NOAA names Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to host cooperative institute

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today announced it has selected Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to host NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region.

North Atlantic right whales

Cooperative Institute researchers are developing methods to non-invasively assess the health of large whales, such as the endangered North Atlantic right whales pictured here. Photo credit: Michael Moore and Carolyn Miller, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (NOAA Permit #7355, FAA 333 Exemption #12618).

The cooperative institute will conduct and coordinate with its other academic partners on innovative, multidisciplinary research that will help inform decisions for sustainable and beneficial management of the U.S. Northeast continental shelf ecosystem.

The partners working with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution include University of Maine, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Rhode Island, Rutgers University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

The selection comes with a commitment of $37.9 million over the course of the five-year award, with the potential for renewal for another five years based on successful performance. NOAA made the selection after an open, competitive evaluation.

"The Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region brings together leading research institutions to advance our understanding and sustainable management of this important and dynamic ecosystem,” said Craig McLean, assistant NOAA administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. "The research will strengthen our nation’s Blue Economy, which depends on data and information to make sound decisions for a healthy ecosystem and strong economy.”

CINAR will conduct research focusing on five major areas that directly align with high priority NOAA scientific research:

— Sustained Ocean Observations and Climate Research

— Ecosystem Research, Observation, and Modeling

— Stock Assessment Research

— Protected Species Research and Recovery

— Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management

NOAA supports 16 Cooperative Institutes consisting of 43 universities and research institutions in 20 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. These research institutions provide strong educational programs that promote student and postdoctoral scientist involvement in NOAA-funded research.

For more information, please contact Monica Allen, director of public affairs at NOAA Research, at 301-734-1123 or by email at monica.allen@noaa.gov