Alaska’s Murkowski among Congress members seeking to save ocean science network

Sen. Lisa Murkowski is teaming up with other lawmakers to stop the National Science Foundation from shutting down parts of the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a crucial system that has been monitoring the nation’s oceans since 2016. This initiative is vital for understanding marine ecosystems, climate change impacts, and supporting ocean-related economic activities. The move to dismantle this network could severely hamper ongoing scientific research and the ability to respond to environmental changes, highlighting the broader implications for both scientific progress and economic interests tied to ocean health.