by David McKinnie, NOAA Liaison, American Embassy Jakarta
July 2, 2010
Deputy Chief of Mission Ted Osius (right) and David McKinnie (left), NOAA liaison to the U.S. Embassy-Jakarta, watch video from the Okeanos Explorer INDEX-SATAL 2010 expedition during the U.S. Embassy-Jakarta 4th of July Celebration. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, INDEX-SATAL 2010. Download larger version (jpg, 161 KB).
At American Embassies around the world, one of the most important events of the year is the 4th of July celebration. Indonesia is large enough to merit three of them – in Surabaya, Jakarta, and Medan – on different days. This year, Jakarta celebrated the 4th on July 2nd. The celebration was special for NOAA and its ocean exploration partners in Indonesia.
The Ambassador requested that we highlight ocean exploration with displays in the foyer outside the ballroom. Four screens showed loops of remotely operated vehicle footage from this week and banners highlighted the INDEX-SATAL ocean exploration partnership. The Ambassador featured NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in his remarks before about 1,000 guests, using our ocean exploration partnership to describe the kind of relationship that Indonesia and the United States can and should have.
Members of the U.S. Embassy Jakarta IT team (left to right: Pak Awang, Ibu Melly, and Pak Yudi) pose in front of displays about INDEX-SATAL 2010 outside the ballroom of Embassy Jakarta’s annual 4th of July party. Help from the IT team was critical to developing the Jakarta Exploration Command Center and continuing to ensure it runs smoothly. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, INDEX-SATAL 2010. Download larger version (jpg, 878 KB).
The 4th of July celebration also brought together many friends and supporters who made the Okeanos Explorer visit and INDEX-SATAL possible. The photos in this log show Nada Marsuda (Ministry of Science and Technology), who coached us through the research permit process, and Murni Murniati (U.S. Embassy) who has been critical to every aspect of bringing the Okeanos Explorer to Indonesia. The Embassy IT team, which has adopted the Okeanos Explorer as its own, is also featured. And Dr. Jim Holden, chief scientist at the Jakarta Exploration Command Center, enjoyed his first ever Embassy 4th of July party.
On Monday, the Ambassador will visit the Baruna Jaya IV and participate in a ceremony to launch the ship to North Sulawesi and its rendezvous with the Okeanos Explorer on July 20.
The 4th of July celebration brought together many friends and supporters who made Okeanos Explorer’s visit to Indonesia and the INDEX-SATAL 2010 expedition possible. Nada Marsuda (left, Ministry of Science and Technology) coached us through the research permit process, and Murni Murniati (right, U.S. Embassy) has been critical to every aspect of bringing the Okeanos Explorer to Indonesia. Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, INDEX-SATAL 2010. Download larger version (jpg, 790 KB).
