From the President’s Office – 8/31/09
Filed under: About,From The President's Office,News & Resources
As many of you know, I am very excited about the future of ocean science, but it is weeks like this one that really make a difference. I am happy to report that the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership have officially signed the Cooperative Agreement for the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) (http://www.oceanleadership.org/2009/ocean-observatories-initiativereceives-award). This project presents an unprecedented opportunity to advance our understanding of how the ocean works and interacts with the atmosphere and earth system. I recommend you take a look at the OOI web site (http://ooi.oceanleadership.org), where you will see how this project will allow significant advances to be made in answering the complex questions concerning the oceans role in climate change, ecosystem health, ocean acidification and the carbon cycle.
September is the first month where OOI is out of the concept and planning phases and onto the “Build It” phase! Years of planning the work have now transitioned to working the plan. Three Implementing Organizations are responsible for the component construction of the full network. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and their partners, Oregon State University and Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, are responsible for the Coastal and Global moorings and associated autonomous vehicles. the University of Washington is responsible for the cabled seafloor systems and associated
moorings on the Juan de Fuca plate, and the Cyberinfrastructure component is being implemented by the University of California at San Diego. Even though the OOI Project Team is building the system,
everyone ─ from scientists to citizens ─ will own and have access to the resultant data. There are tremendous opportunities here, so we encourage you to learn how to become involved as the system
takes shape over the next few years.
The OOI would not have happened without the vision and support of the ocean science community and the dedication and leadership of the National Science Foundation. Ocean Leadership would like to thank
all of those individuals who have contributed time and effort to the OOI process over the past few decades – as this has been a long time in coming. We are very excited to be a part of this huge endeavor that will transform the field of ocean research and education in ways that were only a vision a few years ago.
Have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend.
Bob
