You might have read BV’s previous news posting on how President-elect Barack Obama selected Oregon State University Professor Dr. Jane Lubchenco today to chair the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This is big news. I’ve read many articles on Dr. Lubchenco – she’s a distinguished professor and one the world’s leading researchers in science. She teaches Marine Biology and Zoology courses and we’ve even had some previous postings about her here on the blog.

Dr. Lubchenco will be the the first woman to head the agency, and she is internationally known for her work on marine and coastal issues. Her new role will be leading government research on global warming and overseeing ocean and atmospheric research and the National Weather Service. She’s been here at Oregon State University since 1978.

Over the weekend, I spoke with current OSU Marine Biology student Megan Cook who works as a TOUR Student in the Visitor’s Center. Megan ecstatically told me “Obama for sure made a great pick! I have had some interaction with Jane in my program. She is a brilliant scientist and a very active and successful advocate for science’s role in the decision making of this country!”

Megan also referred me to Christine Lastovica — a recent OSU graduate who worked directly with Jane this past summer. Christine told me “Jane is such an amazing woman! The thing I liked most about Jane was that she had time for everyone (which kept her very busy!). It didn’t matter if you were the president of OSU or a student with a question, Jane treated everyone equally. What I admire most about her is her confidence. After a meeting with Jane I would walk away in awe. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and energy for what she did was astounding. She deserves every award she has received and I am pleased to see her newest appointment- head of NOAA. I take pride knowing much of our countries decisions will be in her hands!”

Thanks to Megan and Christine for allowing me to put their comments here on the blog.

I’ve posted President-elect Obama’s announcement of his science team below. Watch for Dr. Lubchenco at mark 3:57:

Congratulations to Dr. Lubchenco! Please join me in wishing her much success in her new role!

–mko

From the OSU News Service:

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Conservation biology research at Oregon State University has been ranked in a new survey as the best of 315 such programs in the United States and Canada.

The rankings, done for the first time by the journal Conservation Biology, the leading professional journal in this field, point out that OSU had the second highest number of publications, the greatest number of “citations� that reflect the scientific significance of a publication, and the number one overall ranking.

Conservation biology is one of the younger scientific disciplines, but of growing importance. It brings together scientists from such traditional fields as botany, ecology, atmospheric science, oceanography, forestry, fisheries, agriculture and zoology – as well as social and economic perspectives – to study and learn how to protect the Earth’s biological diversity. Research can range from endangered species and ecosystem function to the effects of global warming, often exploring the environmental and ecological impact of humans.

Conservation biologists are integrating the findings of physical sciences, such as marine or atmospheric science, with the biological sciences, in ways that will help humans understand or predict the dangers facing various species and ecosystems, and ways those concerns might be addressed. They provide information about the many valuable services provided by biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, the threats posed by overpopulation, the effects of habitat loss.

Oregon provides a unique setting for conservation biology research, experts say, with an enormous diversity of land forms and biodiversity. Within a few miles, the region changes from ocean ecosystems to one of the world’s largest temperate rain forests, agricultural valleys, populated urban areas, alpine peaks and high desert. Studies in recent decades have ranged from near-shore ocean ecosystems to forest ecology, endangered species, terrestrial pollution, salmon health, stream ecology, the impacts of climate change and amphibian declines.

Link to the press release…