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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	(1947-12-04) December 4, 1947 (age 77) 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. An ecologist studies how living things interact with each other and their environment. She teaches and does research at Oregon State University.

Her work focuses on how the environment and human well-being are connected. She also studies biodiversity (the variety of life), climate change, and how we can use oceans and the planet in a way that lasts for a long time.

From 2009 to 2013, she was the head of NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). This is a U.S. agency that studies oceans, weather, and climate. In 2021, President Joe Biden asked her to work in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as a deputy director for Climate and Environment.

During her time at NOAA, she visited Stanford University. In 2013, she went back to Oregon State University, where she had been a professor before joining President Obama's "science team." She has received many awards, including the MacArthur "genius" award in 1993. She also has more than 20 honorary degrees.

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."

Early Life and Education

Jane Lubchenco was born on December 4, 1947, in Denver, Colorado. 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 then studied biology at Colorado College and earned her bachelor's degree in 1969. During a summer class, she became very interested in marine biology and research.

She continued her studies at the University of Washington. There, she combined experiments and ideas about evolution to study marine ecology. Her master's degree in zoology was completed in 1971. She then earned her Ph.D. in marine ecology from Harvard University in 1975. Her Ph.D. work looked at how different plants and animals live together on rocky seashores in New England. She studied how plant-eating animals affect the area and how seaweeds protect themselves.

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 Menge, moved to Oregon State University (OSU). They both became professors there.

A special thing about their jobs at OSU was that they shared one full-time professor position. They each worked half-time, which allowed them to spend more time with their family. This was a new idea at the time, and it helped many other couples in academia. They both worked half-time for ten years, then three-quarters-time, before working full-time in 1989.

Dr. Lubchenco was the head of the Zoology Department from 1989 to 1992. In 1993, she was named a Distinguished Professor. She and her husband have helped 30 Ph.D. and 10 M.S. students with their degrees.

Dr. Lubchenco took a break from OSU to work at NOAA from 2009 to 2013. After that, she returned to OSU. She has also done research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. She has taught or done research in places like Jamaica, Chile, China, and New Zealand.

Sharing Science with Everyone

Dr. Lubchenco believes that scientists have a duty to society. She thinks they should not only discover new things but also share that knowledge widely. This means talking to regular people, not just other scientists.

In 1997, as President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, she spoke about this "social contract." She said scientists should help society and share their findings.

She started three groups to help scientists become better at communicating:

The Aldo Leopold Leadership Program (now Earth Leadership Program) started in 1998.
COMPASS started in 1999.

These programs train scientists to explain their research clearly to citizens, the media, and leaders.

In 2007, she helped start Climate Central. This group shares science about climate change with people in the U.S. in a way that is easy to understand and helpful.

Dr. Lubchenco connects scientists with the public through her talks and writings. 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 (1997–1998) and the Ecological Society of America (1992–1993). She also led the International Council for Science (2002–2005).

She was a member of the National Science Board for ten years (1996–2006). She was also elected to the Council of the National Academy of Sciences. She has been on the boards of many important science journals.

Science for a Sustainable Future

Dr. Lubchenco helped the Ecological Society of America decide on important research topics. These included biodiversity, climate change, and how to live in a way that protects the planet for the future (called sustainability science). This effort, called the Sustainable Biosphere Initiative (SBI), helped show how science can solve real-world environmental problems.

She also helped start a research group called the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO). This group studies the ocean off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. They work to understand how the ocean is changing and how to manage it better. PISCO's findings have helped people understand "dead zones" (areas with very little oxygen) and the effects of ocean acidification. Their work has also helped choose locations for marine reserves in California, Washington, and Oregon.

Marine Reserves and Protected Areas

Dr. Lubchenco led an important study on marine reserves. These are areas 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 reserve, which can help fishing.

She also suggested the idea of "networks" of reserves. These are connected reserves within a large ocean area. In 1997, she famously proposed "20% by 2020." This meant protecting 20% of the world's oceans in marine reserves by the year 2020. This idea aimed to highlight the urgent need to protect our oceans.

