Lamont Weekly Report – December 31, 2004

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
P.O. Box 1000, 61 Route 9W Palisades, New York 10964

<> REPORT SUMMARY <>

– Letter from the Director –
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<> LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Lamonters,

I have been laid up with various combinations of flu and strap throat over the holidays, but I am just beginning to come out of it - I hope in time for a New Year celebration tonight.

Institutionally, the past year has been one of great contrasts - we have had some profound successes, but certainly in areas of our own internal management, we have had significant setbacks. We have three key management leadership positions open right now, and this is slowing our efforts in a number of areas that are vitally important to the growth and continuing success of the Observatory and the Campus. Highest on our priority list in January is the completion of the recruitment processes for our Assistant Directors for Services and Facilities, Assistant Director for Finance and Administration and Director of Development. Once we have these new leaders in place then I hope to turn 2005 into the year when we finally, after way too long, get our internal management team stabilized and fully functional.

2005 will also see our new research vessel Marcus G. Langseth taking her maiden voyage, it will see tangible progress with the New Geochemistry Laboratory Project, and it will see further important and exciting additions to our research staff and faculty.

The tragedy of the Indian Ocean tsunami has brought home to us all the continuing great relevance of what we do - it has reminded us all that achieving a growing understanding of the dynamics of this active planet is critical to the long-term welfare of the human race. But it has also reminded us (yet again) that scientific knowledge and understanding is not alone sufficient to mitigate the impacts of major natural events. We must learn how to build better linkages between this rapidly increasing knowledge and the decision-making systems of international bodies that have the power to implement policies and procedures that can use this scientific information to save lives.

The reality is that the limitation on our ability to provide warning of the Indian Ocean tsunami was nothing to do with seismology or oceanography - it was to do with policies, communications and infrastructure. I feel the great frustration of Laura Kong, the Director of the International Tsunami Center in Hawaii, one of my PhD students from Woods Hole, who tried so hard to get the word of the impending disaster to nations around the Indian Ocean who were so completely unprepared to respond to such an overwhelming event. Working with our Earth Institute colleagues we must use this tragedy as a 'poster child' to galvanize national and international attention on the unnecessarily inadequate level of effort being placed upon learning how to live safely with our dynamic planet.

But I hope tonight we can, at least briefly, put these somber and troubling thoughts aside and enjoy being with our friends and family. Have a wonderful New Year celebration tonight - and be safe,

– Mike

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