Dr. Jane Lubchenco is a well-known scientist, university professor, and adviser to former U.S. president Barack Obama. Dr. Lubchenco was born on the 4th of December 1947 in Denver, Colorado and currently resides in Corvallis, Oregon where she conducts important research at Oregon State University regarding population distribution, population diversity, and sustainability in marine ecology1. Her research has had a profound impact in terms of conservation and preservation efforts. While obtaining her master’s degree in zoology, she developed her passion for this field and went on to obtain a PhD in marine ecology from Harvard in 19772. In 1978 she published her first work. She made national headlines in 2009 when she became the first women to be appointed the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration2, 6. Her appointment lasted four years after which she went back to Oregon State University, to continue work on a database on marine activity for Oregon’s coast line3. She continues to publish and maintain many academic and administrative positions at various organizations that deal with the field of marine ecology, organizations such as the National Geographic Society, the Nature Conservancy, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and the Environmental Defense Fund to name a few4. Her work throughout the years has always been at the fore front of innovation and discovery in marine ecology, and has been recognized as being extremely significant in providing methods for conservation efforts and sustainable coexistence with marine habitats5.
References:
[1] “Lubchenco banner.” Jane Lubchenco, National Academy of Sciences, http://www.nasonline.org/programs/awards/2017/Lubchenco.html?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ca%2F.
[2] “Jane Lubchenco Confirmed as NOAA Administrator.” NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Jane Lubchenco Confirmed as NOAA Administrator, NOAA, 19 Mar. 2009, http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090319_lubchenco.html.
[3] Dean, Cornelia. “NOAA Chief Believes in Science as Social Contract.” The New York Times, 23 Mar. 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/science/earth/24prof.html.
[4] “Executive Profile of Jane Lubchenco.” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=46968312&privcapId=25895596.
[5] “Jane Lubchenco.” Sustainable Development Solutions Network, http://www.unsdsn.org/about-us/people/jane-lubchenco/
[6] “OSU’s Lubchenco confirmed as head of NOAA.” OregonLive.com, The Associated Press, 19 Mar. 2009, http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/osus_lubchenco_confirmed_as_he.html.
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 