Head of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Has Her Say. (October 3, 2012)

Nature's Jeff Tollefson recently had a chat with Jane Lubchenco regarding her tenure as the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator of  the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, since 2009.

Professor Lubchenco told Mr Tollefson she considers major achievements: "our scientific-integrity policy, which says that NOAA is not allowed to suppress, distort or change the science, and that scientists are free to speak to the media about their findings. A second major achievement is doubling the number of senior scientific positions at NOAA. We have also re-established the chief-scientist position at NOAA and empowered scientists to participate actively in defining their research agenda."

Regarding her proposal to the US Congress to establish an augmented Climate Service: "We put forward a proposal to reorganize the different parts of NOAA that need to be integrated to provide those climate services, which was not approved by Congress. It was disappointing that we were not able to become more effective, but so be it. We will continue to provide climate services... Whether it is planning by businesses, communities, emergency managers or the US military, all are depending on the information we are providing. There are more calls for this, and hopefully we’ll be able to become more efficient at providing these services over time."

As to whether or not she will continue as NOAA's head following the US presidential election: "I am fully committed to this president and his vision for our country. I think that what we have achieved is amazing, and the country is only beginning to appreciate all of the wonderful things that have happened. I think there is a lot left to do, and I want to do everything I can to make that happen."

As to the matter of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico -- which resulted in the deaths of 11 men working on BP's drilling  platform and injured 17 others on July 15, 2010, and blew ~800,000 m³ of crude oil into the Gulf before the well was capped -- either it was not discussed, or Mr Tollefson chose not to include it in his report.