480 



142 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE NEXT DECADE 



tional academic Earth sciences departments supported by state 

 and private endowment funds (e.g., MIT, Florida State University, 

 the University of Michigan) in large research institutions oper- 

 ated by universities, but on a scale not common to academic in- 

 stitutions (e.g., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lamont-Doherty 

 Geological Observatory), in independent, private nonuniversity 

 organizations (e.g.. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Boothbay 

 Harbor Laboratories, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute); 

 in government laboratories resembling the private laboratories in 

 many ways (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- 

 tion Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories and 

 Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratories); and in Navy labora- 

 tories charged with specific military responsibilities. 



This diversity is both a potential weakness and a strength. 

 Oceanographers are generally more dependent on grant money than 

 are scientists in other disciplines who receive a higher percentage 

 of support from their universities. On one hand, this situation 

 renders ocean science more vulnerable to government budget fluc- 

 tuations. However, the institutions are adaptable to changes in 

 the conduct of ocean science. Some institutions are expert in 

 seagoing observations, some specialize in ocean engineering, some 

 are focused on large-scale numerical modeling, and others are best 

 known for their breadth. Together, they comprise the strongest 

 marine research establishment in the world. 



Most oceanography degrees are offered at the graduate level; 

 however, an increasing number of institutions are now offering 

 undergraduate degrees in oceanography. Integration of marine re- 

 search facilities (often isolated from the campus) into the aca- 

 demic structure of the parent university is improving, and new 

 oceanography programs have developed within a more traditional 

 academic departmental structure. Perhaps this change can be con- 

 sidered an indicator of the maturing of oceanography as a recog- 

 nized academic discipline. 



Several new organizations of ocean science institutions have 

 recently formed, such as the Council on Ocean Affairs (COA) and 

 the National Association of Marine Laboratories, to promote 

 interlaboratory cooperation. COA is an organization of approxi- 

 mately 50 academic oceanographic institutions that was founded 

 by, and is administratively housed in, Joint Oceanographic Insti- 

 tutions, Inc. 



Thus, with increased ease of access to the sea for faculty and 

 students, the establishment of more oceanography activities in 

 universities, and substantial support by some universities, ocean- 



