The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has announced 11 grant awards totaling $287,565 to assist in the recovery of Gulf of Mexico region scientific research efforts impacted by hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
These awards are the result of the second of two fast-track grant cycles for Scientific Research Disaster Recovery Grants announced last November to help with repair, replacement, or recovery of equipment, data, or other research materials damaged or lost as a result of the hurricanes and their aftermaths.
“As the 2018 hurricane season gets underway, it’s a good time to remember the significant impacts from last year’s hurricanes and that the recovery process is still underway for many,” said Maggie Walser, director of education and capacity building for the GRP.
“In the aftermaths of Harvey and Irma last year, the GRP set out to contribute what it could to help that recovery through a unique niche of offering grants to help scientists whose research was affected by the hurricanes pick up the pieces and carry on with work in areas that could ultimately help the Gulf region build resilience against future hurricanes.”
Affected scientists whose research pertains to the GRP’s focus on enhancing human health, environmental resources, and offshore energy safety in the Gulf of Mexico region were eligible to apply for grants of up to $50,000.
The awardees for the second cycle include Adeljean Ho of Bethune-Cookman University., which was severely hit by Hurricane Irma.
The award of $46,500 will support recovery of a research and demonstration project to evaluate and promote the effectiveness of using living shorelines to reduce nonpoint source pollution from urban runoff. Project sites were significantly damaged by Hurricane Irma and require reconstruction.
Eleven grant awards totaling $341,283 were announced in April for the first cycle of the GRP’s Scientific Research Disaster Recovery Grants. A total of 22 awards amounting to $628,848 have been made for both cycles.
