Oceanography | Vol.30, No.1
Some things about TOS are chang-
ing, in good ways. First, TOS is grow-
ing. Rapidly. Our diversity is increasing,
reflecting positive efforts at inclusion.
For example, of current members who
joined in the first two years of the soci-
ety, 91% were male and 88% were from
the United States. At the beginning, in
spite of its international charter and the
best of intentions, TOS was effectively an
American boys’ club.
In contrast, of our members who
joined in the past two years, 56% were
female and, independent of gender, 35%
were from outside the United States
(in addition, some within the United
States were not US citizens, but we
don’t track that).
We have not yet reached gender par-
ity overall (44% female), but we are on
a good path. Our international profile
continues to grow (now totaling 31%
non-US). The TOS Council is approx-
imately gender balanced, and includes
international representation. We have not
tracked ethnicity, and we are trying to do
a better job there. We can be happy that
our efforts at increasing diversity are suc-
ceeding, but we will keep working at it,
and at promoting equal opportunity and
equitable treatment as our young ocean-
ographers move through their careers.
Our expanding membership reflects
the growing realization, especially among
our early career scientists, that we will
succeed as a field only if we band together
around our shared goals and needs. TOS
is a collaborative member-driven organi-
zation, and it shows. That gives me hope
for the future.
Nevertheless, we have all observed the
challenges faced by our younger gener-
ation. In response, we have made some
changes. TOS membership is now free
to all students, and we have reduced
membership costs for early career scien-
tists in postdoctoral positions. We want
to empower the new generation to orga-
nize and to reinvent the field and the
Society to better fit their needs.
This year we will roll out a mento-
ring program, first in prototype form
and hopefully later as a larger program,
designed to pair students with senior sci-
entists in academia, government, and the
private sector, and to conduct a conver-
sation across national boundaries about
careers, life, and exciting new direc-
tions for oceanography. Students, please
watch the TOS web page for announce-
ments. Senior scientists, please volunteer
as mentors—we need your help. This is an
“all hands on deck” activity.
Recognizing that young people may
face financial hurdles in completing their
dissertation research and transitioning
to careers, we have launched the TOS
Career Opportunity/Student Travel and
Research Support (COSTARS) Fund.
Voluntary donations are rapidly build-
ing this fund toward our initial goal, and
we will soon be able to offer some sup-
port for graduate students to attend bien-
nial Ocean Sciences Meetings, to join
professional
development
workshops
and conferences, to travel for needed
research at specialized off campus facili-
ties, and to explore career opportunities
including internships in industry, gov-
ernment, nongovernmental organiza-
tions, and other ocean-relevant settings.
We encourage everyone to donate (see
link below). This is a great opportunity
for those of us with established or com-
pleted careers to give something back and
help our young people.
I’ll say more about our growing pro-
gram with the private-sector oceanogra-
phy community and other initiatives in
future columns.
So, we live in interesting times. Some
things are changing, and some things are
staying the same. One thing that will never
change is the character of the TOS mem-
bership as a community of scientists who
support each other as colleagues and as
people, without biases regarding national
origin, gender, ethnicity, belief systems,
or any of the fascinating and complicated
things that make us human. The people
who create the science come first, and
that is my favorite thing about TOS. It is
why I joined in 1987, it is why I stayed,
and it is why I am thrilled and honored
to start my term as TOS President. I want
to hear from you, so that TOS can under-
stand your joys and concerns, represent
you and better serve your needs. We are
here for you.
I write from Oregon, in early February,
as a hard rain is falling. I’m ready to
start swimmin’ and I hope you are too.
Gather ’round.
Alan Mix, TOS President
TOS COSTARS
Do your part to support the next
generation of ocean scientists!
One of our new programs, focused on our student members, is the TOS COSTARS fund
(Career Opportunity/Student Travel and Research Support). Opening soon, this fund
will help graduate students to present their work at scientific conferences, to collabo-
rate with colleagues at other institutions and to investigate career opportunities. We
are still in fundraising mode and we encourage contributions, remembering the help
that we all got along the way. Donate now to the TOS COSTARS Fund and help gradu-
ate students prepare to enter the workforce!
To learn more about TOS COSTARS or to make a donation, go to:
https://tos.networkforgood.com/projects/22497-tos-costars-fund