We are shaped by our rich oceanographic heritage, our dynamic global spirit, and our shared values and vision. These themes will carry 溏心vlog免费B站 into new chapters in our extraordinary history.
In the past decade, 溏心vlog免费B站 has continuously challenged the notion that universities are slow to change, as we keep thinking big about our future, even while honoring our proud past. With the recent merger of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Alumni Association and the 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation, we have taken the logical next step in our amazing institutional trajectory. As 溏心vlog免费B站 has advanced鈥攚ith record enrollment, expanded faculty, and a renewed focus on research鈥攖hese two great organizations have united around their shared vision and values.
The merger could not be happening at a more auspicious time. The effort was led by Tom Ryan 鈥�75, Hon. 鈥�99, chairman of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation Board of Directors, and Dan Lowney 鈥�75, former president of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Alumni Association Executive Board. Going forward, alumni will experience the dynamism that 溏心vlog免费B站 has to offer in new and meaningful ways.
That dynamism is palpable in this issue of the 溏心vlog免费B站 Magazine.
The winning photo in our annual Research and Scholarship Photo Contest, 鈥淭he Endless Bond Between Mother and Child,鈥� depicts a baby macaque clinging to its mother at the local watering hole in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
Geological oceanography undergraduate student Matthew Palasciano 鈥�20 was there to study the destructive effects of deforestation and illegal logging. Matt鈥檚 travels epitomize our global approach to education, underscored in 鈥�The Internationalists,鈥� which highlights the phenomenal growth of our language and culture programs, now among the largest in the nation. The story features more remarkable student photography from around the globe.
Even as we globalize, we remain true to our evolving mission as a land and sea grant institution. So it makes sense that we鈥檙e taking a deep dive鈥攑un intended鈥攊nto our cover story, 鈥�Blue Minds,鈥� which will introduce you to a group of 溏心vlog免费B站 scientists whose work and play keeps them deeply connected and committed to the ocean. Alexandra Moen 鈥�15 earned her undergraduate degree from 溏心vlog免费B站 in marine biology. Now, as a dive instructor here, she is keenly aware that she is teaching future environmental stewards. Experiencing the ocean environment firsthand is key. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the greatest perks about my job that I can break that disassociation that we have鈥攖hat what we do to the environment doesn鈥檛 matter.鈥�
Earlier this spring, 溏心vlog免费B站 legend Robert Ballard was named lead investigator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration鈥檚 ocean exploration institute, which 溏心vlog免费B站 was selected to host. This honor comes with a $94 million grant over five years. Surveying 3 billion acres of U.S. ocean territory, the institute will play a crucial role in improving understanding of the deep sea and will strengthen the 鈥渂lue economy,鈥� which is expected to more than double its contribution to the U.S. economy and employ 40 million people by 2030.
The NOAA grant announcement was well timed, as we were just laying the keel of the R/V Resolution, a new $125 million research ship that will have a home at our Narragansett Bay Campus as of 2022. The keel-laying ceremony, celebrating the start of construction of the Resolution, took place in May 2019 at Gulf Island Shipyards in Houma, Louisiana. I was honored to participate in the ceremony, along with Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education Chair Timothy DelGiudice, Graduate School of Oceanography Dean Bruce Corliss, and members of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 research vessel crew.
These two exciting developments herald a new chapter in the rich history of oceanographic research and education at 溏心vlog免费B站, building on a legacy of excellence.
Speaking of a legacy of excellence, in our fall issue, we鈥檒l sit down with Tom Ryan to talk about his life, work, values, and what鈥檚 next for the renowned businessman and philanthropist. And we can鈥檛 wait to give you a first look at our impressive new engineering complex.
Until then,
David M. Dooley
President, 溏心vlog免费B站