Overview
The U.S. Virgin Islands EPSCoR (VI EPSCoR) Research Infrastructure Improvement program was funded in January 2004.
Goals:
- Establish and sustain nationally competitive research in biocomplexity of Caribbean coral reefs.
- Provide support for the creation of new nationally competitive research areas in the territory.
- Enhance the ability of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) to acquire and manage, at high levels, the resources and culture of competitive research grants.
Advisors:
- VI EPSCoR Governing Board
- Virgin Islands Assembly
- EPSCoR Directors (Kansas, Puerto Rico)
- Selected nationally competitive experts in research and education
Partners:
- University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science
- Florida International University
- University of Washington, Seattle
- University of Oklahoma
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)
- University of Puerto Rico, Sea Grant
- University of Arkansas
- U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife
Research Focus Area:
Biocomplexity in Caribbean Coral Reefs
VI EPSCoR aims to develop a Center of Excellence in the study of coral reefs. This research focus area is especially appropriate for initial VI EPSCoR support due to the social and economic importance of coral reefs to USVI. This area will also take advantage of existing USVI scientific expertise.
Coral reefs are biologically diverse and structurally complex systems that occur throughout tropical regions of the world. They are characterized by dynamic interactions both within and between adjacent marine habitats and are influenced by the ebb and flow of coastal and oceanic waters and runoff from land. Coral reefs are vital in terms of coastline protection, economic resources, and biodiversity. USVI has many advantages for the study of coral reefs:
- Central location within the Eastern Caribbean with the convenient privileges of a U.S. territory
- Close proximity to relatively healthy, abundant and taxonomically diverse coral reefs
- Easy access to contrasting undisturbed remote reefs and reefs impacted by human population centers
- Easy access to shallow and deep coral reefs and other marine ecosystems
- Positioned mid-current between several Caribbean islands and near a key Atlantic-Caribbean junction
- Located upstream in the feed waters of the Florida Current and Gulf Stream
- Faculty expertise in molecular systematic techniques, cladistic analyses, and hydrographic analysis
- Established Geographic Information System mapping of marine and terrestrial systems and data management experience
- Recent establishment of NOAA meteorological and oceanographic data logger buoys
- Some of the longest and most comprehensive coral reef monitoring datasets in the Caribbean
- Established and developing national marine protected areas
Research in the biocomplexity of Caribbean coral reefs is designed to gain a more complete understanding of their natural processes and cycles and will include interdisciplinary studies of the interactions of the various components as well as their interactions with the surrounding environments.
Other VI EPSCoR Research Funding Opportunities
Each year VI EPSCoR will provide seed funding to researchers for the development of research ideas and projects. Through this activity, VI EPSCoR will provide an "incubator" for future areas of research excellence. Preference for incubation support will be given in areas that (1) provide ample opportunities for faculty members to enhance their research expertise through collaborations with other universities and research institutions, (2) include opportunities for research experiences for undergraduates and K-12 students, (3) allow UVI to establish research that can stimulate economic growth for the greater USVI community, and (4) provide an opportunity for sustainability through Federal or local grant funding or local long-term commitment.
Incubation support will consist largely of release time for developing the concept and writing proposals, tutelage under nationally recognized experts, support for contacting external mentors, modest fundamental equipment, and support for student involvement.
Other VI EPSCoR Infrastructure Initiatives
Education Initiatives
- Establish graduate degree programs in marine and environmental sciences and in mathematics and science for teachers.
- Increase the interaction of K-12 students with research and other university faculty.
- Increase the connection between scientific research and the K-12 curriculum.
- Increase research experiences for undergraduates.
Information Technology (IT) Initiatives
VI EPSCoR will upgrade IT facilities and equipment to meet the needs of researchers. Upgrades will include a maintenance system for tracking all UVI research equipment and integrated maintenance/help desk responses, delivery of 100MB to researchers' desktop computers, and establishment of DS3 connectivity to the Internet, creating the opportunity for Internet2 connectivity.
Library and Information Resources Upgrade
VI EPSCoR will provide resources to:
- Create an information environment, physical and virtual, that supports increased levels of faculty involvement in research
- Provide the information research tools necessary to support such an environment
- Provide a powerful search engine and alternate access to online full-text periodicals
- Offer the assistance of skilled subject information specialists to provide research assistance
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