NSTC Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST)

Guiding National Ocean Research Investment: Public Workshop for the Development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan

The NSTC Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST) held a public workshop on April 18-20, 2006 in Denver, CO sponsored by the 24 agencies comprising the JSOST. The goal of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for ocean science communities to interact and provide guidance on the development of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan (ORPP).

The workshop focused on key aspects of the ORPP. Seven thematic areas were developed from societal needs: quality of life, human health, natural hazards, living and non-living resources, ecosystem health, the ocean's roles in climate variability and change, and marine transportation and security. Cross-cutting topics were also developed including enhancing basic understanding of the ocean, observations and infrastructure, and ocean education. The workshop provided a forum for participants to address common research needs and provide input on the establishment of national ocean research priorities.

Workshop participants included representatives from academic institutions, private industry, non-governmental organizations, and state and federal governments.

The Welcome address (pdf, 1.9 Mb) was delivered by JSOST co-chairs Dr. Richard Spinrad (NOAA), Dr. Margaret Leinen (NSF), and Dr. Teresa Fryberger (OSTP).

A Keynote address (pdf, 38 Kb) was delivered by Admiral James Watkins (USN, ret.), Joint Ocean Commission Initiative and former Chair of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.

Workshop Agenda (pdf, 29 Kb)

Ocean Research Priorities Plan Development Breakout Session Presentations

The synthesis presentations developed during the workshop for each cross-cutting and societal theme are provided below. These presentations represent working synthesis statements generated from discussions in each theme breakout session. The documents represent general points of agreements rather than final consensus statements or complete reports. They were supplemented by additional information provided by the breakout session synthesis presenter and by comments generated during a follow-on question and answer period. These presentations do not represent the entirety of topics discussed during the breakout sessions. These documents are provided to allow those commenting on the Priorities Plan to be aware some of the general points of agreement.

Cross-Cuts

Themes