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



the ocean into the classroom. Rutgers University has partnered with a number of 

 other organizations to begin a program in New Jersey this past year using the 

 underwater observatory, LEO- 15. More innovative approaches such as these are 

 needed to assure the next generation will be well informed stewards and explorers of 

 the ocean. 



Fantastic voyages to the planet's inner space are happening close to home in the waters 

 that surround us, and are reminders that the ocean is still brimming with life that scientists are 

 only just discovering. The ocean has been navigated for thousands of years, but exploration of 

 the deepest parts of the ocean is just beginning. 



Public opinion polls indicate that Americans care strongly about the ocean and are 

 prepared to support ocean exploration over space exploration. According to a recent survey, 

 eighty percent say that the condition of the ocean is a matter of personal importance. A full 55 

 percent give priority to funding ocean exploration over space exploration. The survey 

 participants, nearly three quarters (72 percent), also see the health of the ocean as intimately 

 connected to the future well-being of humankind. 



THE FUTURE 



Ocean exploration gives mankind a sense of human progress and heritage. It provides the 

 experience and knowledge necessary to undertake stewardship of the ocean and its resources, and 

 thus sets a course for future generations to navigate. What lies ahead is still unknown. Whatever 

 it is, however, will be influenced by what is found through tomorrow's exploration — ^and, will 

 likely be different than today's predictions! 



REFERENCES 



Achenbach, Joel, "The Genesis Problem," The Washington Post Magazine, November 2, 1 997, 

 pp. 13-40. 



Attaway, David H., A Report on Marine Biotechnology in the National Sea Grant College 

 Program, December 31, 1996. 



Broad, W., The Universe Below, Simon & Schuster, 1997. 



Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE), "Oceans 2000: Bridging the 

 Millennia Partnerships for Stakeholders in the Oceans," Leveraging National Oceanographic 

 Capabilities, Joint Hearing, January 25, 1996, pp. 682-719. 



Carson, R., The Edge of the Sea, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA, 1955. 



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