This proposal has caused some debate, especially from those who want to continue taking resources from the ocean. However, in some places, fishermen have seen the benefits of reserves and now support them. Dr. Lubchenco continues to work on promoting marine reserves. She also helps clarify how different types of marine protected areas work and what results can be expected from them.

Leading NOAA

Lubchenco and cartoonist Jim Toomey unveil the poster he designed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Protected Areas Center in 2009.

Dr. Lubchenco was the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 2009 to 2013. President Barack Obama chose her for this role in 2008. The Senate approved her appointment in March 2009. Senator Ron Wyden called her "the bionic woman of good science." She resigned in February 2013.

NOAA is the main U.S. science agency for climate, weather, and oceans. As its head, Dr. Lubchenco managed 12,800 employees and a budget of about $5 billion. Her job was to make sure NOAA understood and predicted changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. She also made sure NOAA shared this information and worked to protect ocean and coastal environments.

Dr. Lubchenco was the first woman and the first marine ecologist to lead NOAA. During her time, she helped the nation through big events like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and very severe weather. She also helped create NOAA's first policy on scientific integrity. This policy ensures that science within the agency is not changed or hidden. She also oversaw plans to end overfishing in U.S. waters.

Making Science Stronger

NOAA needs good science and scientists to do its job well. Dr. Lubchenco helped make science stronger at the agency.

She brought back the position of Chief Scientist.
NOAA doubled the number of senior scientists.
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 misusing science within the agency. This policy has been called the "Platinum Standard" for protecting scientists' rights.
She also held a workshop for all NOAA scientists to find ways to improve science at the agency. This helped create NOAA's plan for the future.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil flowed into the ocean for 87 days. NOAA was one of the main agencies that responded to this disaster.

Dr. Lubchenco led NOAA's efforts and worked with 13 other agencies. NOAA used satellites, planes, ships, and scientists on the ground to track the oil. They also gave weather forecasts to help responders. NOAA advised the U.S. Coast Guard and closed fisheries to keep seafood safe. They also worked to protect endangered animals like turtles. NOAA scientists continue to study the effects of the spill on the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.

Protecting Oceans and Coasts

Dr. Lubchenco helped create the United States' National Ocean Policy. This plan uses science to manage U.S. oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes. It helps solve problems between different ocean users, like fishermen and shippers. It also makes sure there is a focus on protecting these areas.

She attended many meetings across the country to get ideas from people. President Obama adopted the recommendations from this plan in 2010. While many groups supported the policy, some felt it would create too many rules. Despite this, the plan was put into action.

Managing Fisheries

In 2006, a law called the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) was updated. This law manages U.S. fisheries. Its goal is to make sure fishing is sustainable, meaning there will be enough fish for the future. Under this law, NOAA had to create management plans for every federally managed fishery by 2010.

Dr. Lubchenco led NOAA's work to create these plans. They set limits on how much fish could be caught each year. This was sometimes controversial, but thanks to these plans, overfishing is ending in U.S. waters. Many fish populations that were low are now recovering. This creates more sustainable fishing jobs and healthier ocean environments.

NOAA also encouraged the use of "catch shares." This is a way of managing fisheries where fishermen get a share of the total allowed catch. This can help make fisheries more profitable and sustainable. Dr. Lubchenco said that fisheries managed with catch shares perform better.

During her time at NOAA, the number of catch share programs grew from 5 to 15. In most of these programs, fishing businesses became more profitable. Fishermen also found new ways to work, and less fish were thrown away.

Dr. Lubchenco also worked to improve NOAA's law enforcement program. She asked for a review of the program and made changes to fix problems. She also focused more on recreational fishing. She created a new position to represent saltwater fishing interests and held meetings with recreational fishing groups.

On the international side, Dr. Lubchenco worked to stop overfishing and illegal fishing in the open ocean. She worked with the European Union to address illegal fishing. She also helped get international agreements approved, like the Port State Measures Agreement. This agreement helps stop illegal fishing by controlling which ports fishing boats can use.

