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Phil Bass Gulf of Mexico Alliance February, 2011

Phil Bass Gulf of Mexico Alliance February, 2011. The Mission of GRI:. Improve society’s ability to understand and mitigate the impacts of hydrocarbon pollution and stressors of the marine environment, with an emphasis on conditions found in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Phil Bass Gulf of Mexico Alliance February, 2011

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  1. Phil Bass Gulf of Mexico Alliance February, 2011

  2. The Mission of GRI: • Improve society’s ability to understand and mitigate the impacts of hydrocarbon pollution and stressors of the marine environment, with an emphasis on conditions found in the Gulf of Mexico. • The knowledge accrued will be applied not only to resolve but also to improve the long-term environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico. • Increase the Scientific & Research Capacity in the Gulf

  3. The GRI Timeline • April 20, 2010: Deepwater Horizon Incident • Early May 2010: BP consultation sessions • May 24: GRI announced • June/August: Consultation with Gulf States and $40 million awarded in fast track block grants • September 29: Announcement to implement plan with Gulf of Mexico Alliance

  4. GRI Year One Funding: Fast Track Block Grants Awarded $5 Million: Louisiana State University $10 Million: Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), hosted at USF $10 Million: Northern Gulf Institute, hosted at MS State $5 Million: Alabama Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium $10 Million: National Institutes of Health

  5. GRI Year One Funding: Northern Gulf Institute Projects Mississippi USM – 13 MSU – 7 Ole Miss – 3 JSU – 1 Louisiana LSU – 9 UNO – 1 Alabama DISL – 9 USA – 1 Florida FSU – 4 Texas Harte - 1

  6. The GRI Key Provisions • BP has committed $500 million, level-loaded over a period of ten years for independent scientific research at academic institutions primarily in the U.S. Gulf Coast States • Funds to be distributed using peer evalutation (National Science Board Process) • Funding will be for sampling, modeling and studies, not acquisition of infrastructure • Research will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals with no requirement for BP approval.

  7. GRI Research Themes The physical distribution and ultimate fate of contaminants associated with the Deepwater Horizon incident The chemical evolution and biological degradation of the contaminants The environmental effects of contaminants on Gulf of Mexico ecosystems and the science of ecosystem recovery Technology developments for improved detection, characterization, mitigation, and remediation of offshore oil spills Integration of the previous four in the context of human health

  8. GRI Governance Model • Research Board • Comprised of 20 eminent, peer-accredited scientists (10 appointed by BP, 10 appointed by the Gulf States) • Develop Request for Proposal (RFP) • Select research consortia and other funded research • Authorize annual research programs • Members will not be eligible for GRI funding • Gulf of Mexico Alliance • Publicize RFP • Receive proposals from institutions • Arrange technical reviewers to evaluate proposals and summarize results to Research Board • Maintain accounting system and database • Produce annual report

  9. Selection of Research Consortia & Funded Programs

  10. GRI Next Steps • Issue Request for Proposals, Final Edits • Establish Date Proposals due to Research Board • May: Selection of research centers and funded research • June: Commence program research for program Year 2

  11. What Interested Institutions Can be Doing Now • Become familiar with 5 research themes • Review National Science Board Proposal evaluation process and National Academy of Sciences Code of Conduct • Network with other academic institutions to identify collaboration opportunities http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/documents/2005/nsb5119.pdf http://www.nsf.gov/attachments/10827/public/Conflict_of_Interest_Information.pdf

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