SECOORA Awarded $2.015 Million from NOAA

SECOORA has received $2.015 Million in funding from the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). This funding will be used to support data management, observation, modeling, outreach and education activities in the southeastern United States. The funding is critical for maintaining the base of observing infrastructure that has been built over a number of years.  The funding is primarily distributed to over 18 principal investigators who are working directly with stakeholders to collect observations and develop products to meet key decision making needs.

Staff News

Welcome New SECOORA Team Members

SECOORA welcomes two new team members.  Megan Lee joins SECOORA as a full time Business Manager beginning January 1, 2012. Megan will assist with grant management and business development. For the past four years, Megan has been the Executive Director of the Michaux Conservancy, the environmental nonprofit of the Navy Yard at Noisette Project in Charleston, SC. Megan has extensive experience in grass roots holistic program and project creation, where she has integrated such initiatives as the Creating Resilient Communities Project into a local Council of Governments planning process as well as incorporating experts and universities into all community planning.

Chiaki Kight joins SECOORA to assist with financial management on a part time basis.  Chiaki comes from an extensive background in managing all financial aspects of larger organizations, most recently at the Medical University of South Carolina.

We welcome these new staff members and look forward to them helping make SECOORA an even more efficient and effective organization.

Farewell

Susannah Sheldon left SECOORA effective December 1, 2010.  We wish her the best in her future endeavors. 

SECOORA Science Committee Kicks Off Efforts to Refine Buildout Plan

SECOORA submitted a build out plan for the southeast to NFRA/IOOS in September describing the region's capabilities to address stakeholder product needs for the next 10 years. The build out plan will not only help fulfill the ICOOS Act of 2009 requirements of an independent cost estimate and annual regional gaps analysis but will provide important information for the National Ocean Policy #9: Strengthen and integrate Federal and non-Federal ocean observing systems, sensors, data collection platforms, data management, and mapping capabilities into a national system and integrate that system into international observation efforts.   SECOORA's science committee has been charged with moving the submitted plan forward, and they kicked off these efforts via a conference call in November. The committee will be working with stakeholders to do a comprehensive review of the products and services as well as observing, modeling, data management, education and outreach and R&D subsystem elements to prioritize the products and services and make sure the plan meets the user needs.

US IOOS Designates Dave Easter SECOORA's Official Point of Contact

As part of an ongoing effort to keep the lines of communication open between the regions and the IOOS office, the IOOS office has designated a point person for each Regional Association. Dave Easter will serve as the point of contact for SECOORA and can field questions and gather information from the IOOS office as needed.  Dave will also gain a better understanding of SECOORA's ongoing efforts and can relay information about SECOORA as needed back to the IOOS office.  Staff will be meeting with Dave monthly.  Dave is also the regional contact for the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and Great Lakes regions.

Comment Period for Regional Certification Criteria Open

On November 7, 2011 the National Science Foundation published a Federal Register Notice inviting public comment on the IOOC- approved certification criteria for Regional Information Coordination Entities (RICEs).  SECOORA will be submitting comments in coordination with NFRA and the other Regional Associations by January 6, 2012, the public comment deadline.  The federal register notice can be found on the IOOC website. 

U.S. IOOS 2011 Report to Congress delivered to the Hill 

As required by the ICOOS Act of 2009, the US IOOS office has completed the first biennial U.S. IOOS Report to Congress (2011). Per the Act, the final report was transmitted to Congress by the National Ocean Council - Deputy level on November 10, 2011. The report can be accessed from the ioos.gov website.

EPA Urban Waters Small Grants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expects to award between $1.8 to $3.8 million in funding for projects across the country to help restore urban waters by improving water quality and supporting community.  Proposals are due by January 23, 2012.  View the announcement and frequently asked questions.

PacIOOOS Seeks Deputy Director

The PacIOOS Deputy Director will be responsible for the coordination and management of data, outreach, and observing system implementation of the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS).  View the announcement.

A person with academic training in marine biology, ecology, fisheries, and spatial or landscape ecology is being sought for a full-time contract position with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch.  View the details and apply online.

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