Hurley to Lead Sea Grant Research and Outreach

James P. Hurley, assistant director for research at Wisconsin Sea Grant, has been appointed assistant director for research and outreach at the UW Aquatic Sciences Center. As such, he will lead the Wisconsin Sea Grant Advisory Services program, replacing Al Miller, who retired last summer.

Hurley, an internationally regarded expert in water chemistry and environmental contaminants, brings a unique perspective to the advisory services program.

“We’re happy to have Jim managing research and outreach,” said Anders W. Andren, director of Wisconsin Sea Grant. “His thorough understanding of the complex water issues facing our state makes him an invaluable asset in determining research priorities and connecting them with outreach activities.”

Bringing together research and advisory services under a single administrator will enable a more direct correlation between the two, according to Andren.

“His experience dealing with water quality outreach while at the Department of Natural Resources also brings a fresh perspective to our program.” Andren said.

Hurley is excited about the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to working with such a talented group,” Hurley said of the Advisory Services staff. “These people are working on the front lines lending advice, educating the public on current Great Lakes issues and helping us identify research priorities. It’s what Sea Grant is all about.”

Hurley also will continue in his role as assistant director of the UW Water Resources Institute (WRI). The institute and UW Sea Grant comprise the UW Aquatic Sciences Center.

“Merging these two programs enables us to develop a complete portfolio of information about water resources in Wisconsin,” Hurley said, “and it gives us the opportunity to expand and use that knowledge to better serve our constituents through advisory services.”

Hurley said there are a number of important areas where Sea Grant and WRI compliment each other. One is the study of mercury and other trace-metal contaminants in water. Wisconsin Sea Grant and WRI each support projects in the area, effectively covering the waters of Wisconsin from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River.

Another common area of interest is aquatic nuisance species, which continue to make their way from the Great Lakes to inland lakes and rivers.

Hurley holds Ph.D. and master’s degrees in water chemistry from the UW-Madison, and an undergraduate degree in chemistry and environmental chemistry from Nasson College in Springfield, Maine. As well as being a research scientist and lecturer at UW-Madison, he served as a research water chemist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources from 1990 until last month.

Last updated 20 December 2002 by Karl
All contents copyright 2001 University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute

http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/Communications/news/LD_stories/2002/Hurley.html