Overview

The faculty, marine scientists, and technical staff of the Graduate School of Oceanography conduct research in all four of the major disciplines, geological (including archaeological oceanography), biological, physical, and chemical oceanography (including atmospheric chemistry). Many studies are multidisciplinary.

Research ranges from advancing our understanding of fundamental processes, to the development of new technologies for research and economic development, to the immediate practical application of knowledge to the solution of the problems of modern society. GSO research is conducted around the globe. This global expertise is also applied to studies in the local waters of Rhode Island and Narragansett Bay.

GSO researchers receive externally funded awards for research, and other sponsored activities, totaling approximately $23M per year. There are approximately 300 active awards underway at any time.

Largely as a result of the sponsored research, GSO scientists publish extensively in the peer reviewed literature, in reports and conference proceedings, and books. GSO scientists also provide articles and lectures for a lay audience to bring the benefits of their research to a broader audience. A compiled list of publications by GSO scientists, students, and technical staff typically comprises about 150 publications per year.

Although the GSO faculty is grouped by the four traditional disciplines, there are no formal departments within GSO. This lack of formal structure facilitates multidisciplinary investigations and gives students opportunities to pursue topics that may not fall conveniently into one discipline. There are roughly equal numbers of faculty in each of the disciplines providing significant expertise in all major areas.