Grants to Support Community Collaborative Research

Students from Chowan University collect cores as part of an ongoing community collaborative project. Photo by Bo Dame

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
John Fear at 919-515-9104, jmfear@ncsu.edu
Katie Mosher, 919-515-9069, katie_mosher@ncsu.edu

Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Updated Dec. 12, 2016, with URL for the funding opportunity.

North Carolina Sea Grant is requesting applications for the second round of its Community Collaborative Research Grant Program, thanks to an ongoing partnership with the William R. Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science at NC State University.

“After a successful first year, we again seek proposals that focus on creative problem solving for environmental and regulatory issues,” explains Susan White, Sea Grant executive director.

Funded projects will bring local knowledge and intuition within coastal communities together with academic rigor of university researchers. That combination, along with strong field research, should result in recommendations likely to be accepted by resource managers, industry leaders and other groups, White adds.

Known as CCRG, the program leverages funding from Sea Grant and Kenan programs. Projects can fit into one or more of Sea Grant’s five focus areas: Healthy Coastal Ecosystems; Sustainable Coastal Development; Safe and Sustainable Seafood Supply; Hazard Resilience in Coastal Communities; and Environmental Literacy and Career Initiation.

“Our partnership with Sea Grant will support projects that provide opportunities for researchers and economic developers to work together in order to develop innovative approaches for addressing community needs,” says Raj Narayan, associate director of the Kenan Institute.

Proposal Planning Highlights

CCRG project teams must include at least two people — a scientific expert and a local-knowledge expert. These roles may be faculty or staff members from North Carolina-based institutions of higher learning, staff from local or state governmental entities in the state, representatives of nongovernment organizations based in offices in the state, and N.C. business owners and citizens.

Grants will range between $2,000 and $25,000. Matching funds are not required but are encouraged. Teams are limited to a one-year research project, with a start date of about April 1, 2017.

Proposals must use the 2016-17 CCRG application form. The template and instructions are available here.

Proposal deadline is 4 p.m., Jan. 12, 2017. Proposals can be hand-delivered, mailed or emailed. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. Email proposals to Vanda Lewis at vlewis@ncsu.edu. Mail or deliver signed applications to Vanda Lewis, North Carolina Sea Grant, NC State University/CMAST, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557.

For more information, academic partners may contact John Fear at 919-515-9104. Community partners may contact Scott Baker at 910-962-2492.

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North Carolina Sea Grant: Your link to research and resources for a healthier coast