-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        New head of NOAA
Date:   Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:26:04 -0500
From:   John Cloud <[log in to unmask]>
To:     maps-l



Lubchenco Will Helm National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

By Juliet Eilperin

President-elect Barack Obama has tapped Oregon State University
professor Jane Lubchenco, one of the nation's most prominent marine
biologists, to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Lubchenco, a conservationist who has devoted much of her career to
encouraging scientists to become more engaged in public policy debates,
is also a vocal proponent of curbing greenhouse gases linked to global
warming. The transition team could not be reached for comment, but
several sources confirmed today that Lubchenco had been picked and was
headed to Chicago for the upcoming announcement.

The appointment marks a shift for NOAA, which oversees marine issues as
well as much of government's climate work. Lubchenco has criticized the
agency in the past for not doing enough to curb overfishing.

Andrew Rosenberg, who served as deputy director of NOAA's Fisheries
Service under Clinton and is now University of New Hampshire professor
of natural resources and the environment, praised Lubchenco as an
"absolutely world class scientist."

When has NOAA been headed by a member of the National Academy and a
fellow of the Royal Society?" he said, referring to America and
Britain's most prestigious scientific societies. "That's exactly the
right signal. It establishes NOAA as one of those key scientific agencies."

By selecting someone who's both a respected researcher and an active
player in national policy discussions, Rosenberg added, "it's saying
that science agencies have a role in policy. They need to be tightly
connected, and I believe they will be tightly connected under Jane."
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         John Cloud
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