CSIRO signs landmark agreement with US NOAA on marine and climate research
9 July 2012
CSIRO and the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today signed
a series of agreements that bring together the scientific capabilities of two global leaders in marine
and atmospheric research.
The agreements were signed by Dr Andrew Johnson, CSIRO Acting Chief Executive, and Dr Jane
Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator,
during her visit to Australia to deliver the keynote speech at the International Coral Reef Symposium
in Cairns.
The agreements are designed to facilitate ongoing collaboration between the two organisations and
provide a forum for new discussions about broadening cooperation and emerging issues and
opportunities.
They cover research on the El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, ocean observations
and climate variability across the Pacific, the Southern Hemisphere regional carbon cycle and ocean
acidification, ecosystem based management of marine resources, and initiatives to promote
scientific exchanges and collaborative workshops.
CSIRO and NOAA are Australia and the United States’ major national marine and atmospheric
research institutions and the agreements build on a memorandum of understanding signed in
Washington DC in February 2010.
CSIRO staff have a long history of successful collaboration with researchers from NOAA, through
CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship, with activities
ranging from research voyages in the Pacific, Indian and Southern Ocean, ocean monitoring
programs such as Argo, and global atmospheric sampling of greenhouse gases.
Photo opportunity:
Dr Andrew Johnson, CSIRO Acting Chief Executive, will sign a number of agreements with Dr Jane
Lubchenco, NOAA Administrator, at the Sebel Cairns Hotel (17 Abbott St, Cairns QLD 4870) at 4pm
on Monday 9 July, 2012.
Media assistance: Ben Creagh, CSIRO
0417 742 552; ben.creagh@csiro.au
Image: sae-sky general image (ocean-sky.jpg)
Caption: CSIRO and NOAA have signed a series of agreements that bring together the scientific
capabilities of two global leaders in marine and atmospheric research.