A Two-Ocean Bouillabaisse: Science, Politics, and the Central American Sea-Level Canal Controversy

摘要: As the Panama Canal approached its fiftieth anniversary in mid-1960s, U.S. officials concerned about costs of modernization welcomed technology peaceful nuclear excavation to create a new waterway at sea level. Biologists seeking share funds slated for radiological-safety studies called attention another potential effect which they deemed far greater ecological and evolutionary magnitude – marine species exchange, an obscure environmental issue that required expertise underresourced life scientists. An enterprising endeavor support Smithsonian naturalists, especially biologists Tropical Research Institute Panama, wound up sparking heated debates between engineers oceans’ biological integrity among scientists whether megaproject represented research opportunity or threat. A National Academy Sciences panel chaired by Ernst Mayr failed attract congressional funding 10-year baseline program, but did stir scientific mainstream press threats sea-level canal might unleash upon Atlantic Pacific. This paper examines how proposed sparked political conversation risks mixing oceans time when many members engineering communities still viewed seas as impervious human-facilitated change.