The Beacon
Jane Lubchenco: NOAA's Ark?
There's big news for the oceans today: Obama is expected to name Jane Lubchenco, a professor of marine ecology, as the next head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Why is this such big news? Well, NOAA is the agency essentially in charge of marine issues. And Lubchenco is a conservationist who has focused much of her research on climate change and protecting ocean ecosystems. Needless to say, Oceana is applauding the appointment.
Oceana CEO Andy Sharpless had this to say: “The oceans desperately need a strong leader who will protect their long term vitality. We’re confident that as a distinguished marine scientist, Dr. Jane Lubchenco knows the urgency of the task and we congratulate her on this appointment. Time is short and she’s ready to start restoring ocean abundance on day one. We and all the fish in the sea are cheering her selection."
Lubchenco is a MacArthur "genius" fellow, as well as a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation. She is a distinguished scientist (member of the US National Academy of Sciences and former President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science) and currently professor at Oregon State University. She would be the first female head of NOAA.
In testimony before Congress last summer, she said the United States should consider a "National Park Service for the ocean."
