ONW: Week of February 1, 2010

CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR

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HOUSE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE DISCUSSES STRENGTHENING OF UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STEM EDUCATION

The House Science and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Research and Education continued the conversation on STEM education this Thursday, focusing on the steps that are needed to better our nation’s education system’s dedication to teaching and preparing Americans for STEM oriented careers. Members of the panel, including Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy of NSF, stressed that we need to take a more scholarly approach to promoting STEM education and facing the challenge of making it more wide spread and institutionalized. Discussion also proposed that NSF funding should increase the incorporation successful education and broader impact requirements in its incentives and funding. Mr. Rick Stephens of the Boeing Company also made sure to point out the importance of the negative portrayal of scientists in the media and society, stating that we must work to turn around this culture. Representative Bob Inglis (R-SC) followed up by detailing how useful his trip to Antarctica was for encouraging high school students about the sciences, stating that we must not only present science better in the media, but that we must present its education to students as our patriotic duty. “Just last week in the State of the Union address, the president spoke about the need to encourage American innovation,” added Congressman Daniel Lapinski (D-IL). “I couldn’t agree more, and one of the most effective ways to support innovation is to invest in STEM education. This investment will allow the scientists, engineers and innovators of the future to be well equipped to help keep the U.S. economy growing and our population employed in high wage jobs.”

PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCES HIS FISCAL YEAR 2011 BUDGET

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Some key findings in the budget request include:

Support for the operation of the Academic Research Fleet decreases by $3.0 million from the FY 2010 estimate. Construction funding for the replacement human occupied submersible is ramping down in accordance with plans.
Operations support for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is planned to increase in FY 2011, allowing enhanced investment in downhole instrumentation to study the deep, sub-seafloor biosphere, in partnership with a private foundation.
Operations support for the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), being constructed through the MREFC account, will increase significantly in FY 2011 in order to prepare for the maintenance of in-water assets being deployed in FY 2012.
In FY 2011, OCE will emphasize research on environmental sustainability, including marine biodiversity and the impact of increased atmospheric CO2 on ocean acidification, construction of the NCAR Wyoming Supercomputer ($8.20 million in FY 2011) and ramping up operations and maintenance for the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI).

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Factors Influencing the Allocation Across OCE Programs:

OCE gives high priority to participating in NSF’s SEES program, including ocean acidification, addressing the role of the oceans in climate change, the integration of marine ecosystem models with climate change models, interactions between warming oceans and ice-sheets, and integrated social and natural science models of our coasts. Building the next generation computational capacity at the NCAR Wyoming supercomputer to advance such research is a new and high priority for OCE.
Under ARRA, construction of OOI began in FY 2009, with a contract to lay a cable of the Pacific Northwest and development of prototype instrumentation for highly capable tethered moorings. In FY 2011, OOI operations and maintenance costs will ramp up to allow mooring infrastructure and instruments for post-construction use to be built in parallel with construction to maximize savings on later operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. First data flow from an OOI mooring is expected in FY 2013. Increased funds are requested for the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, to allow enhanced investment in downhole instrumentation to study the deep, sub-seafloor biosphere, in partnership with a private foundation.
Despite significant investments in new enabling technology and infrastructure, research support will also grow modestly. Emphases will include the Dynamic Earth and climate change, incorporating topics highlighted in the interim report of the National Ocean Policy Task Force, such as changing ocean-ice interactions, the impact of climate change on the oceans and vice-versa, the impact of ocean acidification, and dynamics of marine ecosystems.
OCE will continue its partnership with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on programs such as the Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization and with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences on Oceans and Human Health.
In FY 2011, OCE will complete a full-scale assessment of the Academic Research Fleet. This assessment includes: a recently completed National Research Council (NRC) study on the fleet of the future sponsored by Office of Naval Research (ONR) and NSF; the impact of Navy decisions regarding ocean class ships on fleet size; and systematic inspections on each ship by OCE staff together with NSF contractors to determine the potential to extend ship life in science- and cost-effective ways. The apparent reduction in fleet support is related to the conclusion of planned funding for the replacement human occupied vehicle. Additional information on the academic research fleet is contained in the Facilities chapter.
In FY 2011, OCE will receive the results of an NRC study evaluating the impact of scientific ocean drilling on the geosciences and assessing a new Science Plan, developed by the international community, for a possible new ocean drilling program post-FY 2013.
Increasing ocean and earth system literacy for the general public, enhancing the diversity of the ocean sciences, and supporting the development of a technologically savvy work force remain a priority, as reflected in the increases requested for education activities.
GEO will continue to invest in Ocean Research Priority Plan (ORPP) near-term activities in FY 2011 with the Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization (CAMEO) program and Atlantic Meridianal Overturning Circulation (AMOC) investments being comparable to FY 2010, up to $5.0 million and $4.0 million, respectively. Investment in sensors is expected to be approximately $3.0 million in FY 2011, up from zero in FY 2010. Support for the longer-term ORPP priority of Ocean Acidification will be up to $8.0 million in FY 2010 and FY 2011.

