Dr. Stuart Goldberg Named First Frank M. Cushing Science Policy Fellow

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Consortium for Ocean Leadership is pleased to announce that Dr. Stuart Goldberg is the first recipient of the Frank M. Cushing Science Policy Fellowship.  

The annual Cushing Science Policy Fellowship provides marine science postdoctoral scholars and doctoral candidates the opportunity to be at the nexus of science and policy for one year in Washington, D.C., where Fellows lend their scientific expertise to the research and development of sound ocean policy, research and education initiatives.

Through 14 years of marine scientific research, Dr. Goldberg has developed expertise in the global carbon cycle, microbial ecology and ocean acidification areas.  He received his Ph.D. in marine biogeochemistry in 2008 from the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB).  While at UCSB, he studied marine microbial ecology and carbon cycling as a participant in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) U.S. Climate Variability (CLIVAR) Repeat Hydrography Program.  After completing his Ph.D., Stuart was awarded a two-year NSF-Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship at Scripps Institution of Oceanography to investigate terrestrial carbon loading, microbial dynamics and water quality related issues in Lake Tahoe, California.  In 2011, Dr. Goldberg returned to UCSB to study the effects that future ocean acidification may have on bacterial growth in the California Bight as a UC Ocean Acidification Consortium Postdoctoral Fellow.

The Cushing Science Policy Fellowship was started in honor of Frank M. Cushing, who was widely appreciated for his mentorship of young policy makers and for his willingness to spend time sharing his expertise, experience and influence with the science community.  Through this fellowship, Ocean Leadership aims to teach young ocean scientists how to navigate the inside-the-beltway political landscape that Frank negotiated so successfully, as well as to learn about the major contributions that he made to science.

“I am extremely honored and excited to be selected as the first Frank M. Cushing Science Policy fellow,” said Dr. Goldberg.  “As a scientist, I have coordinated and conducted scientific studies, so I am really looking forward to this unique opportunity to learn about how my science background can be used to help implement public policy.”

During this Fellowship, Dr. Goldberg will contribute to reports on the impacts of ocean acidification; monitor and report ocean-related legislation and committee hearings; analyze the impacts and effects of policy proposals on the academic oceanographic community; and act as a communicator for Ocean Leadership’s priorities to congressional staff, federal agency representatives and Ocean Leadership members and trustees.

“Ocean Leadership is pleased to welcome Dr. Goldberg to our Public Affairs Department,” said Kevin Wheeler, Vice President & Director, Public Affairs.  “His extensive knowledge of marine science will aid in our continued efforts to advocate for sound ocean policy.”

About Consortium for Ocean Leadership

Ocean Leadership is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that represents 102 of the leading public and private ocean research education institutions, aquaria and industry with the mission to advance research, education and sound ocean policy. The organization also manages, coordinates and facilitates ocean research and education programs in areas of scientific ocean drilling, ocean observing, ocean exploration and ocean partnerships.

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