyk has been employed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in various capacities since 2001. He currently serves as a Public Affairs Specialist, a role he has held since 2019. Prior to this position, he worked as an Outreach Hydrologist from 2011 to 2019 and as a Hydrologist from 2007 to 2011. His earlier roles at USGS included serving as a Geographer from 2003 to 2007 and as a GIS Specialist for one year in 2001-2002. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on natural hazards, sediment and erosion monitoring, and emergency management activities.
Education and Expertise
Steven Sobieszczyk holds a Master of Science in Geology from Portland State University, where he studied from 2007 to 2010. He also earned a certification in GIS from the same institution in 2005. His undergraduate studies include a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, completed in 2000, and a focus on Outdoor Education at Northland College from 1996 to 1998. His expertise encompasses hydrology, sediment monitoring, and flood forecasting research.
Professional Experience and Roles
In addition to his work at USGS, Steven Sobieszczyk has held various positions in related fields. He has been a Public Information Officer at the National Interagency Fire Center since 2018 and worked as a BAER Hydrologist and Public Information Officer at the U.S. Department of the Interior since 2020. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Portland State University from 2011 to 2017 and as a Public Speaking Consultant at Your Next BIG Speech from 2016 to 2020. His experience also includes a brief role as a Research Assistant at NASA in 1999.
Achievements and Contributions
Steven Sobieszczyk has contributed to various research initiatives, including publications on postfire debris flow hazards. He has been involved in emergency management activities at USGS and has experience in marketing and advertising, as well as river restoration. Sobieszczyk has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and is a certified wildland firefighter and licensed GIS professional. He is also a co-founder and Vice President of Content at Science Talk, where he has been active since 2016.
Additional Skills and Interests
Steven Sobieszczyk possesses a diverse skill set that includes public information expertise, IT proficiency, and experience as a mentor and coach. He hosts a podcast and is a writer, showcasing his communication skills. Additionally, he has interests in dancing, marathon running, and tabletop gaming as a dungeon master. Sobieszczyk is also working towards becoming a notary.