The new ocean czarina takes over

There's a new head of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.) Dr. Jane Lubchenko is a marine biologist. She replaces an admiral at NOAA. Navy, ocean--get it? Hey, it made sense to W.

So what to expect, after all two-thirds of the planet is covered by stuff under her purview, not to mention the whole planet is surrounded by the other stuff under her job description? Oceans, atmospheres. She's got a pretty full tray.

What's on her agenda? Stop over-fishing. Protect and restore ocean habitat. That would include working on the collapse of numerous coral reef colonies. Found a National Climate Service. That'll further anger the global warming deniers.

Says one former student of Lubchenco, "Jane is a pioneer woman in science — a role model combining quality research and leadership."

One of Lubchneco's major feats was the founding of the Aldo Leopold Fellowship program to train envrionmental scientists to communicate with policy makers. Want to know about Aldo Leopold, pioneer American ecologist? Read his Sand County Almanac. [poll id="108"]