The goal of the overall science series is to provide the audience, especially students, with a general understanding of how oceanography emerged as an academic discipline and as a major field of scientific inquiry. Immediately, following World War II, ONR supported the conversion of warships to oceanographic research vessels, which led to a new era of open ocean exploration. Navy funding was essential to the growth of the pursuits of oceanography. In addition to the conference at Scripps, the series will be held at four other regional oceanographic institutions, culminating with a major gala event in Washington, D.C., March 8-9, 2000. Calif. Admission is by invitation only.
Media coverage is welcome.
The National Research Council has ranked Scripps first in faculty quality among oceanography programs nationwide. The scientific scope of the institution has grown since its founding in 1903 to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical, and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. More than 300 research programs are under way today in a wide range of scientific areas. Scripps operates the largest academic fleet with four oceanographic research ships for worldwide exploration and one research platform.