News media are invited to cover briefings for members and staffs of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to present the American Geophysical Union

Boosting U.S. Competitiveness through Ocean Research

Date:	Wednesday, 8 February 2006
Time:	2:30 p.m.-3:30p.m.
Room:	430 Senate Dirksen Office Building

Date:	Wednesday, 8 February 2006
Time:	5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Room:	1537 Longworth House Office Building

Speakers:

Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), Co-chair, House Oceans Caucus (House briefing only)

Dr. John A. Orcutt, President, AGU; Deputy Director of Research, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California

Dr. Steven R. Bohlen, Chair, AGU Renewing Investment in Ocean Research statement panel; President, Joint Oceanographic Institutions, Washington, D.C.

The deep ocean is the largest ecosystem in the world, yet we know less about it than we do about the surface of the Moon. The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has adopted a new position statement supporting the findings of the 2004 US Ocean Commission Report and calling for a renewal of investment in oceans research. At these briefings, speakers will highlight ways in which ocean research and education contribute to U.S. innovation and competitiveness and will give examples of exciting recent discoveries and current trends in ocean research. They will be available to answer questions and discuss the science underpinning the AGU policy statement. Copies of the statement will be available at the briefings or may be seen at http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/policy/positions/oceaninvest.shtml.

AGU is the world's largest Earth and space science society, representing over 45,000 research scientists, including more than 7,000 oceanographers.

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