The Portal Official Newsletter of the Northern Gulf Institute www.NorthernGulfInstitute.org December 2008 A NOAA-sponsored cooperative institute for developing research at academic institutions in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Region. NORTHERN GULF INSTITUTE MARSHALS RESEARCH AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES Annual Meeting Provides Forum for Researchers to Collaborate on Ecosystem Management Issues Facing the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem management is the new approach natural resource manag- ers in the Northern Gulf of Mexico region are using to ensure healthy marine populations of increased social and economic value. This new management direction expands human impact focus, crosses political boundaries, and involves multiple partners. The goal of large-scale eco- system management requires significant concerted efforts to marshal the disparate efforts by government, academia and non-governmental organi- zations to get them all pulling in the same direction. To help integrate these distinct activities, the Northern Gulf Institute hosted its 2nd Annual Conference on May 13-14, 2008, in Biloxi, Mississippi at the Beau Rivage Resort. The five research institutions are working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the NGI, a NOAA Cooperative Insti- tute. Under the auspices of the Institute, Mississippi State University co- ordinates the research, education and outreach of MSU, University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, resource agencies, and NGOs in the Northern Gulf of Mexico region and its environs. According to Dr. David R. Shaw of MSU and Director of the NGI, “This is the primary event of the year that brings together the foremost scientists working in this region to share results, and to work toward integrating research that addresses important problems facing the Northern Gulf.” (Continued on page 2) To submit info or ideas for upcoming newsletters, please contact: Debbie McBride, Editor at [email protected], or Joby Prince, Co-Editor at [email protected]. (Continued from page 1) Intern Project Has Successful First Year What is metadata? Not many people know metadata is informational data about data, but the six students who re- A diverse group of over 150 researchers, students, and cently completed a summer internship created by the NOAA resource program coordinators attended the conference. National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) can Organizations represented included the five NGI academic tell all about it. member institutions, NOAA, the National Aeronautics and They learned about metadata and a whole lot more dur- Space Administration, various state and federal agencies and ing the inaugural year of this unique project. Partnering with NGOs. Dr. Richard Spinrad, Assistant Administrator of the Northern Gulf Institute, Jackson State University, and the NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, deliv- NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informa- ered the conference keynote address, highlighting the coop- tion Service (NESDIS) Diversity Council, NCDDC create the erative institute’s role in NOAA’s success, and the impor- NESDIS NGI Minority Program to provide career opportuni- tance of quality, relevance, and performance. ties in geospatial metadata management and coastal ecosys- NGI project principal investigators participated in an in- tem metadata creation for undergraduate and graduate stu- depth poster session which showcased the accomplishments dents from diverse communities. NCDDC developed the of the 39 NGI projects. Graduate students competed in concept for the project to target students, colleges, and de- poster and photography contests for prizes donated by the gree majors underrepresented in NOAA. The six students Hancock Bank and Mississippi Power Company. The confer- who were selected for the 2008 internships were both un- ence included sessions to provide an opportunity to share dergraduate and graduate students, and had a variety of major results of the ongoing research and to discuss opportunities degree areas. Five of the interns attended Jackson State Uni- to collaborate on new projects. Breakout sessions focused versity in Jackson, MS and one attended Hinds County Com- on how to coordinate research data collection and sharing, munity College in Raymond, MS. and on how to expand the research efforts to the scale of the entire Northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Graduate stu- dents enjoyed a special career development session while cruising on the historic Biloxi schooner sailing vessel. A spe- cial presentation was made to honor Dr. George F. Crozier, who recently retired after directing the Dauphin Island Sea Lab for 30 years, for his years of dedication to the research and stewardship of the Northern Gulf region, and for his con- tributions in the establishment of the Institute. NGI External Affairs Officer Sharon Hodge who helped organize the conference was pleased with the success of the event. “Bringing together the researchers and coastal pro- gram managers at the NGI Annual Conference is an impor- NOAA NGI interns travelled to Stennis Space Center to share their new tant step toward helping NGI supply research and outreach expertise with program trainers and organizers. Pictured above are: Whitney Venson, Quanessha Trimble, Sharon Hodge, Kathy Martinolich for this entire region in order to support NOAA’s ecosystem (NOAA), Cassandra Patrick, Jessica Vaughan , Gregory Jones, Tisha management goals. We received great feedback and are plan- Brown, Russ Beard (NOAA), and Julius Baham (JSU). ning an even larger conference next year.” “Our ultimate goal,” explained NCDDC Director Russ Save the date for the next NGI Conference, May 20-21, Beard “is to train and educate the students, and at the same 2009 in Mobile, Alabama. Details will be posted on the web. time provide an avenue to the tremendous career opportuni- ties at NOAA.” The interns were assigned unique data sets to work on at The Trent Lott Geospatial and Visualization Research Center at Jackson State University with the help of their individual NCDDC mentors both in person and remotely. They culmi- nated their experience by visiting NCDDC at Stennis Space Center, MS, to give a presentation about each project during the NESDIS Weekly Meeting to an audience which included the NESDIS Assistant and Deputy Assistant Administrators, and the Directors of the NGI, the NOAA National Oceano- graphic Data Center, and NCDDC. The NESDIS NGI Minority Interns for 2008 were: Tisha Brown, Gregory Jones, Cassandra Patrick, Quannesha Trim- ble, Whitney Venson, all of Jackson State University, and Jes- Conference attendees discuss NGI research at this year’s gathering in Biloxi. www.NorthernGulfInstitute.org sica Vaughan of Hinds County Community College. NGI con- Lessons Learned, and Operational Oceanography. tinues to work with NOAA NCDDC and its partners plan to Conference organizers recently began their search for continue and expand the project. exhibitors and patrons for various events and objectives. More than 90 booths have already been sold and a number of George Crozier Resumes the Helm at patrons have been identified, which are indications of the popularity of this conference and the Biloxi venue. The last Dauphin Island Sea Lab Oceans conference held in Biloxi in 2002 featured nearly 500 George Crozier has resumed the position of Director at technical papers, 2000 attendees, and 180 exhibitors. the Dauphin Island Sea Lab after the sudden death of the lab’s This year, patron opportunities are focusing on bringing director Dr. Scott Quackenbush. We are greatly saddened more students to the conference and its events. For exam- by Scott’s loss and appreciative of the important contribu- ple, an “Adopt-A-Student” patron opportunity for $2500 will tions he made to NGI this summer. We are also grateful to allow more college and graduate students to enter the poster have George rejoin the NGI Council of Fellows — a role he competition. The same amount will allow a high school class helped define as a founding member. to attend the outreach program that will feature a trip Excerpt from the Press-Register::Marine scientist L. Scott through the Exhibit Hall. Information on college opportuni- Quackenbush, executive director of the Dauphin Island Sea ties in the marine field are being solicited for this program Lab and NGI Fellow, died on Sunday, October 12, 2008, after that is intended to help inspire the next generation of marine a brief illness, according to Sea Lab officials. Quackenbush technologists. A Career Fair will also pair students about to assumed the Sea Lab's top job in July, guiding operations at graduate with prospective employers. Alabama's institution for marine science research and educa- The Northern Gulf Institute is participating in the planning of tion. He had moved to Alabama after working at the 7,400- the conference and will have a significant presence at the confer- student campus of Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. ence with a quad booth in the Exhibit Hall, participation in the He was associate dean for marine science programs and di- student and outreach programs. Please contact Jim Corbin at rector of the marine lab. [email protected] for more details to join in the NGI exhibit "Scott was very, very good at listening to people," said and educational activity planning. For more information about the John Dindo, the Sea Lab's senior marine scientist and assistant conference in general,