University of Michigan gets $25M NOAA grant for leadership of national estuarine research program

National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science at the University of Michigan gets a $25M NOAA grant for a period of five years from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2029.

Study in US: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted the University of Michigan a grant of $25 million to support collaborative research initiatives. These initiatives are about the pressing environmental challenges in the US coastal communities.

Jennifer Read, principal investigator at the NERRS Science Collaborative said, “After a decade of hosting the program, we are thrilled that NOAA has recommended our continued leadership of the NERRS Science Collaborative. We really appreciate NOAA’s confidence in our team and are deeply committed to supporting the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. With many innovative ideas on the horizon, the chance to continue with the program allows our team to bring them to life in collaboration with the NERRS, and make an even greater impact through collaborative science.”

Jennifer Haverkamp, the Graham Family Director of the Graham Sustainability Institute commented, “The NERRS Science Collaborative is central to Graham’s mission and impact, driving critical insights on collaborative science, coastal resilience, and climate change. Exemplifying Graham’s commitment to advancing research through collaboration, the Science Collaborative is grounded in listening to and responding to evolving community needs, working toward a more sustainable future.”

Research priorities and other details

The research will mainly focus on the following priority areas including change analysis, watershed dynamics, habitat adaptability, community resilience and adaptability.

Doug George, NERRS Science Collaborative program manager at NOAA, “The University of Michigan, which successfully managed the NERRS Science Collaborative from 2014 to 2024, was selected to continue its partnership role after a highly competitive evaluation process. This selection reinforces the university’s commitment to fostering place-based science that benefits the stewardship of economically significant coastal ecosystems.”

The aim is to develop innovative research techniques for estuarine and coastal management, knowledge transfer across the NERRS system, boosted connections between local communities and NOAA, and more engagement of diverse partners.

U_M and NOAA partnership will solicit proposals across country for knowledge-exchange projects and fund collaborative research.

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