Background

1. National Oceanic & Atmospheric AdministrationEducational Partnership ProgramwithMinority Serving Institutions

2. Background • The Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Program is a NOAA-wide initiative administered through NOAA Research • The program uses the Department of Education definition of MSIs (e.g., HBCU, HSI, TCU) • The EPP/MSI Program was initiated in FY 2001 with a $14,976,000 budget appropriation • The program has a $15 M budget in FY2002

3. Program Goals • To increase programs and opportunities for students to pursue research and education in atmospheric, environmental, and oceanic sciences and remote sensing programs, principally among MSIs • To develop collaborative programs with MSIs that provide quality education to serve the interests of NOAA and the nation at large, and increase linkages between MSIs, other research institutions, the private sector, the NGO community, and NOAA facilities

4. Program Components • Cooperative Science Centers • Environmental Entrepreneurship Program • Graduate Sciences Program • Undergraduate Scholarship Program

5. Undergraduate Scholarship Program • Designed to increase the number of students who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in specific scientific areas or fields integral to NOAA’s mission • Approximately 10 students entering their junior year are selected annually, who have matriculated in the natural and/or physical science fields • Students participate in HQ orientation where they rotate through NOAA Line and Program Offices to learn about the programmatic and research objectives and potential career opportunities within NOAA

6. Undergraduate Scholarship Program • Students must have and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and make a commitment to pursue a degree in a NOAA related science to participate in the program • Program duration: two 10-week summer session • $4,000 scholarships awarded during academic year

7. Graduate Sciences Program • Specifically designed to recruit, hire and provide graduate level training to qualified women and minority candidates in NOAA-related sciences • Individuals are trained in a pre-determined course of study to meet the specificity of NOAA’s scientific occupations • Mentorships established between students and NOAA staff strengthen collaborative research in NOAA’s mission related areas • Applications are accepted annually from January thru March

8. Environmental Entrepreneurship Program • The program’s goal is to attract, train, mentor and retain underrepresented individuals to pursue careers, entrepreneurship opportunities and advanced academic study in NOAA-related fields • The program facilitates linkages between MSIs, the public and private sector, NOAA and the bureaus of DOC to ensure environmentally sustainable and economically viable local communities.

9. Environmental Entrepreneurship Program • The program provides annual grants or cooperative agreement awards on a competitive basis to approximately 13 MSIs • The funding supports outreach, education, applied research, and training programs

10. Environmental Entrepreneurship Program • One component of the program supports development and enhancement of MSI academic programs related to NOAA’s mission • Another component of the program supports the engagement of MSI students and faculties in demonstration projects that apply environmentally sound methods and technologies to address environmental issues in natural resource depleted areas.

11. Cooperative Science Centers Four Cooperative Science Centers were designated in October 2001, at MSIs with established programs and graduate degrees in NOAA related disciplines. The Centers are: • City College of the City University of New York, Remote Sensing; • Florida A&M University, Environmental Science; • Howard University, Atmospheric Sciences; and, • University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Living Marine Resources

12. Cooperative Science Centers • Each Center will create a Distinguished Professorship whose responsibility is to develop significant research projects along with other partners • The Centers will establish and/or expand electronic linkages to increase distance learning opportunities in NOAA related science among the MSIs • 17 MSIs have partnered with the 4 Cooperative Science Centers

13. The Atmospheric Sciences CSCLead Institution:Howard University Partner Institutions: University of Texas, El PasoUniversity of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Jackson State University NCAS HUPAS

14. NCAS Goals • The goal of the program is to increase the number of highly qualified, well-trained graduates in the fields of atmospheric sciences for employment opportunities with NOAA, NWS, and other weather-related fields • To establish a consortium of MSIs to form an atmospheric sciences center at HU, and to implement a comprehensive academic and research training program • The strategic objective is to develop and support a program in atmospheric sciences that will train and develop underrepresented students.

