This cache is part of an occasional series about Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The cache is not located at the posted coordinates.
Dictionary.com defines Environmental Science as the branch of science concerned with the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the environment and their effect on organisms. It defines Ecology as the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.
This cache is the first in the series to highlight a woman in STEM whose career has mostly been in Oregon. Jane Lubchenco is an award-winning environmental scientist and marine ecologist, a long-time professor at Oregon State University (OSU) who served as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for four years. Jane Lubchenco has contributed to science as a researcher, teacher, and leader.
She was born and raised in Colorado, earned her Bachelor’s degree in biology at Colorado College, her Master’s degree in zoology at the University of Washington, and her PhD in marine ecology at Harvard. She and her husband may be the first American couple to share an academic appointment, each working half time in tenure-track positions at OSU, which allowed both of them to spend time with family; numerous other couples have since negotiated similar positions.
Eight of her scientific papers have been cited so many times in other scientific publications that they are considered “science citation classic papers” or “top 0.25% papers” (the top 0.25% represents 1 of every 400 papers). Her scientific contributions include findings about the factors determining local and global patterns of distribution, abundance and diversity of species on rocky sea shores, interactions between people and nature, the importance of marine reserves (protected areas), and the responsibility of scientists to society. She led an influential study of the science of marine reserves (protected areas) that showed reserves result in increases in abundance, size and diversity of species within and beyond the reserve. She coined the phrase “20% by 2020” meaning that 20% of the world’s oceans should be protected in marine reserves by the year 2020 (difference sources using different definitions of marine reserve indicate that somewhere between less than 1% and 7.5% of the ocean are currently protected worldwide). Jane Lubchencso has done important work toward improving communication between the scientific community and the general public. She has been recognized as a scientist and leader with memberships in prestigious scientific societies and numerous awards.
Let A = the last digit of the year that Jane Lubchenco earned the Heinz Award, an individual achievement award that recognizes outstanding individuals for their innovative contributions. The award is given annually by the Heinz Family Foundation (if the name rings a bell it might be that you’re familiar with Heinz Foods).
Let B = the last digit in the year Jane Lubchenco received the Zayed International Prize for the Environment for Scientific and Technological Achievement. This prize is awarded every other year.
Let C = the sum of the last two digits in the year Jane Lubchenco received the Public Welfare Medal, which is the most prestigious honor awarded by the US National Academy of Sciences. This Medal is awarded “in recognition of distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare.”
Let D = the checksum of the year Jane Lubchenco earned the Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest which is awarded by the Scripps Institutions of Oceanography. It should be noted that she won this award before some other individuals whose names may be familiar: Sir David Attenborough, James Cameron, Jennifer Doudna, Ira Flatow, Dame Jane Goodall, Gordon Moore, and Michael Pollan.
Jane Lubchenco was the first woman to serve as NOAA Administrator. NOAA is the nation’s top science agency for climate, weather and oceans with the mission, “To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.” Of note, Senator Ron Wyden introduced her at her Senate confirmation hearing as, “the bionic woman of good science.” Let E = the last digit of the year that she began working at NOAA, having been invited by President Obama to be part of his “science team” in this role. .
Let F = the last digit of the year that Discover magazine named Jane Lubchenco as one of the 50 most important women in science
Let G = the tens digit of the year that Jane Lubchenco’s address as President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science focused on scientists’ obligation to create new knowledge that benefits society and share the knowledge widely, not only with the scientific community.
Let H = the last digit in the year Jane Lubchenco began the first of her two terms as a Presidentially nominated, Senate-confirmed Member of the National Science Board.
Jane Lubchenco received the Vannevar Bush Award from the National Sciences Board, recognizing an individual who, through public service activities in science and technology, has made an outstanding “contribution toward the welfare of mankind and the Nation.” Let I = the last digit of the year she won this award minus each of the other digits in the year (Here's an example of doing this calculation for the year the Magna Carta was originally published, 1215. 5 minus 1 minus 2 minus 1 equals 1).
Let J=the last digit of the year that Jane Lubchenco earned a MacArthur Fellowship (unofficially known as the “Genius Grant”) by the John D. and Catherine T. MacAurthur Foundation which is awarded to individuals who have shown “extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and marked capacity for self-direction.”
The cache can be found at N45 AB.CDE W122 FG.HIJ.
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