image: This is D. James Baker. view more
Credit: D. James Baker
The Oceanography Society (TOS) congratulates D. James Baker on being selected as a Fellow of The Oceanography Society. The citation on Dr. Baker's certificate recognizes him for for his contributions in founding TOS and providing leadership to the nation's ocean science and policy communities. Dr. Baker will be formally recognized on February 13, 2018, during a ceremony at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, Oregon.
In the nominating letter for Dr. Baker, Charles H. Greene (Cornell University) noted that he "played an essential role in the founding of TOS and served as the Society's first President." He further mentioned that, "in 1983, Jim was elected President and served as a Member of the Board of Governors for the Joint Oceanographic Institutions (JOI) in Washington, DC. Honing his administrative and political skills in the nation's capital for a decade with JOI, Jim was appointed by President Clinton as Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1993."
Dr. Baker was trained as a physicist, practiced as an oceanographer, and has held professorial and administrative positions in academia, government, and the non-profit sector. He is an expert in physical oceanography, climate science, environmental measurement technology and planning and management for complex technical programs. He has long experience in the application of technology to meet societal needs. Most recently, as Co-Director of the Clinton Foundation's Forest Team, Dr. Baker helped develop a computer and GIS-based System for Land-based Emissions Estimation in Kenya (SLEEK) with generic open-source tools that has global applicability for monitoring and sustainable resource use. In addition to other honors, he received the Vikram Sarabhai Medal for "Outstanding Contributions to Space Research in Developing Countries." He was a scientific advisor to former Vice President Al Gore on the Oscar-winning film "An Inconvenient Truth" and lectures regularly on sustainability, climate change, forestry and landscapes, and oceanography. As the longest-serving Administrator of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere he significantly influenced U.S. climate, space, and ocean research and policy. He has chaired numerous national and international advisory committees, has more than 100 publications and is the author of the book Planet Earth: The View from Space, published by Harvard University Press.
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The TOS Fellows program recognizes individuals who have attained eminence in oceanography through their outstanding contributions to the field of oceanography or its applications during a substantial period of years. The next nomination deadline is October 31, 2018. To learn more about The Oceanography Society and the TOS Fellows program, visit: https://tos.org/tos-fellows.
The Oceanography Society (TOS) was founded in 1988 to advance oceanographic research, technology, and education, and to disseminate knowledge of oceanography and its application through research and education. TOS promotes the broad understanding of oceanography, facilitates consensus building across all the disciplines of the field, and informs the public about ocean research, innovative technology, and educational opportunities throughout the spectrum of oceanographic inquiry. TOS welcomes members from all nations. Any individual, business, or organization interested in ocean sciences is encouraged to join and to participate in the activities and benefits of the society.