FROM THE TOS PRESIDENT
Deborah Bronk

Hello TOS members! The TOS Council continues to work on the next strategic plan for the society. This month I could use your collective brainpower to help us brainstorm ways to implement current goals in the draft plan.

GOAL 1 – CATALYZE PATHWAYS TO EQUITY IN PROMOTION AND TENURE

Implementation Ideas:

• Conduct literature review on promotion and tenure improvements, examine promotion and tenure models around the world
• Solicit white papers from the TOS membership and ocean science community at large on challenges and opportunities for promoting equity in the promotion and tenure process
• Host a Town Hall at OSM 2026 in Glasgow on the topic; draft manuscript synthesizing findings from the Town Hall; submit manuscript to high-impact journal documenting various alternative models to promotion and tenure
• Framing Question: How should productivity in one’s career be defined?
• Teach members how to ask for a promotion
• Draft an ocean science-specific set of best practices for tenure evaluation

GOAL 2 – FACILITATE BI-DIRECTIONAL NETWORKING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Implementation Ideas:

• Support bi-directional networking events that
  • help members find the jobs, and
  • help industry, NGOs, and agencies find the workers

GOAL 3 – PROVIDE ACCESS TO TRAINING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP MEMBERS GROW AND DEVELOP PROFESSIONALLY

Implementation Ideas:

• Host members-only online webinars for professional training with experts in the field. Topics could include leadership, management, bystander intervention, and resume building
• Create a curated list of online resources of other certifications or training
• Host an online career week during off-years of OSM, with CV-building webinars focused by career interest (academia, industry, etc.) and other focused topics
• Add language to emails/newsletters to encourage meeting attendance

GOAL 4 – INCREASE STUDENT MEMBERS’ SENSE OF BELONGING IN TOS

Implementation Ideas:

• Expand student opportunities for those who receive a travel award
• Include student opportunities for those who receive a research award
• Give students TOS swag

Please send your implementation ideas to [email protected] by October 1, 2024! The Council will review all suggestions prior to selecting the approaches we will use to accomplish the goal.