exceptions. If marine science, engineering, and technology are intellectually and financially attractive 

 enough relative to other fields, most trained in the field will elect to remain, and many scientists and 

 engineers trained in other fields will be attracted. Employment opportunities will also lure specialists 

 from abroad. 



Within certain specialized fields, transferability of marine sciences is limited. Such would be the case 

 in various research activities in fisheries biology or taxonomy-systematics. 



In any profession availability is difficult to project. Involved are salary and promotion opportunities, 

 location and conditions of employment, relative appeal of the profession within the total National 

 culture, interest or intellectual stimulation offered, and competition from other professional areas. 

 Appeal of the marine sciences during the past few years may be gauged by the upward trend in 

 applications to education and training institutions and the increasing number of professionals and skilled 

 workers transferring to marine-oriented fields. Part of the increase may be due to the attention paid to 

 the marine sciences in the United States and to the very small number employed in the marine areas 

 untO a few years ago. Admittedly, the sea has always attracted what has been referred to as "sea 

 people," but new vehicles, new exploratory opportunities, and above all, a new cultural appeal invite the 

 young. In addition, older scholars and technicians are drawn by the marine environment's vast problems, 

 which only recently seem timely and capable of solution. 



The appeal of marine occupations must be assessed in terms of other forms of employment, of 

 numbers and occupational types, and of levels of competence of those seeking marine-related 

 employment. It appears that marine science activities are sufficiently attractive in reference to supply 

 and demand that unusual steps (economic or otherwise) are not now needed to draw people into the 

 marine fields. But the level of effort recommended by the Commission may require additional 

 incentives. 



III. EDUCATION AND TRAINING CURRICULA AND FACILITIES 



A. Programs and Enrollments 



The graph illustrates an accelerating demand at all levels for instruction in the marine areas. Because of 

 the lead time required for their development, facilities, rather than student interest, will be the limiting 

 factor, at least over the next decade, with respect to marine education and training growth. Of the 

 several hundred applications received each year by the major educational centers, only a few hundred 

 can be accepted. 



In part, the applicant's grades and adequacy of preparation are decisive factors, but often limitations 

 of space and funds for assistantships or stipends are of equal or greater importance. In the past, most 

 funds in marine science and technology went into research; not enough have gone into teaching, with the 

 result that the Nation is now short of competent teaching personnel. 



B. Educational Objectives and Criteria 



Four levels of marine education and training now exist: graduate and postdoctoral education, 

 undergraduate studies, mid-career instruction, and marine technician training. 



Curricula in graduate and postdoctoral education are relatively new compared to those in other 

 subjects. The scientific content and the technology involved are developing and changing rapidly. 

 Educational activities should be encouraged to experiment in subject matter and in methods of 

 presentation. One objective should be to provide breadth— to develop generalists with a broad 

 understanding, who can deal with the science of the environment and with the many interactions 

 existing between man and his environment. Another objective should be to develop adaptability and 

 ingenuity. Science and technology are advancing at such a rapid pace that today's student must soon 

 meet, identify, and solve problems never introduced in the classroom. These comments, applicable to 

 other fields, are particularly appropriate for marine sciences because of their expanding scope and 

 interdiscipUnary nature. 



IV-8 



