Program Update: Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel – August 2010
Filed under: Discovery,News & Resources,NOPP,Program Updates,Program Updates - National Oceanographic Partnership Program,Program Updates - Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel
The Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP) met on July 27-28 at the Alaska SeaLife Center, in Seward, Alaska. Mayor Willard Dunham greeted the group with a formal proclamation welcoming them to Seward.
ORRAP heard briefings on various high-priority topics related to Alaska and the Arctic, as well as additional briefings that covered the subject areas of ORRAP’s four subcommittees: ocean observing, education, industry interaction, and ocean acidification. ORRAP also focused significant attention on the role it could play in advising the federal agencies on activities and priorities related to the Gulf oil spill.
As their terms expired, five ORRAP members were recognized for their outstanding service on ORRAP and presented with commemorative plaques. Those members are Ms. Debra Hernandez (ORRAP Vice-Chair), Dr. Robert Cowen, Dr. Peter Betzer, Dr. Celia Smith, and Dr. Larry Robinson. The incoming class of new members was welcomed.
The meeting was also a special occasion to recognize a particular NOPP project for its exceptional embodiment of the central NOPP principle: partnership. The NOPP Excellence in Partnering Award was presented to Dr. Cameron Wobus, representing the project entitled, Toward a predictive model of Arctic coastal retreat in a warming climate, which based its work in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea. This award is given to a NOPP project that has exemplified the NOPP goals of partnering across industry, academia and government to promote the national goals of assuring national security, advancing economic development, protecting quality of life, and strengthening science education and communication through improved knowledge of the ocean. For further information on the project, please visit http://www.nopp.org/2010/nopp-announces-2009-excellence-in-partnering-award-winner/ .
Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center were exceptionally gracious hosts, and the NOPP Office wishes to commend them on their professionalism and first-class facility.
The next ORRAP meeting is set for December 8-9, 2010 at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. For all presentations and briefing materials from ORRAP meetings, please visit http://www.nopp.org/committees/orrap/orrap_meetings/.
