"Technological — or engineering — needs of many environmental science 

 programs are so extensive that the line between marine science and ocean 

 engineering must be largely abolished in practice if not in theory, if many 

 important projects are to proceed effectively." — effective use of the sea; 



REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 1966 



Chapter XII 



ENGINEERING IN THE OCEAN 



One of the most significant aspects of marine science affairs today is the 

 changing emphasis from what was largely scientific study of the sea to its 

 more effective use. The agent for the critical transfer of scientific results to 

 practical application is ocean engineering. 



Ocean engineering is a key to the development of the ocean's resources, 

 to maritime transportation, to defense, and to enhanced use of shores and 

 harbors to meet society's expanding needs. 



Ocean engineering fulfills two important functions : it provides a bridge 

 from scientific discoveries to utilization of the oceans, and it provides new, 

 more powerful instruments and tools to observe and measure ocean 

 phenomena. Also, as work in the oceans becomes more complex, the engi- 

 neering techniques of systems analysis will increasingly be used. 



The process of converting scientific knowledge to economic and social 

 needs is not well understood, whatever the technical field may be, and in 

 the civil applications of marine science and engineering there is the added 

 requirement for "consensus" among the many participants. Ocean engineer- 

 ing — a relative newcomer in the technical world — must meet this extra chal- 

 lenge if it is to mature concurrently with expanding marine requirements. 



149 



