By John Karl

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 3, 2005) – U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced today that the National Sea Grant College Program has awarded the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute nearly $2.0 million to support the second year of its federally approved 2004-06 program.

  

Coupled with almost $1.4 million in matching funds from the State of Wisconsin, the federal grant will support 26 Great Lakes-related research, outreach, and education projects during 2005-06 involving more than 100 faculty, staff, and students at seven UW System campuses (UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Superior, and UW-Manitowoc).

 

The National Sea Grant College Program is a network of 30 university-based programs administered through the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and dedicated to enhancing the practical use and conservation of coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources to create a sustainable economy and environment.

 

“With these funds, we can follow through on research addressing pressing Great Lakes issues in Wisconsin and throughout the region,” said UW Sea Grant Director Anders W. Andren. “We’re supporting research into the sources of bacterial and viral contamination causing Lake Michigan beach closings, understanding the impacts of invasive species like zebra mussels on Great Lakes ecosystems, and finding innovative ways to use satellites to monitor Great Lakes water quality. We’re also tackling the challenges of understanding the full impacts of dioxin on fishes’ health.”

 

A new UW Sea Grant project this year is developing options for protecting biologically diverse wetlands. Other, continuing research projects are analyzing Great Lakes food webs, assisting Wisconsin coastal communities with “Smart Growth” planning, and improving scuba diving safety. The grant will also support the work of six Sea Grant outreach specialists who provide free statewide assistance in aquaculture, toxic contaminants and water quality issues, coastal engineering, marine safety and education, geographic information systems, and fisheries and aquatic invasive species.

 

Education projects during 2005-06 include continued sponsorship of the Madison JASON project, an annual international science program for area middle school students and continued co-sponsorship of the Lake Sturgeon Bowl, a statewide quiz competition at UW-Milwaukee for selecting a Wisconsin high school team to compete the annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl.

 

For more information about the UW Sea Grant program, please see our home page.

For More Information:   

Anders W. Andren, Director, UW Sea Grant Institute, (608) 262-0905
Stephen Wittman, Communications Coordinator, (608) 263-5371
James Hurley, Assistant Director for Research and Outreach, (608) 262-1136
Mary Lou Reeb, Assistant Director for Administration and Information, (608) 263-3296

Conceived in 1966, Sea Grant is a national network of 30 university-based programs of research, outreach and education dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of the United States' coastal, ocean and Great Lakes resources. The National Sea Grant Network is a partnership of participating coastal states, private industry and the National Sea Grant College Program , National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration , U.S. Department of Commerce. The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program is administered by the Sea Grant Institute on the UW-Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin.

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posted 3 June 2005  by Karl

http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/communications/news_releases/2005/2005Grant.html