OCS Scientific Committee
1999 Meeting Summary - Ocean Studies Board Presentation
Dr. Ken Brink, Chair of the Ocean Studies Board (OSB) gave a status report on OSB
ongoing and planned activities. The OSB was established by the National Research Council
to advise the federal government on issues of ocean science and policy. In addition to
exercising leadership within the ocean science community, the Board undertakes studies at
the request of Federal agencies, Congress or other sponsors, or upon its own initiative.
The Board explores the science, technology, policies and infrastructure needed to
understand and protect coastal and marine environments and resources. The Board normally
meets about three times per year, but much of the activity takes place in the form of
committees appointed especially to deal with particular studies. There are at least two
informal subgroups of the Board that normally have additional meetings: a group dealing
with fisheries and a newer group dealing with ocean engineering and technology.
With the redefinition of the former Marine Board, the Ocean Studies Board has taken a
much more active interest in more practical problems involving marine technology, the
petroleum industry, and coastal engineering, for example. One reflection of this will be
an increased membership on the Board of people from the marine engineering and technology
community.
Further, the Board will, of course, be taking on more studies along this line.
Currently, the Board is beginning a study on inputs of oil in the sea, and this effort
will likely be extended to include fates and effects. The Board is, in addition, actively
developing other technologically oriented studies that will likely be announced over the
coming months.
For more information, contact Julie Reynolds.
