Jane Lubchenco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Lubchenco
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
|
| In office March 20, 2009 – February 28, 2013 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Conrad C. Lautenbacher |
| Succeeded by | Kathryn D. Sullivan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1947 Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Education | Colorado College (BS) University of Washington (MS) Harvard University (PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Marine ecology |
| Institutions | Harvard University Oregon State University National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Science and Technology Policy |
| Thesis | Effect of Herbivores on Community Structure of the New England Rocky Intertidal Region: Distribution, Abundance and Diversity of Algae (1975) |
Jane Lubchenco (born December 4, 1947) is an American environmental scientist and marine ecologist. She teaches and does research at Oregon State University. Her work focuses on how the environment and human well-being are connected, and how to protect biodiversity and use oceans sustainably. From 2009 to 2013, she led the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In 2021, President Joe Biden chose her to be a deputy director for Climate and Environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
During her time at NOAA, she was a special visitor at Stanford University. In 2013, she returned to Oregon State University. She has received many awards, including the MacArthur "genius" award in 1993. In 2002, Discover magazine named her one of the 50 most important women in science. In 2010, the science journal Nature called her their first "Newsmaker of the Year."
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jane Lubchenco was born in Denver, Colorado, on December 4, 1947. She was the oldest of six sisters. Her father was a surgeon, and her mother was a pediatrician. Jane went to St. Mary's Academy, a Catholic high school for girls.
She studied biology at Colorado College and earned her bachelor's degree in 1969. A summer class in marine biology sparked her interest in ocean life. She then went to graduate school at the University of Washington. There, she studied how sea stars compete with each other. She earned her master's degree in 1971. In 1975, she received her Ph.D. in marine ecology from Harvard University. Her Ph.D. research looked at how different sea creatures and seaweeds interact on rocky coastlines.
Academic Career and Teaching
After getting her Ph.D. in 1975, Dr. Lubchenco became a professor at Harvard University. In 1977, she and her husband, Bruce A. Menge, moved to Oregon State University (OSU). They both became professors there.
They made a special arrangement with the university. They shared one full-time professor job, each working half-time. This allowed them to spend more time with their family while still teaching and doing research. This was a new idea at the time, and it helped many other couples in academia. Dr. Lubchenco became a Distinguished Professor of Zoology in 1993. She and her husband have guided many students who earned their Ph.D. and master's degrees.
Dr. Lubchenco took a break from OSU to work for the government from 2009 to 2013. After that, she returned to OSU. She has also done research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and taught in places like Jamaica, Chile, China, and New Zealand.
Sharing Science with Everyone
Dr. Lubchenco believes scientists have a duty to share their knowledge with society. In 1997, she spoke about scientists' "social contract" to not only discover new things but also to share them widely.
She helped create organizations to teach scientists how to talk about their research more clearly. These include the Earth Leadership Program and COMPASS. In 2007, she also helped start Climate Central. This group shares information about climate change in a way that is easy for people in the U.S. to understand.
Dr. Lubchenco often gives public talks and writes articles to connect scientists with the public. She has also served on important groups like the Pew Oceans Commission and the Council of Advisors for Google Ocean.
Leading in Science
Dr. Lubchenco has been a leader in many science groups. She was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Ecological Society of America. She also served on the National Science Board for ten years. She has been on the boards of many important science journals.
Understanding Our Oceans
Dr. Lubchenco helped create a research group called the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO). This group studies how the ocean near the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California works and how it is changing. Their findings have helped people understand new "dead zones" in the ocean, the effects of ocean acidification, and how to choose areas for marine reserves.
Marine Reserves and Protected Areas
Dr. Lubchenco led an important study on marine reserves. These are parts of the ocean that are protected from fishing or other harmful activities. The study showed that these reserves help increase the number, size, and variety of species inside them. Some of these animals also "spill over" into areas outside the reserves, which can help local fisheries.
She suggested creating "networks" of reserves that are connected. In 1997, she famously proposed protecting "20% by 2020" of the world's oceans in marine reserves. This idea aimed to highlight the urgent need to protect our oceans. She continues to work on projects that study and share information about marine protected areas around the world.
Leading NOAA
From 2009 to 2013, Dr. Lubchenco was the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is the main science agency for climate, weather, and oceans in the U.S. President Barack Obama nominated her for the role, and she was confirmed in March 2009. She was the first woman and the first marine ecologist to lead NOAA.
As NOAA Administrator, she managed a large team and budget. She made sure NOAA worked to "understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts." During her time, she helped guide the nation through big events like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and severe weather. She also helped create NOAA's first scientific integrity policy and worked to end overfishing in U.S. waters.
Making Science Stronger at NOAA
Dr. Lubchenco worked to make science stronger at NOAA. She brought back the position of Chief Scientist and increased the number of senior scientists. Under her leadership, NOAA created its first Scientific Integrity Policy. This policy allows NOAA scientists to speak freely to the media and public. It also stops anyone from changing or hiding scientific findings. This policy has been praised for protecting scientists' rights.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, causing a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA was one of the main agencies that responded. Dr. Lubchenco led NOAA's efforts, working with 13 other agencies.
NOAA used satellites, planes, ships, and scientists on the ground to track the oil and predict where it would go. They also provided weather forecasts, advised the U.S. Coast Guard, and closed fisheries to keep seafood safe. NOAA protected endangered species and studied the spill's impact on the Gulf's natural resources. Dr. Lubchenco often spoke to the media to share information with the public.
In 2016, a large settlement of $20.8 billion was approved for the oil spill. A big part of this money was set aside to fix the damage to natural resources.
