OceAn science OceAn science OceAn science

Research to Operations
Translating research capabilities to operational status is a critical concern for the ocean
community, but its associated issues apply to science and industry across the board. Close
collaboration with private sector partners and identification of operational requirements is
key to the success of transitioning research. Additionally, successful transitions will build
on the tools and mechanisms of partnering (including with other research sectors outside
of the ocean community), translation, and workforce development, outlined above.
Ocean Education
A variety of efforts exist to promote and support ocean education. Some entities connect
ocean scientists with educators (e.g., Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence).
Others excel at introducing ocean-related concepts to the public (e.g., National Estuarine
Research Reserve System), while still others focus on community-based outreach. The
academic community is responsible for preparing a workforce with the interdisciplinary
capabilities and intercommunity knowledge required to address the ocean research
priorities. Coordination of education efforts at the local, state, and federal levels is key to
establishing an ocean-literate nation.
Understanding how ocean science research and resource management communities
can best contribute to improving formal education necessitates working in concert with
the Academic Competitiveness Council, a federal group tasked to develop an inventory
of federally funded science, technology, engineering, and mathematic (STEM)
education programs and evaluate the effectiveness of these programs. The Interagency
Working Group on Ocean Education, an entity under the auspices of the JSOST and
SIMOR, provides the ideal forum in which to enhance ocean education in conjunction
with broader national STEM efforts. These activities will also provide the foundation for
a coordinated effort to develop and promote a comprehensive education message about
the ocean and its role in the Earth system, and to enable the use of ocean-observing data
for management and educational purposes. Such an effort would also help ensure that
education-related translation efforts are more effective, that existing ocean science education
networks and their ties to regional collaborations are strengthened, and that these
individual activities are coordinated.
Developing the intellectual capital to pursue the research priorities requires an assessment
of the current technological and scientific (natural and social sciences) workforce to
understand gaps, surpluses, and critical skills. This baseline assessment will help identify
areas that need to be developed or enhanced to provide the necessary workforce, and provide
guidance to universities and other educational institutions about how best to prepare
students for current and future workforce demands. Efforts to develop and expand the
ocean science workforce include expanding opportunities for obtaining graduate degrees
and interdisciplinary training, including experience-based (“hands-on’) learning opportunities,
developing professional certification programs, and creating competitive incentives
to develop and establish training programs.
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