2018 Ocean Sciences Town Hall: Planning for the Next Global Research Vessel

Ocean Sciences Meeting Town Hall Announcement: 
Planning for the next US Global Class Research Vessel 

Hosted by the UNOLS FIC Subcommittee on Global Ship SMRs: Gregory Cutter, Chair; Byron Blomquist; Suzanne Carbotte; Clare Reimers; James Swift

When: Monday, February 12, 2018: 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM

Where: Oregon Convention Center, Room D139-D140

The Fleet Improvement Committee (FIC) of UNOLS (University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System) works to assure the continuing excellence of the Academic Research Fleet (ARF), to improve the capability and effectiveness of individual ships, and to assure that the number, mix and overall capability of ships in the ARF match the science requirements of academic oceanography in the U.S. In this context, planning for a new vessel involves creating a "Science Mission Requirements" (SMRs) document that describes the vessel's size, performance, capabilities, and facilities, which then becomes the blueprint to seek funding for detailed planning and eventually, construction. Based on current science programs and future projections, and considering the age and capabilities of the current fleet, the FIC is developing a SMR for the next Global Class, general purpose, research ship.

This meeting is for gathering community input to help us write SMRs that reflect the requirements of the ocean science community broadly – all disciplines. Early career to senior scientists should come to the meeting with experience-based ideas for a next-generation ship that will facilitate both discipline-specific and interdisciplinary research. Projects that may be on the horizon that will need Global Class vessels should introduce their mission scenarios.