SFOS Newsletter
Spring 2009
Spotlight
Coastal Marine Institute
by Sharice Walker,
CMI Technical Editor
The University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute was created in June 1993 by a cooperative agreement between the University of Alaska and the U. S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Alaska Region.
The purpose of CMI is to ensure that impartial and scientifically valid studies are completed on coastal topics associated with the development of resources such as natural gas, oil and minerals in Alaska’s outer continental shelf.
A sea anemone. Photo by Brenda Konar.
According to the first CMI annual report published September 1994, "Scientific information collected in support of leasing, exploration, and development decisions tends to be more readily accepted by the local and regional populace if the studies are conducted by well known, clearly independent, and scientifically respected local experts and institutions."
The cooperative agreement that formed CMI stressed the need to support education, as well as research. Scores of students have been funded through CMI over the years. From 1994 through 2008 an estimated $1.7 million has been allocated to student support.
A new 5-year agreement was signed in 2008 to continue the CMI program through 2012. CMI partnerships exist with just two other universities: Louisiana State University and the University of California Santa Barbara.
Also in 2008, CMI received a Cooperative Conservation Award from the U. S. Department of the Interior for long-term contribution to development of scientific knowledge within the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf. According to Department of the Interior numbers, during the first 14 years of CMI operations $13 million of Minerals Management Service funds were leveraged into $26 million worth of relevant marine-based research, due to matching contributions from 49 organizations.
The award citation states, "This partnership strengthens research in the areas of fisheries protection, biomonitoring, physical oceanography, and the fate of oil in the marine environment."
The research agenda is driven by the identification of specific issues, concerns, or data gaps by federal decision makers and the state and local governments that participate in the process. Research projects funded by CMI are required to have at least one active University of Alaska investigator, but cooperative research between the UA and state agency scientists is encouraged.
Photo by Thomas Weingartner.
Current active projects funded through CMI include:
SFOS Associate Dean Mike Castellini is the director of CMI.
Learn more about the Coastal Marine Institute at www.sfos.uaf.edu/cmi.
Click on the image to download the Spring 2009 newsletter (3 MB PDF).
Greetings from the Dean
During the last year, our faculty and staff considered future directions for our school by establishing a new SFOS strategic plan. This plan will allow us to build on our existing strengths and chart a new course for the next decade.
Princess Tours gives $100,000
to UAF Marine Advisory Program
Princess Cruises & Tours has donated $100,000 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for the support of the Marine Advisory Program.
SFOS scientists make headlines with Census of Marine Life findings
According to a Census of Marine Life press release in February, the waters of the Arctic and Antarctic share 235 marine species. CoML also documented the existence of 5,500 marine species in the Arctic and 7,500 in the Antarctic.
SFOS scientists key to Bering Sea studies
One of the richest and most productive marine ecosystems in the world, the Bering Sea region
provides more than half of the U.S. seafood catch and is home to dozens of marine mammal
species. It is also the source of ...
Juneau high school students do it again
For the third year in a row, high school students from Juneau have won first and second place in the Tsunami Bowl, Alaska's regional version of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl...
COSEE Alaska established; Sigman hired
Marilyn Sigman, a respected marine science educator from Homer, has been named education specialist for the new Alaska Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence in Anchorage.
SFOS dedicates Lena Point Fisheries Building
SFOS dedicated the new Lena Point Fisheries Building in Juneau on April 28. Governor Sarah Palin spoke at the ceremony and congratulated UAF on its contributions to fisheries science.
Other speakers included UA President Mark Hamilton, Representative Beth Kerttula and UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers.
Optimism during an economic recession
History shows that during tough economic times, more people decide to go to college. That's good news for SFOS, and good news for our state.
Standouts - Faculty and Staff News
Featured Faculty: Brenda Konar
Brenda Konar is an associate professor of marine biology who specializes in marine invertebrates and plants. She was raised in California, but she loves the chill and darkness of Fairbanks winters.
Spotlight on the Coastal Marine Institute
by Sharice Walker, CMI Technical Editor
The University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute was created in June 1993 by a cooperative agreement between the University of Alaska and the U. S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Alaska Region.
Featured Student: Megan Murphy
Megan Murphy already knows she wants to live and work in Homer,
Alaska, and is pursuing a graduate degree in biological oceanography at
UAF to help her achieve this goal. She is studying the oceanographic effects
on crab larval transport in Kachemak Bay.
Standouts - Student News
Other Student News
Featured photo
Mayumi Arimitsu, a master's degree student in fisheries, conducting her thesis research in Kenai
Fjords National Park.
