HUCE Special Lecture: Jane Lubchenco

May 16, 2013 "Science Serving Society: Reflections on 4 Years in Washington" with Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Valley Professor of Marine Biology and Distinguished Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University and former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationDr. Lubchenco was the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator of NOAA from 2009 through February 2013. Nominated by President Obama in December 2008 as part of his "Science Team," she is a marine ecologist and environmental scientist by training, with expertise in oceans, climate change, and interactions between the environment and human well-being. She received her B.A. in biology from Colorado College, her M.S. in zoology from the University of Washington, and her Ph.D. in ecology from Harvard University. Her academic career as a professor began at Harvard University (1975-1977) and continued at Oregon State University (1977-2009) until her appointment as NOAA administrator. She has now returned to her teaching post at Oregon State.

Under her leadership, NOAA focused on restoring fisheries to sustainability and profitability, restoring oceans and coasts to a healthy state, ensuring continuity of the nation's weather and other environmental satellites, developing a Weather-Ready Nation, promoting climate science and delivering quality climate products, strengthening science and ensuring scientific integrity at NOAA, and delivering the highest quality science, services and stewardship possible. Healthy oceans and coasts and a nation prepared for severe weather, disasters and climate change are keys to economic recovery and prosperity.

Lubchenco has served as president for the American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS), the International Council for Science, and the Ecological Society of America, and was a board member for 10 years on the National Science Board. She also served on the National Academy of Sciences' study on "Policy Implications of Global Warming" under the administration of George H.W. Bush. She served on several commissions, including the Pew Oceans Commission, the Joint Oceans Commission Initiative, the Aspen Institute Arctic Commission, and the Council of Advisors for Google Ocean.