LSU dean presents GoM brief

The Dean of LSU’s College of the Coast & Environment, Christopher D'Elia, participated in a congressional briefing on the importance of sustained observations for the Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, the role of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), and how it plays in supporting the economy, public health and safety was discussed. IOOS is a mechanism for filling critical information gaps in observations and data in the GoM. The briefing was titled: "Are we better informed today than before Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Disaster? A discussion on the state of coastal observing in the Gulf of Mexico." The event was organized by the IOOS Association and the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System. D'Elia participated on behalf of the Gulf of Mexico Research Collaborative, on which he serves as the 2016-17 chair. D'Elia presented on the economic importance of the Gulf, which provides diverse resources and opportunities with its natural ecosystem for maritime commerce and energy infrastructure. (Source: Gonzales [La.] Weekly Citizen 03/09/17)