In May 2011, New York Sea Grant held a “meet and greet” event in honor of Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Undersecretary of Commerce for the air and oceans and administrator of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administrator. She came to Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences where she met New York Sea Grant staff and many of the faculty members and their graduate students many of whom are Sea Grant-supported scholars. She caught a first-hand glimpse at some of the exciting research and outreach projects NYSG and its partners are undertaking to address some of the critical issues that face our coastal waters. She also had an opportunity to meet some of the staff and researchers as New York Sea Grant celebrates its 40th year of “Bringing Science to the Shore.”

“NOAA’s focus is on oceans and atmosphere, and so that’s a really nice fit for the areas of expertise that many of you bring,” said Dr. Lubchenco, addressing the crowd. “Our mission for creating and using science to develop services and to provide stewardship responsibility makes it really important that we have good partners. Sea Grant is clearly one of our very important partners, but other parts of the academic community are as well. So, I welcome any opportunity to learn about the latest, coolest, most intriguing or puzzling things that you all are working on.”

And so Dr. Lubchenco circulated among the researchers, students and staffers who gave her a concise version of their recently or currently funded research on topics like harmful algal blooms, storm surges, hard clam and hypoxia—all topics that have impacts on environmental as well as economic health. “New York Sea Grant’s NOAA funding enables us to address the important economic and environmental issues confronting New York marine and Great Lakes coastal communities,” says New York Sea Grant director Dr. Jim Ammerman. “Important problems like water quality, hazard resilience, and sustainable fisheries and coastal development will all benefit from New York Sea Grant’s research, education, and outreach efforts.”

All the while, Dr. Lubchenco, an administrator with a keen interest in her role as a marine ecologist, remained engaged. Thanks for taking the time to visit us! To get the whole story, watch the YouTube video.

— Barbara A. Branca