U.S. IOOS^® Mid-Atlantic Region Highlights Vital Partnerships and Leverages Existing Efforts at Annual Meeting

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) held its annual meeting December 15-16 in Washington, DC.  The theme of the meeting was “The Power of Partnerships Serving Stakeholders,” and the approximately 120 participants represented a broad range of both partners and stakeholders, including multiple federal agencies, academic institutions, state government agencies, industry groups, and NGOs.  Presentations highlighted the importance and benefits of leveraging efforts, funding, technology and expertise.  MARACOOS efforts are far-reaching; panelists and presenters covered topics ranging from coastal inundation and storm surge to maritime safety, hurricane forecasting, ecological decision-making, water quality, offshore wind energy, modeling, data management, and technology development.

Special guests on the first day of the meeting introduced the Federal context for moving forward and growing partnerships within MARACOOS and all of the U.S. IOOS Regional Associations.  Guests included Mary Glackin, NOAA Deputy Undersecretary for Operations; Dana Goward, U.S. Coast Guard Director of Marine Transportation Systems Management; Jerry Miller, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and two co-chairs of the Interagency Ocean Observations Committee – David Legler (NOAA) and Eric Lindstrom (NASA).

Further details:

• The meeting agenda is availabe at: http://maracoos.org/annual_meeting_2011
  
  
• The presentations can be found at: http://maracoos.org/presentations
  
  
• About the Mid-Atlantic Region, MARACOOS

Michael Bruno of Stevens Institute leads a panel discussion on MARACOOS support for maritime safety.

(top)