FROM THE PRESIDENT. Oceanographers as Masons

Abstract

Earlier this spring, Eileen Hofmann (Old Dominion University) and I were asked by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership to participate in the drafting of a consensus statement regarding the critical role of ocean sciences in responding to climate change. The European Marine Board and Ocean Leadership are partners in the development of this statement, which will be delivered at the fifth European Marine Board Forum next October at the European Parliament. The statement is intended to “highlight the key role of the ocean in climate regulation and climate change, as well as the impacts of climate change in the marine environment and associated socioeconomic consequences; emphasize the key role of marine science in guiding the societal response to climate change; and identify and communicate the key research priorities in the scope of ocean and climate which should be supported.” A tall task, particularly for those of us trained as research oceanographers.

Keywords

• ocean sciences
• ocean leadership
• ocean communication