1998 Year of the Ocean The Legendary Ocean — ^The Unexplored Frontier 



The Government Role 



Exploration of new ocean frontiers holds the promise to enhance the future of the United 

 States in a myriad of ways, and continued support for this endeavor is considered a vital national 

 need {Undersea Vehicles and National Needs, 1996, National Research Council). How might this 

 be accomplished? Japan has now taken the definitive lead in development of undersea 

 capabilities. If the United States wants to retain its status in undersea science, a longer term 

 commitment to support of ocean science and exploration is necessary. Some of the issues that 

 need to be addressed are : 



• Government support has always been critical for oceanographic research. The United 

 States cannot maintain its expertise in ocean research unless and until adequate 

 support is provided. Since the early 1980s, funding for ocean sciences, as a 

 percentage of the total U.S. federal basic research base, has been reduced by nearly 

 half 



• As responsible stewards of the environment, ocean exploration must be 

 recognized as an important role within the missions of U.S. agencies charged with 

 ocean-related responsibilities. 



• 



A plan for undersea research that includes better access to assets, refinement and 

 integration of existing systems, development of a strategic plan for future needs, and 

 stable multi-year funding for ocean exploration is needed. 



The oceanographic community must capture the public's attention and imagination. 

 While many space satellites have been launched, nothing comparable can be 

 proclaimed for the ocean. Plans have been proposed for the first attempt of a self- 

 powered autonomous undersea vehicle (AUV) to voyage between North America and 

 Europe this year. Properly promoted, this AUV project could raise general public 

 awareness about the value of marine exploration, and foster continued public interest 

 and support. 



Teaching children about the wonder and science of the ocean may be the best 

 investment for the future. In this new age of science and education technology, 

 students can exchange the confines of the classroom and traditional textbooks for 

 hands-on discovery and real time learning. In 1996, internet history was made when 

 the only undersea laboratory devoted to science became the world's first underwater 

 website. More than two million students had a virtual porthole via video screens to 

 swim with sharks and reef fish, submerge in a nuclear submarine, and live in the 

 underwater habitat Aquarius. This effort, which was part of the Jason Project, 

 transported students via satellite to remote sites where scientists are engaged in 

 research, enabling them to directly observe ongoing investigations of the biological 

 and geological development of Earth. Other innovaUve examples exist for bringing 



L-11 