15. NCAS Research Themes • Improved prediction of precipitation in forecast and climate models through the development, validation and application of the Weather Research and Forecast Model (WRF) • Develop an observation site to complement sites at University of Maryland Baltimore County and NASA GSFC to create a mini observation system for focused model initialization and validation studies, for satellite validation; and for student training in weather instrumentation and measurements • Examine the extent to which quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) can be improved by integrating observations and modeling studies • Provide students experience and training in operation and research aspects of forecast and climate models, and research and application of state of the art and next generation meteorological instruments and measurement techniques

16. NCAS WRF Research Partners • NCEP • NCAR • NASA GSFC • ISWS • SUNYA • JSU • HU

17. Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC) LEAD INSTITUTION: Florida A&M University PARTNER INSTITUTIONS: Delaware State University Jackson State University Morgan State University South Carolina State University University of Miami

18. ECSC PRIMARY GOALS • Increase the number of underrepresented students in the atmospheric, environmental, and oceanic sciences to participate in NOAA related research. • Develop tools, including conceptual models, to assess the response of coastal ecosystems and communities to perturbation and develop measurement programs to monitor critical system attributes at NERR sites. (3) Improve the scientific basis for coastal resource management. (4) Facilitate community education and outreach relating to the function and significance of coastal ecosystems.

19. ECSC APPROACH • Investigate the structure of economic and social systems of coastal communities and their relationships to the natural system. • Implement an interdisciplinary approach to training future scientists, managers, and the communities they serve. • Conduct regional studies at NERR sites on targeted areas in sustainable management of coastal and marine habitats.

20. ECSC Organizational Structure NOAA Program Manager NOAA Key Contact Principal Investigator FAMU Technical Advisory Panel Management Advisory Com. Internal Management Team DSU JSU MSU SCSU UM Study Sites and Stakeholders

21. Cooperative REmote Sensing Science and Technology (CREST) Center NOAA-CREST LEAD INSTITUTION: City University of New York PARTNER INSTITUTIONS: • Hampton University (HU) • University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM) • Bowie State University (BSU) • University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) • Columbia University (CU)

22. Center Research Themes • Atmospheric Remote Sensing and Air Quality Monitoring • Estuarine, Coastal and Marine RS and Water Quality Monitoring • Remote Sensing Applications for Environmental Assessment and Forecasting

23. Atmospheric Remote Sensing and Air Quality Research • Satellite Data Analysis and Algorithm Development • Development of remote sensing and data inversion and analysis procedures for various NOAA sensors and future NPOESS satellite measurement packages (VIIRS, APS, etc.)-(CCNY,Columbia U., Hampton U, UMBC, UPRM) • Atmospheric Remote Sensing, Lidar/Sun Photometer • Elastic, Raman, and DIAL lidar measurements for high resolution range-resolved monitoring of aerosols and atmospheric gases (CCNY, Hampton U., UMBC) • Sunphotometry and radiometry for column loadings of particulates, ozone, NO2, and water vapor (CCNY, Columbia U., etc.) • Air Quality Assessment Including: Sampling, Surface Measurements, Lab Analysis • Mobile environmental measurements laboratory equipped with lidar, sunphotometer, and sampling instruments (CCNY). • Particulate and gas sampling (CCNY, BCC) • FTIR, GC-MS, and other analysis systems (CCNY, BCC) • Transport Modeling • MM5 modeling of atmospheric transport (CCNY)

24. Estuarine, Coastal, and Marine Remote Sensing and Water Quality Research • Satellite Remote Sensing and Data Processing (CCNY, UMBC) • High spectral resolution (MODIS) data for information on plankton blooms, freshet and coastal erosion. • Region specific algorithms for satellite data inversion (MODIS, SeaWiFS). • Radiation budget for near coastal environment (AVHRR, ETM). • Laboratory and In-situ Field Measurements (CCNY, Columbia U., Hampton U.) • Analyze aircraft data (GER & other partners). • Use a suite of commercial and experimental probes for field and laboratory and field studies of water parameters. Test sites: Shinnecock Canal and Peconic Bay (Long Island, NY). • Investigate the development of in-situ fiber optic probes that can simultaneously measure chlorophyll, CDOM absorption profiles and particulate matter (PSD) and refractive index. • Study eco-systems and sustainable fisheries using NOAA/Sea Grant baseline studies in the Hampton River for analysis (HU).

