Researchers with URI Ties Co-Author Report on The Next Decade of Ocean Science

Report emphasizes the greatest investment needs in ocean science research

KINGSTON, R.I. – Five researchers with ties to the University of Rhode Island contributed to a report that emphasized the vital need for the United States to invest in ocean science research, infrastructure, and workforce development to meet national and global challenges over the next decade or risk being left behind.

The report, titled Forecasting the Ocean: The 2025-2035 Decade of Ocean Science, was published by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on Feb. 20. It makes the compelling case that investing in core research in ocean science and upgrading and replacing infrastructure that supports ocean studies is critical for national security, economic competitiveness and prosperity, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of humans and the ecosystems on which they depend.

The 23 members of the committee that authored the report represent some of the leading research universities and organizations across the United States. 

Those with connections to URI included committee co-chair James Yoder, URI professor emeritus of oceanography, M.S. ’74, Ph.D. ’79, and dean emeritus of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Carlos Garcia-Quijano, a professor with a joint appointment at URI in anthropology and marine affairs; S. Bradley Moran, former oceanography professor at URI from 1993-2016 and current dean of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences; James Zachos, a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), who earned his Ph.D. in oceanography at URI in 1988; and Richard Murray, senior scientist emeritus and former deputy director and vice president for science and engineering at Woods Hole, who was a post-doctoral scholar at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography from 1991-1992.

“Our hope is that the report will help the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences set priorities on how it will spend funds to support research at academic institutions, as well as support infrastructure, such as research vessels and other equipment used to study ocean processes,” said Yoder. 

“Transdisciplinary mindsets, practices, and skill sets — including collaboration with scientists in other disciplines — will be key for this next decade of ocean science. This will require a research community that leverages both intellectual and financial resources to meet the urgent environmental, security, and societal needs of this time,” he added.

The 154-page report highlights the importance of three research themes: ocean and climate, ecosystem resilience, and extreme events.

“Understanding and anticipating change in the ocean, and how it will affect marine ecosystems and humans, has never been more urgent,” said committee co-chair H. Tuba Özkan-Haller, who is a dean and professor at Oregon State University’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. “Our report lays out a challenge for the research community to establish a new paradigm for ocean research that will provide forecasts to save lives and sustain livelihoods in the next decade.”

In addition to writing a report on the direction of ocean sciences, the committee was also tasked with comprising a report on scientific ocean drilling, titled, Progress and Priorities in Ocean Drilling: In Search of Earth’s Past and Future.

Yoder is the only member of the committee who also worked on the previous decade’s study. While he noted a more complicated statement of task for this study, Yoder credited the broad range of backgrounds and expertise of those on the committee for their success. “Serving on these committees provides us all an opportunity to meet new colleagues and to work with scientists from all parts of the United States,” he said.

Garcia-Quijano, an anthropologist who studies the dynamic and evolving relationship between people and their ecosystems, was honored to be selected for the committee. As the only social scientist on the committee, Garcia-Quijano was humbled and excited to contribute his perspective. Part of his work included moderating a panel discussion on urban seas.

“A lot of my contributions to discussions and the report were related to the task of connecting ocean research to issues of society, culture, cultural diversity, livelihoods, and overall human well-being,” he said. “Since ocean processes have an impact on climate and the health of ecosystems throughout the planet, this endeavor has implications for the well-being of all humans, as well as other living things.”

Zachos is a leader in the fields of paleoclimatology and paleoceanography. His research provides insights into the evolution and dynamics of Earth’s climatic and oceanographic systems. Besides playing a significant role in the ocean drilling report, Zachos shared his knowledge of ocean heat and carbon uptake.

“We need to improve the forecasts of the impacts of a rapidly warming planet on ocean dynamics, sea level, and marine ecosystems,” said Zachos. “With the rate of warming accelerating, there is a high probability of the climate system crossing a threshold within the next few decades. So, the next decade will be a critical period to maintain and expand observations of ocean dynamics in several key regions.”

Murray described working on the report as one of the highlights of his career.

“Working with such dedicated people on the committee for nearly two years and hearing from the nation-wide community was like brain candy,” said Murray. “It was a privilege to be in the company of experts from around the country and listen to their thoughtful perspectives.”

The 2025-2035 report was requested and sponsored by the National Science Foundation. As a call to action, the report challenges the National Science Foundation and the broader research community to establish a new paradigm for forecasting the state of the ocean at scales relevant to human well-being in the next decade.

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