Ocean Leadership Contracted to Help Manage the Gulf Research Initiative
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Contracts Ocean Leadership to help manage the Gulf Research Initiative
The goal of this 10-year research initiative is to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon incident to improve society’s ability to understand, respond to, and mitigate the impacts of petroleum pollution to marine ecosystems, with an emphasis on the Gulf of Mexico.
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Ocean Leadership brought together academic, federal and industry experts to identify the science needs in the Gulf (http://www.oceanleadership.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/DeepwaterHorizonOilSpillSymposiumSummary.pdf), which ultimately became the research themes that are included in the Request for Proposals (RFP). Over the past year, we also provided advice to BP, the Research Board and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance( the five Gulf state governors) regarding best practices for managing comprehensive, merit-based, peer-reviewed research programs.
The scientific direction and funding decisions of the GRI will be made by the twenty-member Research Board. Half of the Board was appointed by BP and the other half was nominated by the Gulf States – with all members being highly respected scientists. The RFP released today will focus on the next three years of research on the fate and effects of the oil, gas and dispersants on the Gulf’s ecosystems and communities as well as technology development to improve response, mitigation, and remediation of these pollutants in the marine environment. Last year, BP provided $40 million of the GRI’s first year funding through fast action block grants awarded to Gulf research institutions and to the National Institutes of Health.
The GRI will be administered by the Gulf Research Initiative Administrative Unit, an internal division of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA). The Consortium for Ocean Leadership has been contracted by GOMA to help manage the program, including the research proposal review process in accordance with NSF standards for peer-reviewed research. The selection of the awards, based on our panel review summaries and recommendations, will be made solely by the independent GRI Research Board, which will follow NAS protocol for conflict of interest. Furthermore, all research findings and data will be shared publicly and published freely in peer-reviewed scientific journals, in accordance with NSF protocols.
In addition to running the peer review (but not selection) process, we have also been contracted by GOMA to manage the grants, to help enhance scientific opportunities through post-grant collaborations, and to publicize the results. These tasks clearly address our mission of shaping the future of ocean research and education and utilize the expertise we have developed over many years managing NOPP, IODP, OOI and the Census of Marine Life. We are very pleased to participate in this important long-term initiative and to ensure that the highest quality science is achieved to comprehend the long-term effects of the spill on the Gulf of Mexico, to help restore Gulf ecosystems and to better prepare our nation to respond to future incidents.
More information about the GRI and the RFP can be found at www.gulfresearchinitiative.org and questions regarding the RFP can be directed to the Research Board website: www.griresearchboard.org.