$6.77M and 9FTE to develop an agency-wide capability to conduct and support comprehensive Coastal and Marine Spatial Panning in US waters.
$9.5M to develop and improve sensors for ocean chemical, biological, and physical parameters at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Priority consideration will be given to efforts that have applicability to ocean acidification, HABs and issues pertaining to oceans and human health.
$20M to establish a competitive grants program to support regional ocean partnerships to advance effective ocean management through regional ocean governance.
$1.5M to support the development of a new NOAA Climate Services Portal Program to provide public access to climate data, information and services.
$32.8 M increase and 21 FTE for competitive research programs (earth system models, climate assessments, carbon observing system, arctic watch, and global ocean observing system)
$7.67 M increase to perform research, development and implementation for Integrated Water Resource Services
$4.7 M increase for two new Sea Grant initiatives (marine aquaculture & helping coastal communities prepare and respond to natural hazards)
$6.1 M increase and 3 FTE to implement a NOAA Integrated Ocean Acidification Initiative (new technologies, ecosystem monitoring systems, models, & research)
$11 M and 2FTE to transform raw satellite data into unified and coherent long-term environmental climate observations and products
$62.5 M increase for the GOES-R Series to provide continued satellite engineering development
$30 M increase for the continued development of the Jason-3 satellite altimetry mission
$678.6 M increase for Joint Polar Satellite System (formerly NPOESS) to continue development of the instruments and spacecraft.
$49.9 M increase to restore the NPOESS climate sensors that were removed during (CERES, TSIS, OMPS)
$7.4 M increase for Fleet Capital Improvements

Given that the Satellite procurement programs have such a tremendous influence on the NOAA budget – below is an out-year profile for some notable programs ($ in millions):

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The apparent cuts in the Navy 6.2 and 6.3 accounts are primarily a function of earmarks not being included in the budget request.

NASA plans to re-fly the Orbiting Carbon Observatory and accelerate development of new earth observing satellites
Budget enhances climate change modeling capabilities to enhance forecasts of regional and other effects
Expands and accelerates Venture-class competitive PI-led missions
Launches Aquarius (sea surface salinity), NPP (polar), and Glory (aerosols) missions
Proceeds towards completion and launch of GPM (global precipitation) and LDCM (land-sat) missions.

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Department of Interior’s High-Priority Performance Goal for climate change adaptation is to identify areas and species most vulnerable to climate change and begin implementing comprehensive adaptation strategies by the end of 2011.
Interiors Climate Change Adaptation initiative is provided with a $35.4 million funding increase
- Including $8 million for the USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, which will serve as the nexus for eight science centers
- $9 million for expanding monitoring in USGS and FWS
- $2 million for expanding USGS carbon sequestration project
USGS Landscape and Coastal Assessments program funding is increased by $4 million for marine spatial planning and the geospatial modernization effort.

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