Call for Nominations
Executive Steering Committee for the Ocean Research Interactive Observatory Network (ORION)
The Ocean Research Interactive Observatory Network (ORION) program, which includes the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), is a new initiative being developed by the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences to establish a network of research-driven ocean observatories in order to facilitate fundamental research on a wide range of fundamental questions in the ocean sciences. The ORION program is presently forming an Executive Steering Committee (ESC) that will be the principal body giving and coordinating advice to the ORION Project Office on a wide range of scientific, technical and administrative issues. The Executive Steering Committee will also play a primary role in developing subsidiary ORION committees that will address more specific observatory issues. During 2004-2005, the ORION Project Office will 1) develop an Observatories Science Plan and an Implementation Plan, 2) facilitate continued design and engineering efforts, 3) create education and outreach efforts. These activities are in preparation for the OOI, a major investment in observatory infrastructure that has been proposed for funding through NSF’s MREFC account. The ESC must possess a broad range of scientific and technical knowledge, and it will be assembled with consideration of representation of different sectors of the ocean observatories community. Initial appointments to the ESC will be for two years.
The National Science Foundation has recommended that the 1201 Group, LLC govern the ORION OOI Project Office. The 1201 Group, LLC is a newly formed partnership of JOI (Joint Oceanographic Institutions) and CORE (Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education). The ORION office will be co-located with these two organizations in Washington, D.C., and headed by Dr. Ken Brink. The Board of Managers of the 1201 Group, LLC is Mark Abbott, Arthur Nowell, Carolyn Thoroughgood, Fred Grassle, Bob Detrick, Mike Purdy, and Ken Brink.
Appointments to the ESC will be made by the 1201 Group Board of Managers based on recommendations of an ad hoc nomination committee of distinguished scientists and engineers selected by the Board.
We encourage nominations (including self-nominations) for the ORION ESC from all interested members of the ocean community. Nominations should include institutional affiliation, a brief statement of the person’s qualifications, and a web address (or alternatively, a resume) where more information can be located.
Nominations (preferably electronically) should be submitted by January 23, 2004 to:
Dr. Kenneth H. Brink
kbrink@whoi.edu
Alternatively:
Mail Stop 21
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543