U.S. Strategies for Cooperation with the Soviets on Ocean Science
Abstract
The idea of a workshop to discuss U.S.-Soviet ocean science cooperation was first broached during the February 1991 meeting of The Oceanography Society in St. Petersburg, FL. At that time the Bilateral Agreement on Ocean Studies had recently been signed, the Soviets were about to rejoin the Ocean Drilling Program, and individual and institutional contacts between the two nations' oceanographic communities were increasing dramatically. The major U.S. ocean science sponsors -- NOAA, NSF, and Navy -- agreed that given the challenges inherent in close cooperation with the Soviets in an area of militarily and economically significant research, it would be a good idea for federal agency representatives and academics to informally discuss the risks and advantages of cooperation, and to outline priorities and guidelines to improve our chances for successful and scientifically profitable collaboration. Of course, it's tough to hit a chaotically moving target. By the time of the workshop it was clear that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was disintegrating. Although no one had any insight into the type of governmental or scientific structure that might evolve in what participants came to call the former USSR or FUSSR, it was clear that the ground rules for collaboration would be vastly different than in the days of a powerful Soviet Academy of Science and a highly centralized planning system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA268345
Entities
People
- Craig E. Dorman
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution