THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Ocean Studies Board
Committee on Ocean Acoustics Education and Expertise
*****
Congressional Briefing
Friday, July 19, 2024 – 11:00 a.m.
via Zoom
on
Ocean Acoustics Education and Expertise
Ocean Acoustics - the study of sound in the ocean, how it travels, interacts with, and is affected by its underwater surroundings - is a growing and critical field. Sound from both natural and human-generated sources can be an effective tool for probing the ocean environment.
Even as demand for ocean acoustics grows, workforce development is challenged by both the multidisciplinary nature of the field and its widely varying career paths. This new report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, examines the state of ocean acoustics education; assesses expected demand for acoustics expertise over the next decade; identifies competencies required across higher education and professional training programs; and presents strategies to raise the profile of careers in ocean acoustics. The report recommends a number of actions that federal agencies, industry, and academia can take to develop the expertise needed to meet current and future workforce demands.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on July 23, 2024 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.