Protecting Oceans and Coasts
Dr. Lubchenco helped create the United States' National Ocean Policy. This plan helps manage the U.S. oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. It aims to prevent conflicts between different ocean users, like fishermen and shippers, and ensure good care of our oceans. This policy was adopted by President Obama in 2010.
Sustainable Fisheries
Under Dr. Lubchenco's leadership, NOAA worked to end overfishing in U.S. waters. They created management plans for each fishery, setting limits on how much fish could be caught each year. This was sometimes controversial, but it helped many fish populations recover. By 2012, the number of overfished stocks was the lowest it had been, and many fisheries became healthier and more profitable.
NOAA also encouraged the use of "catch shares" in fisheries. This system gives fishermen a share of the total allowed catch, which can make fishing more profitable and sustainable. During her time at NOAA, the number of catch share programs grew from 5 to 15.
Dr. Lubchenco also worked to improve NOAA's law enforcement program and paid more attention to recreational fishing. On the international front, she worked to stop illegal fishing on the high seas. She helped finalize the Port State Measures Agreement, which helps prevent illegal fishing around the world.
Climate Services and Weather-Ready Nation
Dr. Lubchenco strengthened NOAA's efforts to provide data and services related to climate change. She helped create Climate.gov in 2012, a website that provides easy-to-understand climate information. NOAA also led the development of the most ambitious National Climate Assessment ever done.
From 2009 to 2013, the U.S. experienced a lot of extreme weather. NOAA provided life-saving forecasts for tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and heat waves. Dr. Lubchenco launched the "Weather-Ready Nation" initiative in 2011. This program helps communities prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. NOAA also upgraded its weather radar network to improve forecast accuracy.
Hurricane Sandy
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the U.S. NOAA's technology and scientists accurately predicted the storm's path. This allowed warnings to be issued in time, which helped save lives.
Tohoku Earthquake
After the large Tohoku earthquake in Japan in 2011, NOAA helped predict where radioactive material and marine debris would go in the ocean. They also helped coastal communities prepare for the debris when it arrived.
U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean
In 2014, Dr. Lubchenco was appointed the first U.S. Department of State's Science Envoy for the Ocean. In this role, she worked to connect scientific knowledge with solutions for ocean health and global relationships. She focused on six developing countries in Africa and Asia.
Work in Africa
In 2015, Dr. Lubchenco visited South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Her efforts helped create the Forum on African Marine Science. She also supported a deal in Seychelles to expand marine protection and get funding for climate adaptation. This was the first "debt-for-nature swap" for the ocean, where debt was canceled in exchange for ocean protection.
Work in Asia
In 2016, she traveled to China and Indonesia. In China, she helped promote a new U.S.-China scientific group to work on ocean and fishery science. In Indonesia, she helped create a partnership between the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and scientists from UC Santa Barbara. This partnership helps Indonesia improve its fisheries management using good science.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Lubchenco is a member of many important scientific groups, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences.
Her work in teaching, science, and sharing science with the public has earned her many honors, including:
- 24 honorary doctorates
- 1993: MacArthur Fellowship (often called the "genius grant")
- 1994: Oregon Scientist of the Year
- 2002: Heinz Award in the Environment
- 2003: Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest
- 2010: Named "Newsmaker of the Year" by Nature journal
- 2011: Blue Planet Prize
- 2012: BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology
- 2013: Distinguished Public Service Award from the U.S. Coast Guard
- 2015: Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement
- 2017: Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences for her contributions to science and public good
- 2018: Vannevar Bush Award from the National Science Board
Research and Publications
Dr. Lubchenco has written many scientific papers. Twelve of her papers are considered "science citation classic papers" because they have been cited so many times by other scientists. These papers share new discoveries about how species are spread around the world, how people and nature interact, the importance of marine protected areas, and the responsibilities of scientists to society.
Some of her highly cited papers include:
- Naylor, R.L.; R.J. Goldburg; J. Primavera; N. Kautsky; M. Beveridge; J. Clay; C. Folke; J. Lubchenco; H. Mooney; M. Troell. (2000) "Effect of aquaculture on world fish supplies. Nature. 405: 1017–1024.
- Daily, G.C.; T. Soderqvist; S. Anivar; K. Arrow; P. Dasgupta; P.R. Ehrlich; C. Folke; A.M. Jansson; B.O. Jansson; N. Kautsky; S.A. Levin; J. Lubchenco; K.G. Maler; D. Simpson; D. Starrett; D. Tilman; B. Walker. (2000) "The Value of Nature and the Nature of Value." Science. 289: 396–396.
- Liu, J.; T. Dietz; S.R. Carpenter; M. Alberti; C. Folke; E. Moran; A.N. Pell; P. Deadman; T. Kratz; J. Lubchenco; E. Ostrom; Z. Ouyang; W. Provencher; C.L. Redman; S.H. Schneider; W.W. Taylor. (2007) "Complexity of Coupled Human and Natural Systems." Science. 317: 1513–1516.
- Lester, S.E.; B.S. Halpern; K. Grorud-Colvert; J. Lubchenco; B.I. Ruttenberg; S.D. Gaines; S. Airame; R.W. Warner. (2009) "Biological effects within no-take marine reserves: a global synthesis." Marine Ecology Progress Series. 384: 33–46.
Her early research focused on rocky coastlines. Later, she shifted to studying ocean ecosystems more broadly. She now focuses on research that helps us use oceans in a sustainable way. Her work covers topics like aquaculture, fisheries, climate change, biodiversity, and marine reserves.
See also
In Spanish: Jane Lubchenco para niños
