A different take on "Scientists beg for chance to study gulf "

[n2doc]

Huff post:
Gulf Oil Spill: Scientists Beg For A Chance To Take Basic Measurements


A group of independent scientists, frustrated and dumbfounded by the continued lack of the most basic data about the 77-day-old BP oil disaster, has put together a crash project intended to definitively measure how much oil has spilled and where and how it is spreading throughout the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

An all-star team of top oceanographers, chemists, engineers and other scientists could be ready to head out to the well site on two fully-equipped research vessels on about a week's notice. But they need to get the go-ahead -- and about $8.4 million -- from BP or the federal government or both. And that does not appear imminent.

more

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/06/gulf-oil-spill-scientists_n_636981.html

Rant on:

First of all, there are a large number of scientists studying the gulf, and all aspects of the spill RIGHT NOW.

Second of all, these aren't "Top Oceanographers". They are ok, but we aren't talking Woods Hole level here.

Third of all, they apparently think someone should just hand them 8 million to do their study, This is a big chunk of the total funds allocated out there (and if it came from the feds, it would be a huge chunk of Ocean Sciences budget). Sorry, but there is no reason why they, over others who are already familiar with the region or who live there, should get this.

Fourth, They apparently want to reinvent the wheel. There are a lot of folks examining oil, undersea plumes, etc., etc. No Mention of this in the article.

And you know what? Many of us are concerned enough to do this on our own time. I am. I am also working with the system to get funds in a peer reviewed manner. These folks obviously feel entitled.

Rant over.

[pitohui]

1. it's the new gold rush

a great deal of BP money will be (already guaranteed) going to LSU and some "independent" scientists in california are pissed off that all money doesn't flow to california and that some southern bumpkins will be getting the money even tho in a lot of areas in question LSU is world class (i'm not aware of any institution in california on a level w. LSU's knowledge of ornithology for example)

[Junkdrawer]

2. Who is studying it now and how beholden are they to the oil industry?

:shrug:

[JuniperLea]

3. Good question...

:popcorn:

[jpak]

4. Ack - they aren't independent scientists - all of them work at universities or gov't labs

Some of those folks ARE tops in their field (methane hydrates, hydrocarbon stable isotope analysis, DOC photooxidation, methane seep ecosystems, modeling subsurface oil spills, and one worked on the Exxon Valdez spill) and I'm puzzled why they haven't been tapped already.

But yeah - I know lots of Gulf Coast university scientists that are wondering why they're proposals were never even considered by NSF.

is any of this fair?

nope