NANO Interview Dr Jesse Ausubel Dr Ausubel is a Rockefeller University environmental researcher, former vice president and ing current science advisor of the Alfred P. Sloan FoundaƟon of New York, one of the founding res fathers of POGO and of the Census of Marine Life. In this interview Dr Jesse Ausubel shares his thoughts on the future of the NANO, advice on ocean science communicaƟon and tells us about the most important and rewarding experience in his career.
Dr You are one of the founders of POGO and now, a NANO Friend. Have you u been following the progress of the NANO Network? If so, what is yourr opinion about the progress we have made so far? Do you have any comments/ ments/ sugges ons for its future development?
NN
Ausu
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JA
The NANO Network is growing in regions where more experts on ocean observa on are urgently needed. I hope in another 20-25 years we will look back to find that NANO alumni prove to be the heroes of building the next level of the global ocean observa on system.
NANO has started developing outreach ac vi es in addi on to -and in combina on with- its research projects. Drawing on your experience, par cularly with the Census of Marine Life, which had a very successful public outreach component, what would your advice be to NANO? How can the results of NANO projects be communicated effec vely to the general public?
NN JA
Ocean explora on and discovery fascinate the public, especially when we have good images and maps to help explain what we learn. My advice is always make exci ng visualiza ons an integral part of your work.
NN
The ocean is s ll vastly unexplored, and yet humankind is o en more a racted by space explora on than ocean explora on. In your opinion, how can scien sts help the public to feel inspired by the
ocean?
JA
Most experts present only sad environmental news. It is as if we report only the admissions to a hospital and the deaths, but not the births and cures. We need to present a true spectrum of discovery, including marvels. Space explora on has the advantage of an absence of bad or depressing news.
Without a doubt, your career is admired by many young researchers. Looking back, can you name major milestones/turning points in your career? Also, do you remember any crisis or cri cal moments and how you overcame these difficul es?
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JA
An early involvement with a truly interna onal program (the Global Atmospheric Research Program) and in mul disciplinary, interna onal teams at the Interna onal Ins tute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) affected me greatly. They proved to me that complex coopera on could flourish and reward everyone involved. These efforts also impressed me at the outset of my career about the importance and difficulty of accurate observa ons. A er about 10 years, I faced a big choice, whether to become a full- me program manager. I wanted also to con nue to do my own research and analysis. I was fortunate to be able to move from Washington DC (the capital of program management) to The Rockefeller University in New York City where I could have a career balanced between research and management of research.
NN
Can you name three examples of the most rewarding experiences in your career?
JA
On the one hand, it is rewarding to build programs, fields, and ins tu ons, such as the Census of Marine Life, World Climate Program and Global Change Program, Encyclopedia of Life, DNA barcoding, industrial ecology, Deep Carbon Observatory, Interna onal Quiet Ocean Experiment, and of course POGO. On the other hand, it is rewarding to contribute to discoveries such as decarbonisa on, dematerialisa on, land sparing, and now global greening.
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