Past chairs have included: Worth Nowlin (Texas A&M University, 1998-2002), D. James Baker (NOAA, 2003-2005) and John Field (University of CapeTown, 2006-2008).

The incoming chair will be a leader in global and/or coastal oceanography science and/or services. Women and scientists from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

The chair will be appointed by the four sponsors of GOOS – the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, UNEP, WMO and ICSU - for a three-year once renewable term, formally beginning on January 1, 2009, but with initial duties as ‘chair elect’ at the next meeting of the GSSC, April 8-10, 2008 in Paris.

Further information about GOOS, including the terms of reference for the Scientific Steering Committee, are available on the GOOS website.

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the Director of the GOOS Project Office, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it   (+33 (0)1 45684042).

Applications or nominations should be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it   by December 31, 2007, and should include a full cv and a completed ICSU cv template (on-line).