Forecasting the Ocean The 2025–2035 Decade of Ocean Science (2025) / Chapter Skim
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3 Opportunities and Strategies for Accelerating Progress in Ocean Science
3 Opportunities and Strategies for Accelerating Progress in Ocean Science
Pages 55-72
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From page 55... ...
The committee champions the continued need for basic research and advocates for a transdisciplinary lens to be utilized in planning and advancing basic research, and applying the research results. A TRANSDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR OCEAN SCIENCES Natural changes that are physical, biological, geological, or chemical and actively affect the ocean are generated by a wide range of mechanisms and processes known collectively as ocean processes.
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From page 56... ...
Often, engaging in collaborative production of knowledge and building transdisciplinary teams is challenging, producing unsuccessful results. However, taking the time and effort to conduct and resource successful transdisciplinary research in the next decade is essential for solving these problems.
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Systemic Change in Valuation of Transdisciplinary Research Conducting successful transdisciplinary ocean science research will take dedicated time, effort, and a more collaborative mindset during project inception, development, and output. Transdisciplinary science includes valuing and championing reciprocal relationship-building, implementing dedicated strategies for partnerships, and conceptualizing use-inspired research that includes multiple discipline and knowledge systems.
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Pilot projects from outside the project team are funded annually to support emergent research ideas and engage local communities. Examples of ongoing pilot projects include building multihazard evacuation map prototypes for coastal communities and establishing a community-driven earthquake monitoring program at the Quileute Tribal School.
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principles and findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) principles; and application of metadata labels to protect Indigenous and local knowledge, such as traditional knowledge labels used by the Local Contexts Project.5 Practical Steps to Building Transdisciplinary Ocean Science Research Teams Building transdisciplinary research teams is a path towards increasing broad participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
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Resource investment is needed, both fiscally and programmatically (including in leadership development, management, and outcome assessments) , to support and incentivize transdisciplinary research teams to be created and sustained in the field of ocean science.
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NSF should explicitly enable research that crosses directorates and programs and intentionally facilitate efforts to dismantle barriers to transdisciplinary approaches and implementation. Potential strategies include: • supporting projects with measurable social and environmental returns on investments, es pecially use-inspired and solutions-oriented research on the changing ocean; • investing in training an expanded ocean science workforce that includes developing essential science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills as well as transdisciplinary skills that enable meaningful connections to the humanities, social sciences, and economics; • implementing requirements for proposals that encourage partnerships with interest holders including local communities, regional organizations, Indigenous and Tribal groups, and other users, to participate in ocean research; and • financially supporting platforms and networks that facilitate knowledge exchange between interest holders, sectors, and disciplines.
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For transdisciplinary ocean science research to truly advance, current and future ocean science researchers need not only foundational disciplinary knowledge, but also additional knowledge and skillsets such as cross-cultural communication, emotional intelligence, and active listening skills, among others. For example, integration of knowledge and expertise across disciplines and communities is identified as a core challenge and the defining characteristic of transdisciplinary
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The Current State of the Ocean Science Workforce Current demographic trends in the ocean science workforce reflect a mixture of opportunities and challenges for increasing representation. For example, the percentage of non-White individuals in ocean sciences is low compared with the U.S.
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, marine biotechnology, finance, and risk management. Transdisciplinary research and socioeconomic monitoring of blue economy initiatives will play an important role in developing policies for an ecologically and socially sustainable blue economy that minimizes common pitfalls of economic development.
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Another important issue that the ocean science enterprise needs to tackle is improving work environments. Geoscience disciplines struggle with bullying, hostile work environments, discrimination, and sexual harassment aboard research vessels and in the field (Harris et al., 2022; Marin-Spiotta et al., 2020; NASEM, 2018; Women in Ocean Sciences Report, 2021)
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BOX 3.5 Marine Laboratories as Training Ground for Emerging Ocean Scientists Marine laboratories are centers for training ocean science undergraduate and graduate students; they often have coastal access and/or fleets of small boats that can sample nearshore marine environments. Through initiatives and opportunities to enhance transdisciplinary research, marine labs need to co-develop questions to help address com munity-driven research needs.
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Broadening Perspectives in the Ocean Science Workforce Targeting recruitment for programs and fellowships from underserved communities, including Indigenous and local communities in the place of research (e.g., tribal colleges, organizations) , redistributes investment within marginalized populations.
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to enhance the broader federal ocean research enterprise to meet national needs. OCE also has a history of working with other NSF directorates as well as the Office of Integrative Activities to broaden opportunities for ocean researchers.
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FIGURE 3.7 The road to partnership is the road less traveled. NOTES: Scientist and oceanographer Michael Freilich was director of the Earth Science Division in the Science Mission Directorate at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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From page 70... ...
Opportunities include addressing infrastructure needs such as the topics of big data, AI and machine learning, ocean model development and prediction tools, ocean observing platforms, and sensor development (and related technology/engineering) , as well as emerging use-inspired research directions in ocean energy and aquaculture research and development (e.g., Advanced Research Projects AgencyEnergy Macroalgae Research Inspiring Novel Energy Resources)
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From page 71... ...
Fostering these connections emphasizes the important role that ocean biotechnology plays in discovery and provides a way to augment the physical and chemical ocean sensing work done by other sectors within the field of ocean sciences. Ocean Renewable Energy and Workforce Development Developing new technologies and training a workforce on ocean-based renewable energy presents a ready opportunity for cross-directorate collaboration, for example through the NSF Clean Energy Initiative.
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Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) should ex plore various ways of bringing new resources to this work, including expanding partnership with other NSF directorates, related mission agencies, and other organizations.
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