25. Remote Sensing Applications for Environmental Assessment and Forecasting • Hydrology • Soil moisture measurement and monitoring (CCNY, UPRM). • Remote Sensing and Hydrological Modeling - Use AVHRR data directly from the NOAA polar orbiting satellites along with data from GOES-EAST and GOES-WEST and NEXRAD radars to estimate key parameters for use in the initializing, calibrating, evaluating, and forecasting of hydrological models (CCNY). • Instrument evaluation for environmental impact, land use/ land cover change applications in the Chesapeake Bay and Long Island (BSU, CCNY) . • Hurricane Prediction • Correlate satellite-remote-sensed winds with data obtained from National Data Buoys to improve prediction methods for hurricanes and other severe storms (CCNY) .

26. Establishment of Committees • MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES • NOAA Management Committee • Internal Executive Committee • TECHNICAL COMMITTEES • NOAA Advisory Panel • Internal Technical Committee • External Advisory Committee

27. Expected Collaboration with NOAA Laboratories • Environmental Technology Laboratory’s Atmospheric Lidar Program • Multi-wavelength Lidar and DIAL for tropospheric ozone, aerosols and water vapor. • Lidar instrument development- compact and portable OPO-based uv-dial system • Lidar Signal Processing • Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) • ARL regional air quality monitoring programs in the north-east (such as the AIRMon program) with emphasis on correlating air quality to incidents of asthma in New York City • Aeronomy Lab and Climate Monitoring and Diagnostic Lab • Effects of ozone and aerosols and their effect on radiative transfer processes and resultant climate impacts.

28. Strategic Alliances • INDUSTRY • Raytheon – summer internships, student fellowships, exchange of industry and university scientists, expansion of research agenda. • Microsoft (in review) • Hewlett Packard (in review) • GOVERNMENT • New York State Dept. of State, Division of Coastal Resources • SUNY Albany Atmospheric Research Center

29. The Living Marine Resource Cooperative Science Center LEAD INSTITUTION: University of Maryland Eastern Shore PARTNER INSTITUTIONS: Delaware State University Hampton University Savannah State University Center of Marine Biotechnology University of Miami

30. Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center Center Theme: The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore and its partners will improve opportunities for, and retention of, students and faculty from underrepresented groups with the goal of increasing the number of students graduating in marine sciences.

31. Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center The Center’s missions are: • to conduct ecological research on marine and estuarine systems in order to promote education, research and advancement opportunities for all students to pursue careers in marine sciences; • to develop expertise and provide leadership in areas such as fisheries stock assessment, marine chemistry, critical habitat assessment, fishery socio-economics and aquaculture.

32. Education • Key Educational Components of the LMRCSC • The “Virtual Campus” • Expanded Curricula Through the Campus • Exchange of Center Academic and NOAA Scientific Personnel • Interactions with NOAA Scientists and Managers for: • Seminars • Workshops • Student Participation in NOAA Research

33. Science Initiatives • National Benthic Analyses Laboratory • Provide Service to NOAA • Provide Center For Scientific Interaction • Provide Virtual Data Base • Provide Projects for Center Graduate and Undergraduate Students • Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Production Facility • Develop Large Scale Production Facility • Conduct Research on Genetic and Environmental Factors Influencing SAV Survival • Provide Projects for Center Graduate and Undergraduate Students

34. Organizational Structure

35. For additional information, contact: Jacqueline J. Rousseau Ph: (301) 713-9437 Email: Jacqueline.J.Rousseau@noaa.gov