About

The Center for Ocean Leadership is the new home for programs formerly run by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. Upon its dissolution in September 2022, certain COL programs transferred to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). This transition marks a historic partnership between the oceanic and atmospheric science communities and will help researchers advance the study of Earth as an interconnected system.

The programs will be housed in a new Center for Ocean Leadership (COL), which will reside within the existing UCAR Community Programs.

The Center for Ocean Leadership manages, coordinates, and facilitates ocean research and education programs and areas of Ocean Exploration, Ocean Observing, and Informal education. COL has a proven track record of shaping the future of ocean science and technology through discovery, understanding, and action.

The Center continues the legacy of COL by providing support for programs focused on critical areas of ocean exploration, ocean observation, and ocean education. By continuing to foster these programs COL can continue to identify new areas of growth within the ocean community. 

“This new center creates a strong foundation for cross-disciplinary research and observation that is unparalleled in the Earth system science community and will further enable our community to address the great environmental challenges of our time. We look forward to supporting the many important initiatives COL was stewarding in support of ocean science.” — Antonio Busalacchi, UCAR President

"This partnership is an unprecedented opportunity for the ocean and atmospheric science communities to collaborate in new and innovative ways. For years, COL programs have been cornerstones of Earth and ocean literacy, in addition to leading the community on crucial topics in ocean observation and research. I have the utmost faith that UCAR and their new Center for Ocean Leadership will be an environment in which the programs COL ran will continue to flourish and grow.” — Monty Graham, Former Interim President and CEO of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership