This Issue:
Director's Article, Program Updates, Adopt A Drifter Deployments, Virtual Presentations, Job Announcements, Call for Spotlight Presentations, News from Around NOAA and New Publications
Director's Article

What interesting times we live in. I hope all who are reading this issue of the newsletter are doing well, and coping with the many challenges in our personal and professional lives brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since our last newsletter in early March, much has changed in the world around us. I never thought I would be working full time from my basement, relying on virtual interactions, and NOT traveling! The tremendous changes we are seeing in our personal lives extend to the ocean observing community. We have a well-informed description of immediate changes in our observing capacity brought on during the pandemic. We are continually assessing the longer-term risks of prolonged restrictions on our enterprise and the downstream impacts on our stakeholders, and offering support where we can. We are also aware of several instances of remarkable dedication and ingenuity by individuals and groups to adapt to imposed restrictions and new safety practices in order to continue critical ocean observing and associated research. Thank you to those who are working under such conditions for the benefit of all. We have received multiple requests for help in addressing gaps and limitations. Please continue to communicate with the GOMO program on how we can help and support such efforts.

We are thrilled this month to welcome our first permanent Deputy Director, Jessica Snowden, to GOMO! Jessica was acting Deputy with us in early 2019 and brings a range of experiences and skills to our team. Welcome Jessica!

From our family to yours, best wishes for continued safety and well being!

-David Legler
Program Updates
OOMD now GOMO!
On April 2, 2020 our office was officially elevated from the Ocean Observing and Monitoring Division (OOMD) of the Climate Program Office to the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) Program in NOAA Research. Read about our role in NOAA's recent reorganization on our new website: globalocean.noaa.gov !
Welcome Jessica Snowden!
On April 13, 2020 GOMO welcomed Jessica Snowden as the program's first permanent Deputy Director! Jessica has spent the past 11 years working as a physical scientist with the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) office in NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS). Over the past several years, she worked closely with OAR and the GOMO community through NOAA's Leadership Competencies Development Program, and completed a six month detail in 2019 as acting OOMD Deputy Director. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science degree in marine biology from the University of Maine. Jessica lives in Takoma Park with her husband, eight-year-old daughter, and two ungrateful cats.
Congratulations, Sid Thurston!
GOMO Program Manager, Dr. Sid Thurston was selected as Vice-Chair for Oceans of the newly established   World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Infrastructure Commission (INFCOM) Standing Committee on Earth Observing Systems and Monitoring Networks (SC-ON).   This WMO Standing Committee will focus on the normative work and technical systems required to achieve Objective 2.1 of the WMO Strategic Plan: “[to] Optimize the acquisition of Earth system observation data through the WMO Integrated Global Observing System." Read more here.
Drifters Deployed for 8 Schools Across the Country
In March, the Adopt a Drifter Program deployed drifters for eight schools across the country. These drifters were deployed off the R/V Ron Brown on its way to Cape Town, South Africa.

The Adopt a Drifter Program allows schools to "adopt" and track drifting buoys in the ocean, and use the data for classroom lesson plans. This program enables students to interact with real time data and ocean observations, with the aim of encouraging students to pursue science career paths in the future. Visit the program website to learn more!
Digital Presentations Across NOAA
GOMO Knauss fellow, Dr. Ann-Christine Zinkann delivered a NOAA Central Library Brown Bag talk on her Arctic research: Organic matter sources on the Chukchi Sea shelf in a changing Arctic .
NOAA Research Assistant Administrator and Acting Chief Scientist , Craig McLean talked about leadership and NOAA's future in his presentation: The Opportunity Imperative.
Job Announcement: Physical Scientist at AOML
A new federal position for a Physical Scientist, ZP-1301-4 (Transition Manager) at AOML has been posted to USA jobs.  The announcement closes  May 14, 2020  or  after the first 150 people apply  so please forward this announcement to anyone you think might be interested and encourage them to apply quickly!
Call for Spotlight Presentations to NOAA Leadership
Are you looking for a way to build excitement and support for your research? Sign up to deliver a Spotlight Presentation at an upcoming Senior Management Meeting! During each weekly OAR Senior Management Meeting, there is an opportunity for scientists and program managers to showcase their research with a 10-15 minute, high level presentation, which can be delivered virtually from the field. The NOAA Research Communications team offers help with a guided practice session. Please contact your program manager and/or our Communications Specialist,  Jessica Mkitarian  to sign up!
ICYMI: News from Around NOAA

  • GOMO Program Manager Emily Smith was interviewed about her oceanography programs in the podcast Storytellers of STEMM!

  • NOAA celebrated Earth Day with a look back at the last 50 years of science, including the inception of the Argo Program. Read the story here.

  • Looking for educational resources for kids at home? NOAA is posting resources on the regular, and you can follow here.

Recent Publications
Koch CW, Cooper LW, Lalande C, Brown TA, Frey KE, Grebmeier JM (2020) Seasonal and latitudinal variations in sea ice algae deposition in the Northern Bering and Chukchi Seas determined by algal biomarkers. PLoS ONE 15(4): e0231178. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231178

As always, for the GOMO Community, by the GOMO Community. 

Do you have news to share with the GOMO Community, or beyond? 
Contact Jessica Mkitarian: [email protected] or (301) 427-2472.