CORE Weekly Report for 12/21/98
Available by subscription to
CORE Member Institutions
CORE Website: http://core.cast.msstate.edu
Number #184
To: CORE Institutions
From: Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret.)
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS
* Democrats in the House of Representatives last week announced a number of new Committee assignments for the 106th Congress. While this list will not be completed until early next year, some key appointments are as follows:
* Last week CORE, in conjunction with the University of Washington, hosted a Congressional staff cruise and briefing aboard the University of Washington's R/V Thomas G. Thompson. Staffers from the Washington Congressional Delegation as well as the House Committees on Science and Resources spent two days aboard the R/V Thompson as UW scientists and students collected data for use in the Puget Sound Regional Synthesis Model (PRISM). The staffers had the opportunity to observe a working ocean research cruise and discuss the practical applications of that research and its integration in the marine policy decision-making process with the PI's and representatives of the Washington State government.
The staffers, who work on a broad range of issues, from science to fisheries to education, also toured the University of Washington's research facilities; discussing the implications of Federal support for university research and ongoing projects with the faculty and staff of the Oceanography School, the Applied Physics Lab, and the Departments of Aeronautics & Astronautics, and Computer Science & Engineering.
NATIONAL OCEAONOGRAPHIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
* The Ocean Observations Task Team (OOTT), which was formed to respond to a request from Congressmen Saxton and Weldon to the National Ocean Research Leadership Council (NORLC) for an integrated ocean observations plan, met at the CORE offices on Tuesday, 15 December 1998. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss final revisions to the full plan that has been drafted. The OOTT completed their revisions and co-chairs Worth Nowlin, Texas A&M University, and Tom Malone, University of Maryland, provided the draft plan to the NOPP Interagency Working Group in time for consideration at their meeting on Friday, 18 December 1998. This plan will be reviewed by the NOPP member agencies and any significant issues with the plan will be communicated to the task team co-chairs.
The new version will be provided to the IWG and the Ocean Research Advisory Panel of NOPP by 4 January 1999. The plan and comments from the ORAP and member agencies will be considered at the NOPP IWG meeting on 15 January 1999. The final plan is due to Congress by 19 February 1999 after review and approval by the NOPP NORLC.
**REMINDER**
* The Letters of Intent to Propose to the FY99 NOPP Broad Agency Announcement are due to ONR by TODAY, 21 December 1998. Letters may be submitted electronically to noppbaa@onr.navy.mil.
* The principal investigators (PIs) and representatives of the five marine educational projects funded in FY '97 and FY '98 (see "Topic D" at http://core.cast.msstate.edu/NOPPpg102.html) met to discuss the future of marine science education through the National Oceanographic Partnership Program on December 9, 1998. The main thread that emerged during the discussion was the need to nurture a stable national infrastructure for marine science education in the United States. Three recommendations that emerged from the discussion are as follows:
1) NOPP should take a leadership role in the nation's marine science education efforts by supporting a national infrastructure for marine science education.
2) Linking ocean research and educational outreach is desirable, with certain caveats.
3) NOPP funding for individual projects needs to be extended to 3 to 5 years (instead of 2 years) in order for the initial investment by NOPP not to be lost.
These points were provided to the IWG in a written summary last week.
AGENCY NEWS
* On Monday, December 14, Minerals Management Service (MMS) Director Quarterman tendered her written resignation as Director of MMS to Secretary Babbitt. Her resignation is effective mid-February, 1999. She gave no specific reason for leaving but simply cited "pursuit of new career opportunities."
CORE NEWS
* As a result of Rick Spinrad's pending departure, CORE is seeking a highly qualified scientist, with established scientific leadership and management skills, to fill the vacancy of Executive Director, Ocean Research and Education. Review of applications is expected to begin 5 January and continue until the position is filled. The ad for this position can be accessed on CORE's homepage.
* The National Ocean Sciences Bowl has over 260 teams already registered at the 18 sites around the country. The tally represents a 33% increase in number of teams participating compared to last winter. Texas A&M and University of Southern Mississippi both have the highest number of teams --28-- registered for their Bowls in late February; Harbor Branch and University of Miami are a close second with 24 teams registered. Some sites are still accepting registration materials so this tally may be higher before long. As final rosters for each regional competition are made available to CORE, we will send out letters to Congressional delegates, who represent the teams' districts, to invite them to attend the regional competition in their area in February. CORE institutions that are hosting a regional competition will be made aware of this fact once we have sent the letters.
* As you know, we have been soliciting endorsements of a letter (drafted by CORE's Board of Governors) in support of enhanced ocean observation from CORE institutions and friends. To date, we have received 413 "signatures" from CORE members. Last week, we extended special recognition to Scripps Institution of Oceanography (now with 46 signatures), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (35), Oregon State University (22), the University of Washington (22), the College of William and Mary (VIMS) (19), the University of Hawaii (18), and Florida Atlantic University (18).
New members to join this elite group include the University of Rhode Island (surging to 43!), the University of Alaska (18), and the University of California at Santa Cruz (15). These 10 institutions (19% of CORE's 53 members) have accounted for 62% of CORE members' responses.
Our goal is 1,000 signatures (overall, we've passed the halfway mark with over 540), which we hope to reach before release of the President's FY2000 budget in February. If you have not responded and wish to review the letter, it can be accessed both on CORE's homepage and under "What's New". Endorsements should be sent to ssparks@brook.edu with a short statement of your approval and your name, position, and institution.
Any further assistance that you and your institution can provide would be greatly appreciated.
* Megan Kelly, a senior at the University of South Carolina, arrived on December 15 to begin a brief internship with CORE. She will be assisting Sarah Schoedinger and Amy Lorenzen on the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB).
* Updating our mailing list: If anyone at your institution wants to receive our Weekly Reports but currently does not do so, please send their e-mail address to Scott Sparks at ssparks@brook.edu. New additions to the list are advised that the Weekly Report should not be distributed outside of the CORE Institutions.
CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR
CALENDAR OF CORE EVENTS
* 2/1-5/99 - American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
Aquatic Sciences Conference in Santa Fe (http://www.aslo.org/santafe99/navigation.html).
CORE will have a booth and will participate in several sessions.