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Women describe life at sea.
If we think of the work of scientists as the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, then Margaret Leinen is one of the people who put these pieces together. Whether it was helping to organize a large-scale effort to collect and study sediments from the equatorial Pacific, or coordinating research and education as Dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, Margaret has always relished the challenge of promoting scientific research by bringing people together and making things work. As the assistant director of geosciences, Margaret administers the NSF programs in earth, atmosphere, and ocean sciences. She is also in charge of a new interdisciplinary program in environmental research and education where she works with people from such diverse disciplines as biology, chemistry, engineering, and social, behavioral, and economic sciences to fashion environmental research programs. Margaret's main administrative responsibilities are to manage the budget that Congress has allocated and decide which of the many worthy proposals for research projects or new initiatives should be funded.