Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution receives $25 million donation
New England Council member, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, has received a $25 million donation from Paul Salem, Chairman of the Institute’s board of trustees. This generous donation is earmarked for an acceleration in the search for ocean-based climate solutions.
The gift from Salem coincides with recent funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Oceanographic Partnership program, and others who are interested in the growth of fundamental and applied scientific research and engineering development at WHOI. This influx of funding from various benefactors builds upon already existing investigations into ocean alkalinity enhancement, ocean iron fertilization, and more “blue carbon,” ocean-based solutions to climate change.
“More than two-thirds of our planet is ocean, and so if we want to solve climate change, we must invest in innovative ocean-based solutions that gives us more eyes in the ocean in order to help us meet this generational challenge,” said Salem.
WHOI President and Director Peter de Menocal reflected this sentiment by explaining some blue carbon solutions are proven, but most are “completely novel and in need of testing to investigate their safety and effectiveness. The ocean can help us avert a climate crisis, but we need to also ensure the long-term health of marine ecosystems and the communities that rely on ocean resources.” The various gifts and grants the WHOI has received, including Salem’s, have amounted to more than $85 million for ocean and climate research.
The New England Council would like to congratulate the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for its groundbreaking research for ocean-based climate solutions.
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