Coastal Institute

we used the funds to conduct a statewide exit poll, paying for gas money and grad assistants.

We had some funds that were allocated to staff time for developing additional proposals on coastal and fisheries management.

The GIA was used to purchase an underwater drone to evaluate its efficacy in measuring the abundance of eelgrass at submerged aquatic vegetation mapping validation sites. A URI undergraduate student was engaged to assist in the fieldwork. This work was done in support of the Napatree Point Conservation Area Demonstration Site.

The GIA funds were used to support summer salary for PI Menden-Deuer. The time afforded me the opportunity to pursue funding from NASA to investigate optical proxies for grazing with collaborators. The grant is pending at NASA. Furthermore, I was able to help mentor Ms Andria Miller, an undergraduate student through a remote research project.

The GIA funds were used to allow a CRC staff member to attend the “Ecopath 35 years – Making Ecosystem-Based Management Operational” conference and training workshops, which were held in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, during December 4 to 11, 2019.

Support to analyze the final set of microplastics from Great Shearwaters. Support for Maya Morales-McDevitt to complete her manuscripts from her MS thesis. Funds enabled STEEP to collaborate with HSPH by swapping samples for complementary analysis for non-target PFAS and total PFAS. Enabled concept data for a successful proposal to SERDP.

Recent GIA support was used to purchase a faster, more powerful desktop computer that allows us to run software to analyze large, genetic-sequence data sets that our previous computer could not handle efficiently. In addition, funds were used to purchase kits for DNA extraction of zooplankton samples collected from recent Arctic cruises.

I used the GIA to purchase essential research equipment and supplies to carry out the proposed research.

GIA was used to cover association fees (Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economics Association; Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.) These associations host annual conferences which are important outlets to disseminate research related to the CI. GIA was also used to cover expenses for conference calls for interdisciplinary research.

GIA funds we used to expand our research efforts be providing much needed supplies for our research boat and sensor equipment. This allowed for grad and undergrad students to conduct their research projects by provide the gear needed for field work on our boat. A towing membership provided by GIA allowed for students to conduct efforts safely.

GIA funded a CRC membership to Humentum, a global membership association providing training, consultancy, and support, especially for USG programs. CRC and developing country staff can access courses at members only prices, increasing our ability to offer relevant training. GIA also funded proposal development level of effort for 4 CRC staff.

Funds were used for CRC staff time of Dr. Brian Crawford, Karen Kent and Sarah Gaines to work on a Ghana proposal now delayed and due out in Dec 2020. We also use that time to work on a interdisciplinary research proposal on women shellfishers and food security that was awarded to us - a 2-year project for $1.3 million project now ongoing.