Climate Services

A big goal for NOAA is to provide information and services about our changing climate. Dr. Lubchenco worked to improve these efforts. She wanted to create a National Climate Service to better provide climate information to the public. Although this didn't happen, NOAA still took many steps.

Climate.gov was created in 2012 as a place to find climate information. NOAA also worked with Western states to provide them with climate services, like information about droughts. Dr. Lubchenco was proud of creating new climate services to help people understand climate change and plan for the future.

During her time, NOAA also led efforts to create the most detailed National Climate Assessment ever.

Weather-Ready Nation

From 2009 to 2013, the U.S. had some of the most extreme weather on record. NOAA provided life-saving forecasts for many tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, droughts, and blizzards. Dr. Lubchenco said that "bizarre, crazy weather" became a big part of her time at NOAA.

In 2011, NOAA launched the "Weather-Ready Nation" plan. This plan helps communities prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. NOAA also upgraded its weather radar network. All 160 radar sites were converted to new technology, which greatly improved the accuracy of weather forecasts.

Hurricane Sandy

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the United States. 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

On March 11, 2011, a large earthquake happened off the coast of Japan. This led to the devastating Fukushima earthquake and tsunami. NOAA helped predict where radioactive material and marine debris (trash in the ocean) would go. They also helped coastal communities prepare for the debris when it arrived.

U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean

On December 4, 2014, Dr. Lubchenco was appointed the first U.S. Department of State's Science Envoy for the Ocean. Her job was to connect science with solutions for healthy oceans and better global relationships.

She focused her work in six developing countries in Africa and Asia (South Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Indonesia, and China). She worked with local communities, governments, and scientists to build on efforts that use science to create good policies. Her key topics included ocean acidification, climate change adaptation, sustainable fisheries, and marine protected areas. She used her experiences to advise the White House and State Department.

Work in Africa

In July 2015, Dr. Lubchenco visited South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Her efforts helped create the Forum on African Marine Science. She also helped support a deal for Seychelles to protect 30% of its ocean territory. This deal also provided money for climate adaptation. It was the first "debt-for-nature swap" for the ocean, where debt was canceled in exchange for environmental protection.

Work in Asia

In 2016, Dr. Lubchenco continued her work in China and Indonesia. In China, she helped create a new U.S.-China group of science experts to work together on ocean and fishery science. In Indonesia, she helped connect the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries with scientists from UC Santa Barbara. This partnership helps Indonesia manage its fisheries better using good science.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Lubchenco is a member of many important scientific groups, including:

American Association for the Advancement of Science (1990)
American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1993)
National Academy of Sciences (1996)
American Philosophical Society (1998)
Royal Society (2004)
World Academy of Sciences (2004)

Her teaching, scientific achievements, and work in sharing science with the public have earned her many honors:

24 honorary doctorates
1993: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship (often called a "genius grant")
1994: Oregon Scientist of the Year
2001: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
2002: 8th Annual Heinz Award in the Environment
2003: Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest
2008: Zayed International Prize for the Environment
2010: Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Policy
2010: Named "2010 Newsmaker of the Year" by Nature journal
2011: Blue Planet Prize
2012: BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Ecology and Conservation Biology
2012: Inducted into the Women in Science and Technology Hall of Fame
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
2019: Harvard University Centennial Medal
2020: Mary Sears Medal, the first award from The Oceanography Society for contributions to oceanography and marine ecology.

Research and Publications

Dr. Lubchenco has written many scientific papers. Twelve of them have been cited so often by other scientists that they are called "science citation classic papers." These papers share new discoveries about:

How different species are found in certain places.
How people and nature interact.
The importance of marine protected areas where no fishing is allowed.
The duties scientists have to society.

Some of these important 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 seashores. Later, she studied ocean ecosystems more broadly. She now focuses on research that helps us use oceans in a sustainable way. She has worked on topics like aquaculture (farming seafood), fisheries, climate change, and marine reserves.