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Toward New Partnerships 

 in Ocean Sciences 



Since about 1950, scientific research in the United States has 

 been characterized by federal funding of academic scientists to 

 conduct research of general interest to the government. This 

 defines a partnership of sorts, a mutually beneficial relationship 

 between the federal government and academic scientists. In ocean 

 science to date, these traditional partnerships have consisted pri- 

 marily of scientists in academic and private institutions submit- 

 ting proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the 

 Office of Naval Research (ONR). This funding system is powerful 

 and flexible, allowing NSF and ONR to fund excellent scientists 

 whose areas of expertise are those necessary to solve problems at 

 the forefront of oceanography. The two agencies encourage and 

 sustain basic research programs at academic and private laborato- 

 ries. The numerous federal agencies involved in marine science 

 and policy differ greatly in their use of marine science knowledge 

 and in their responsibility to the academic community. Agency 

 responsibilities range from NSF's and ONR's active promotion of 

 the health of basic science to highly specific and practical rule- 

 making procedures of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

 has a wide range of responsibilities in ocean matters but is just 

 beginning to develop significant research programs in many of its 

 areas of responsibility. The future vitality of basic oceanographic 



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