Sea Research Foundation

Hi Everyone,
I am writing from Singapore where I have a busy schedule that includes building a partnership around biological research programs, ocean exploration and expanding our educational programming in this country. The weather is very nice, the country is amazingly clean, the people are friendly, and no, you cannot easily buy chewing gum.
Last week was quite a mix of activities. On Tuesday evening I met with a group of foundation executives and world ocean policy leaders at a small dinner in New York City. The topic of discussion at dinner was the state of the world’s oceans – and in particular a a report by an international panel of marine experts that suggests ocean life is facing unprecedented mass extinction due to human impacts on the ocean environment.  More information and report summaries can be found here.
Dr. Alex Rogers, who is one of the key authors of the report, and who is an Oxford biologist specializing in deep ocean environments, was present at the dinner. I was able to describe the work that Sea Research Foundation is doing in the field of neuroimmunology to better understand stressors affecting marine mammals, and the work that we do in deep ocean exploration and education. I noted that education focused on ocean environments continues to be sorely lacking in global policy and the fundamental solution for increasing awareness.
I also noted the work that Sea Research is doing with the international shipping industry through the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) led by Trustees Clay Maitland and Carleen Lyden-Kluss. Engaging the shipping industry in discussions around the ocean environment is vital in several important ways including more effective conservation measures on their parts and also in terms of engaging them in becoming monitors of the environment.
As we develop our biological research program there will be a much more deliberate focus on a global framework focusing on connections between ocean health and human health. We will grow our competencies and capabilities in the area of conservation research. With support from Trustee Tom Leiden, we are presently searching for two research scientists and working with a variety of institutions including Tufts University and Mote Marine Laboratory to grow our research program.
Dr. Tracy Romano will continue to lead the effort in addition to her duties leading zoological operations. The latter is appropriately based within a research framework and Dr. Romano has done an excellent job of restoring and renewing our excellence in this area.