Education / Outreach
Eastman Innovation Lab
Eastman’s innovative spirit and commitment to environmental stewardship are driving an exciting collaboration with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the world’s largest private, nonprofit oceanographic research institution. The oceans are driven by exchanges with the atmosphere across the air-sea interface. WHOI researchers are world leaders in making observations of the marine atmospheric boundary layer and ocean surface layer. WHOI scientists use these observations and various other data and models to estimate air-sea fluxes.
In 2014, Eastman provided funding for ocean research that will lead to a better understanding of the role of the oceans in predicting long-term weather patterns. With the funds, WHOI developed a low-cost X-SPAR buoy for air-sea flux measurements in remote, inhospitable regions of the ocean where bottom-anchored buoys are not feasible. The buoy was launched in June 2015. A second project funded by Eastman included the launch of an autonomous underwater glider in April 2015, designed to monitor the
Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN
Through a partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Dobyns-Bennett High School at the company’s global headquarters in Kingsport, TN, students are being challenged to apply cross-disciplinary learnings to real world issues and problems in a unique capstone course focused on ocean processes. By interacting with some of the world’s top ocean scientists on active research projects, students are exposed to experiences that will give them a competitive advantage while continuing their education and entering the workforce.
Dobyns-Bennett High School Takes Competition to the Next Level
Center for Air-Sea Interactions and Marine Atmospheric Sciences
This is a newly-instituted Center at WHOI with a focus on improving our understanding of how the atmosphere and ocean are coupled through the use of in situ data, satellites and models. This research is aimed at improved climate and weather forecasts that will cross many sectors of society, including hurricane forecasting and weather forecasting for the marine wind energy community.
Microplastics in the Ocean
Microplastics—tiny plastic fragments less than five millimeters in size—are ubiquitous in the global ocean. In fact, an estimated eight million tons of plastics enter our oceans each year, yet only one percent can be seen floating at the surface. Where the rest ends up is not well understood. WHOI is embarking on a long-term, interdisciplinary investigation of marine microplastics to understand the fate of microplastics drifting through the ocean, gauge their impacts on marine life and human health, and engineer new technology solutions needed to push the science forward.
WDAC Surface Flux Task Team
Under the auspices of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Data Advisory Council (WDAC), the SurFlux Task Team has been initiated to help promote dissemination of data and information relating to air-surface fluxes.
Professional Outreach
- Briefing of House Science Committee Staff on Climate Change, 23 February, 2021
- Presentation for Lunch with a View Series, July, 2018
- Currently working with Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN to develop AP Seminar course on Oceanography.
- Presentation to Scituate STEAM Collaborative Symposium, Scituate, MA
- Presentation to Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, DC
- Keynote presentation MassMutual Women in Technology conference, Springfield, MA
- 2015 Climate Science Day on Capital Hill participant
- Organized joint AMS-SWF Webinar on “Challenges in Sharing Weather Satellite Spectrum with Terrestrial Networks,” Washington, DC
- Presentation on Non-Federal Funding to Marine Geosciences Leadership Seminar
- Congressional staff briefings at 50th Anniversary of Alvin celebrations, Washington, DC.
- Presentation, Massachusetts Marine Educators at WHOI Redfield Auditorium
- Presentation, NYC fundraising trustee event
- Presentation, WHOI Board of Trustees
Non-refereed Publications
- Clayson, C. A. and D. A. Golden, 2018: Sustainable oceans – Eastman advocates for action. Published in the official G7 Summit 2018, Quebec, Canada publication: G7Climate Change: The New Economy, 48-51.
- Clayson, C. A., 2016: Through the ocean darkly. Adjacent Government, 2 January 2016.
- Clayson, C.A. 2015: Comments on EPA’s Proposed New Source Performance Standards for Electric Generating Units: Comments on EPA’s Proposed New Source Performance Standards for Electric Generating Units: Understanding the Role of the Ocean in Climate Science. Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0495.