RIEP Funded Projects

RIEP projects supported in FY05

Scientific research and marine & technical services ($105K)
a. Scientific research cruise with educational component. $84K
GSO Chief Scientist David Ullman led a 5-day cruise offshore RI in early December 2004. Cruise participants included a Cranston high school teacher and several URI graduates students. The chief scientist and colleagues collected valuable datasets that will serve as the basis for a major research proposal to the US NSF. The data collected on Dave Ullmanís RIEP-supported cruise have been used as follows:

1. The hydrographic data were used in a proposal re-submitted in August 2005 to NSF by Ullman, Hebert, Kincaid, Codiga, and Brad Moran entitled "Collaborative Research: Observations of the Structure and Dynamics of Mid-Shelf Fronts." The URI portion of the budget for the proposed project is $702K. In January 2006, this proposal was recommended for funding by the National Science Foundation.

2. Thorium data collected on the cruise by GSO faculty member Brad Moran's group were used by GSO graduate student Elly Speicher in her recently completed thesis.

3. GSO Marine Research Scientist Vitalii Sheremet is working on a scientific manuscript based on analysis of data from crossings of the shelfbreak front. It was submitted in January 2006.

4. The data were also used for a proposal to the NSF ORION program: ìA Shelfbreak Coastal Observatory in the Middle Atlantic Bight - A PIONEER Array to study Shelfbreak Processes and Shelf/Slope Exchange,î by Gawarkiewicz, Flagg, Charette, Yoder, Sosik, Plueddemann, Owens, Edwards, Houghton, Sheremet, Bisagni, and Goodman.

b. Marine and Technical services vehicle. $21K
A new truck (gas powered, 3/4 ton, 4x4) was purchased for the Marine and Technical Services group. This group, often hauls heavy equipment to and from various ports in New England, such as Woods Hole, MA. The truck replaces one that was over 15 years old.

Education and outreach ($72K)
a. Equipment upgrade to enhance educational outreach capabilities $58K (expended).
Principal investigators Dwight Coleman, Bob Ballard, and Sara Hickox upgraded the satellite system to enable ship-to-shore communications. This allows internet connectivity from Endeavor to GSOís (Ballard) Inner Space Center and redistribution via Internet2 to public schools, libraries, and TV outlets throughout the state of Rhode Island and beyond. The RI State House also has an Internet2 broadcast facility.

b. Endeavor Public and Teacher Activities ($14K)
Sara Hickox, Director of GSOís Office of Marine Programs, and colleagues worked with chief scientists to place teachers on cruises. Sara Hickox, Mary Ann Scholl and colleagues organized ìAnatomy of a Research Cruise,î which is a special free program for RI school, college, and public groups, offered as part of URIís Narragansett Bay Classroom. A brochure on this program was printed and distributed in early January. Also, an educational/promotional video was shot and produced in 2005. The short (6 minute) video is available on DVD.

Port/Facilities improvements ($323K total)
a. Pier improvement. $281K (projected).
Major upgrade to the Narragansett Bay Campus pier that serves R/V Endeavor. URIís Paul DePace is project manager. As of February 2006, a successful bidder has been selected and work is scheduled to begin in summer 2006. Jeff Callahan is the point of contact on this project.

b. Safety and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems $42K (expended).
In response to requirements imposed by the Coast Guard and by the National Science Foundation (NSF), GSOís former Marine Superintendent, Bill Hahn implemented an International Safety Management System to ensure that R/V Endeavor complies with international safety standards and also with those associated with Homeland Security. Funds are also provided to support the completion of a computerized maintenance management system for the vessel. These projects were co-funded by the NSF.