White House Representative to Speak on National Ocean Policy

February 06, 2012

A representative of President Obama's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will be on the Old Dominion University campus Monday, Feb. 6, to deliver a public lecture about the country's ongoing efforts to implement a National Ocean Policy.

Jerry L. Miller, assistant director for ocean sciences at the OSTP, will speak at a Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO) seminar beginning at 3:30 p.m. in Room 3200 of the Innovation Research Park Building 1. The presentation is free and open to the public, as is a reception with refreshments that begins at 3 p.m.

The Spring Seminar Series, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of CCPO, is featuring speakers who have had some connection to the center. Miller is a former CCPO researcher.

"The National Ocean Policy and Implications for Science and Technology" is the title of Miller's presentation. Obama's executive order of July 2010 established the National Ocean Policy initiative, to address nine priority issues, such as ecosystem-based management, climate change and ocean acidification, related infrastructures, mapping and ocean observing. Many of the objectives will require research and actions that only the science and technology community can deliver.

An implementation plan for the overall policy has been drafted and is now available for public comment at www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans.

Miller also serves as acting deputy director of the National Ocean Council Office. Previously, he was technical director and director of research at the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education.