Oceanography: The Making of a Science—People, Institutions, and Discovery

At the request of the Office of Naval Research, The Heinz Center in 1999 organized a series of six colloquia and an oral history project on "Oceanography: The Making of a Science." 

The colloquia, which took place between January and April 2000, brought the leading scientists and administrators of the pioneering days of U.S. oceanography together with their successors in today’s premiere oceanographic institutions. In total, more than 1200 scientists, administrators, and students took part in the colloquia. The results of this effort were published in Oceanography: The Making of a Science. People, Institutions, and Discovery which is available, upon request (see our publications page).

In conjunction with the colloquia series, The Heinz Center coordinated an oral history project that involved professionally videotaped interviews with 45 senior oceanographers who helped define and build the discipline, institutions, and infrastructure of modern U.S. oceanography. 

For further information, please contact us at sdavid@heinzctr.org.