NOAA selects Univ. of Washington to host regional institute for climate and ocean research

The beluga whales that make their home in Alaska’s Cook Inlet have been the subject of studies by researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington’s Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean. (JISAO Photo / Manuel Castellote)
The beluga whales that make their home in Alaska’s Cook Inlet have been the subject of studies by researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington’s Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean. (JISAO Photo / Manuel Castellote)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has selected the University of Washington to host a Pacific Northwest research institute focusing on climate, ocean and coastal challenges, supported by a five-year award worth up to $300 million.

  • The Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean and Ecosystem Studies, or CICOES, will be a collaboration involving UW as well as the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and Oregon State University. It’ll build on the 42-year history of UW’s Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, under the continued directorship of UW marine biologist John Horne.

  • CICOES is one of 17 NOAA-supported cooperative institutes that bring together 57 universities and research institutions from 23 states and the District of Columbia. The new institute’s academic researchers will work alongside scientists at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Northwest Fisheries Science Center, which are all based in Seattle.

  • U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said in a news release that NOAA’s selection is a “big win for the University of Washington.” And Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., said having the research institute at UW is “great news for our region as we work to combat climate change.” There’s an option to renew the five-year award for another five years, based on successful performance.

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source: yahoo.com