Research, Awareness, Climate Change Issues Included on Collaborative Agenda
STONY BROOK & EAST NORWICH, NY, January 16, 2008 – Two of Long Island’s premier ocean conservation and science institutions announced a partnership today to jointly conduct marine research, education, and public campaigns for ocean protection.
The State University of New York at Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and the nonprofit Blue Ocean Institute will join forces to increase public awareness of challenges facing our ocean and to support effective marine ecosystem management. The two institutions will mutually produce articles, support student research fellowships, and sponsor public meetings on marine science, climate change, and conservation.
“Both SoMAS and Blue Ocean Institute have a crucial mission to help people understand and protect our shared ocean and sea life within it,” said David O. Conover, Dean and Director of SoMAS. “We are pleased to work with such a highly-regarded nonprofit group that has a track record of inspiring the public to care about and protect the ocean.”
“Together, our work will have a greater impact to ensure a healthy and abundant ocean for all and for the future generations who rely on us,” said Dr. Carl Safina, President and Co-founder of Blue Ocean Institute. “SoMAS’s high standards of achievement make them an ideal partner and we’re looking forward to the energy and academic strengths their students will bring.”
Safina, an adjunct at SoMAS, is an award-winning author of three books and more than 100 articles focusing on how the oceans are changing and what those changes mean for people and wildlife. Among its scientific, artistic, and literary programs, Blue Ocean Institute produces the Guide to Ocean-Friendly Seafood, the first guide to provide consumers with information on seafood sustainability.
The nationally renowned School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences not only focuses on fundamental scientific research, but is also committed to applying research to solve some of society’s toughest environmental problems. SoMAS faculty and students are deeply engaged in local and regional marine research and policy issues worldwide. SoMAS scientists are also part of the larger international research community addressing global issues such as the causes and consequences of climate change and the scientific basis of ecosystem-based management of marine resources.
As part of the new partnership, SoMAS students will have opportunities to extend their learning beyond academics through internships at BOI that focus on communications and applied marine conservation. Safina and other BOI staff members may also provide guest lectures and work with SoMAS to convene scientific symposia on current marine conservation topics.
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About SoMAS
SoMAS is one of the top-ranked marine and atmospheric academic programs in the nation. Established in 1965, the school has grown to become a comprehensive academic and research organization. The SoMAS community stretches across two campuses and includes an established graduate and a new undergraduate program. The SoMAS doctoral programs were recently ranked among the top 10 in the nation, and its undergraduate program now offers four bachelor degrees including B.S. degrees in atmospheric science, marine science, and marine vertebrate biology, and a B.A. degree in environmental studies. The School houses many different institutes and programs including the Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC), the Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres (ITPA), Living Marine Resources Institute (LIMRI), and the Waste Reduction and Management Institute (WRMI). SoMAS operates eight research vessels, two marine labs, a weather station, an electronic ocean instrumentation shop, and three highly specialized labs focused on marine animal diseases, trace element analysis, and organic chemical mass spectrometry.
About Blue Ocean Institute
Founded in 2003 by MacArthur Fellow Dr. Carl Safina (www.carlsafina.org) and Mercédès Lee, Blue Ocean Institute developed the first sustainable seafood guide (and made it scientifically transparent) and forged a significant, rapidly expanding sustainable seafood movement. Blue Ocean develops conservation solutions that enlighten personal choices, instill hope and inspire people to take action in a growing effort to restore living abundance in the ocean. Dr. Safina’s award-winning work has inspired Blue Ocean’s many programs including From Sea to Table, Schooling Chefs, Safe Seas, and Sea Stories. Please visit www.blueocean.org for program details.
About Dr. Carl Safina
Dr. Carl Safina brought ocean conservation into the environmental mainstream. His hundred-plus publications and award-winning books include Song for the Blue Ocean, Eye of the Albatross, and Voyage of the Turtle. He’s been profiled by the New York Times, Nightline, and Bill Moyers. His awards include a Pew Fellowship, Lannan Literary Award, John Burroughs Medal, and a MacArthur Prize, among others. He is among today’s most important conservation voices, combining scientific acumen, adventure, and a poignant style that bridges the gap between the scientific and literary worlds.
