The President has announced his intent to nominate Dr. Rita R. Colwell as Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation. Dr. Colwell is the President of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Maryland. She is active in national and international research and teaching in the areas of marine biotechnology and the molecular genetics of marine and estuarine bacteria, and on the microbiology of the Chesapeake Bay. Colwell has been a Member of the National Science Board and is the past President of the American Society for Microbiology, the International Union of Microbiological Societies, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She holds a B.S. in Bacteriology, an M.S. in Genetics from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Marine Microbiology from the University of Washington.
Details are forthcoming.
This letter ties previous communications of Congressional interest in the development of specific ocean research initiatives to current discussions of White House conferences and the Administration's agenda. We hope that all CORE institutions will help to support this effort as the Year of the Ocean continues. Timing of this celebration presents an opportunity for our nation to send a strong message of world leadership in ocean sciences. Congress has very recently identified rich opportunities for research in marine science, which should involve many nations of the world working together. These opportunities are associated with Arctic research, observations of global climate change, and ocean-related human health issues.