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Plan Update
A successful effort to coordinate research nationwide must have adequate flexibility to address
emerging challenges and take advantage of opportunities provided by scientific and
technological breakthroughs, while providing the context that comes from the development
of a long-term perspective.
The federal agencies, through the JSOST, will annually review the national ocean
research priorities as part of the ongoing interagency planning and coordination activities
undertaken by the COP groups. This annual review of the ocean research priorities will
include the near-term implementation steps for the COP groups to address the priorities
(both near-term and long-term). Near-term priorities (2–5 years) will be refreshed
approximately every 5 years. On an intermediate frequency (~3 years), the JSOST (in
cooperation with the SIMOR) will hold “consultation” workshops with major non-federal
sponsors, participants, and end users of ocean science and technology development to
identify opportunities to enhance the impact of federal research through strategic partnerships.
The JSOST will conduct a formal review of the broad, national ocean research
priorities every five years in a manner consistent with the development of the current
report (e.g., internal assessments, public workshops, public-comment periods, outreach
efforts). Such a frequency would allow long-term (decadal) priorities to be revisited and
possibly revised. This update will also include a review of the implementation mechanism
on the part of the federal government and an assessment of the success of the implementation
of the priorities. An external review of the updated priorities and implementation
mechanisms for the federal agencies and federal partners will also occur at this time.
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