Future of Field Stations and Marine Labs: Future of Field Stations and Marine Labs: Some Context for a Strategic Planning Effort:Some Context for a Strategic Planning Effort:

Supported by NSF, DBI-1126161 to Ian C. Billick (PI), Brian Supported by NSF, DBI-1126161 to Ian C. Billick (PI), Brian Kloeppel, Ivar G. Babb, James G. Sanders, Jo-Ann C. Leong. Kloeppel, Ivar G. Babb, James G. Sanders, Jo-Ann C. Leong.

OutlineOutline

• NSF – “Level Funding is the New Doubling”• Evolution of National Ocean Priorities• National Goals, Broadening Impacts &

Innovation

NSF Ocean Sciences FY 2012 RequestNSF Ocean Sciences FY 2012 Request

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DIVISION OF OCEAN SCIENCES (OCE) $384,640,000

OCE Funding +$35,720,000 / 10.2%

(Dollars in Millions)

FY 2010 Enacted/Annualized FY 2011

CRFY 2012Request 

OCE $348.92 $384.64Research 187.65 207.57 CAREER 2.50 2.80 Centers Funding (total) 4.00 9.00 Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction 4.00 4.00

Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations - 5.00Education 8.37 8.82Infrastructure 152.90 168.25 Academic Research Fleet 78.00 69.35

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program 43.40 45.40

Pre-Construction Planning (total) 2.00 2.00

Regional Class Research Vessels 2.00 2.00

Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) 16.50 35.70     

OCE Major Infrastructure InitiativesOCE Major Infrastructure Initiatives

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R/V Sikuliaq (formerly ARRV)HOV Alvin Upgrade

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

JOIDES Resolution near Honolulu, May, 2009

Source: COL website

Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI)Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI)

Multi-scale ocean observatory in Year 3 of construction

• $386.42M (NSF is the sole funding agency)

• 66 months of construction (Sept., 2009 start)

• $769.5M for construction and initial operations (end 2016)

• 25 years of planned operations

System of systems that will document, for 25-30 years, air-sea, water column and seafloor processes, across full ocean depths using the best available technologies

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MREFC & OOIMREFC & OOI

• Major Research and Equipment Facilities Construction (MREFC) account

• Created to fund facilities and instruments separate from research programs

• Congressional appropriations cut MREFC account far more than overall NSF budget

• FY 2011 requested level for OOI was $90 million; OOI received $65 million

• FY2012 total NSF request was $225 million with $103 million for OOI

• Conferenced at ~$170M, final amount for OOI TBD ~80M?

Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES)(SEES)

• Portfolio of activities spanning entire range of scientific domains at NSF• To advance science, engineering, and education to inform the societal actions needed for

environmental and economic sustainability and sustainable human well-being• Support interdisciplinary research and education for global sustainability• Build linkages in sustainability research enterprise• Develop a workforce trained in interdisciplinary scholarship

• SEES Opportunities• Sustainable Energy Pathways (SEP) (NSF11-590)• SEES Fellows (NSF11-575)• Sustainability Research Networks (NSF11-574)• Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) (NSF11-564)• Water, Sustainability and Climate (NSF11-551)• Research Coordination Networks (RCN) (NSF11-531)• Dimensions of Biodiversity (NSF11-518)• Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) (NSF10-612)• Decadal and Regional Climate Prediction Using Earth System Models (EaSM) (NSF10-554)• Climate Change Education (CCE): Climate Change Education Partnership (CCEP) Program

(NSF10-542)• Ocean Acidification (OA) (NSF12-500)• Earth Cube (NSF11-065)

Managing the TradeoffsManaging the Tradeoffs

NSF Priorities• Unsolicited disciplinary core science (e.g., phys, chem, bio, geo

oceanography)• Core infrastructure (e.g. ships)• Infrastructure for “BIG” science (e.g., IODP, OOI)• Targeted research in areas of special national or societal interest

(e.g., SEES)• Innovation, high risk, high return (e.g., OOI)• Human capital/workforce development (fellowships)• Education (COSEE)

• WE NEED A COMPELLING PRODUCT TO COMPETE WITH THESE PRIORITIES!

The Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes: The Ocean, Coasts and Great Lakes: A Decade of Raising Awareness and A Decade of Raising Awareness and

Priority SettingPriority Setting

• Pew Commission• US Commission on Ocean Policy• Ocean Research Priorities Plan v 1&2• NRC Ocean Infrastructure Report• National Ocean Policy

Pew Ocean Commission ReportPew Ocean Commission Report

Recommendations•Governance for Sustainable Seas •Restoring America’s Fisheries•Preserving Our Coasts•Cleaning Coastal Waters•Guiding Sustainable Marine Aquaculture

U.S. Commission on Ocean PolicyU.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

Critical Recommended Actions•Improved Governance •Sound Science for Wise Decisions•Education – A Foundation for the Future•Specific Management Challenges•Implementation – Ocean Policy Trust Fund

•Mandated by the Oceans Act of 2000•Over a year-long process•Report has 31 Chapters, 6 Appendices and over 200 recommendations

Ocean Research Priorities PlanOcean Research Priorities Plan

• Theme 1: Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Ocean Resources

• Theme 2: Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards

• Theme 3: Enabling Marine Operations• Theme 4: The Ocean’s Role in

Climate• Theme 5: Improving Ecosystem

Health• Theme 6: Enhancing Human Health

Ocean Research Priorities Plan (ORPP) Ocean Research Priorities Plan (ORPP) RefreshRefresh

• Currently SOST is in the process of refreshing these priorities

• Significant changes:• Strongly emphasizes ocean

acidification• Strongly emphasizes changing

conditions in the Arctic• Explicitly addresses research in the

context of the National Ocean Policy (NOP)

• Does not have near-term priorities

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NRC Infrastructure ReportNRC Infrastructure Report

Four Societal Drivers:

•Enabling Stewardship Of The Environment•Protecting Life And Property•Promoting Sustainable Economic Vitality•Increasing Fundamental Scientific Understanding

National Ocean PolicyNational Ocean Policy

National Goals and Broader National Goals and Broader ImpactsImpacts

The Competes Act (January, 2011) asks the NSF to apply the Broader Impact review criterion to achieve a number of national, societal goals including:•Increased economic competitiveness of the United States.•Development of a globally competitive STEM workforce.•Increased participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in STEM.•Increased partnerships between academia and industry.•Improved pre-K–12 STEM education and teacher development.•Improved undergraduate STEM education.•Increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology.•Increased national security.•Enhanced infrastructure for research and education, including facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships.

InnovationInnovation

Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter

Economic FutureEconomic Future• WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD AMERICA TAKE IN K–12 SCIENCE AND

MATHEMATICS EDUCATION TO REMAIN PROSPEROUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

• 10,000 Teachers for 10 Million Minds• A Quarter of a Million Teachers Inspiring Young Minds Every Day• Summer Institutes• Science and Mathematics Master’s Programs• K–12 Curricular Materials Modeled on World-Class Standards• Enlarge the Pipeline• Effective Continuing Programs• WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD AMERICA TAKE IN SCIENCE AND

ENGINEERING RESEARCH TO REMAIN PROSPEROUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

• Funding for Basic Research• Early-Career Researchers• Advanced Research Instrumentation and Facilities• High-Risk Research• Use DARPA as a Model for Energy Research• Prizes and Awards

Has the time come for a decadal survey Has the time come for a decadal survey approach to setting priorities for future approach to setting priorities for future

investments in oceanography? investments in oceanography?

“Brain Coral,” by Michael Yiran Ma, graduate student, Duke University