{"id":15004,"date":"2023-04-17T10:09:28","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T14:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=15004"},"modified":"2023-10-05T14:07:19","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T18:07:19","slug":"new-community-collaborative-projects-amplify-overlooked-stories-engage-aspiring-scientists-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/new-community-collaborative-projects-amplify-overlooked-stories-engage-aspiring-scientists-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"New Community Collaborative Projects Amplify Overlooked Stories, Engage Aspiring Scientists and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contact:
\nJohn Fear,\u00a0jmfear@ncsu.edu<\/a>
\nKatie Mosher,\u00a0kmosher@ncsu.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Four new projects in North Carolina are launching this year as part of the\u00a0Community Collaborative Research Grant Program<\/a>\u00a0(CCRG).<\/p>\n

North Carolina Sea Grant<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0N.C. Water Resources Research Institute<\/a>\u00a0(WRRI) administer the CCRG Program in partnership with the\u00a0William R. Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science<\/a>\u00a0(KIETS).<\/p>\n

\u201cEach CCRG project is jointly led by a researcher and a community member, combining scientific knowledge with local expertise to address North Carolina\u2019s pressing issues, including water topics,\u201d says John Fear, deputy director of North Carolina\u2019s Sea Grant program and WRRI. \u201cThe collaborative and community-centered approach sets these projects up for success.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new projects will focus on: increasing awareness of African Americans in the fishing and seafood industries; engaging communities in local water monitoring; mobilizing youth to decrease plastic pollution in coastal waterways; and testing fish for algal toxin contamination to protect human health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe programs we have supported and continue to support engage inspiring leaders who are developing solutions to address issues that affect the lives of all North Carolinians and in particular vulnerable communities. These programs engage researchers, community leaders, teachers, faculty and students from K-12 and higher education, non-profit, business, and government leaders.\u201d Says Raj Narayan, Associate Director of KIETS.<\/p>\n

The new CCRG projects are:<\/h3>\n

Recognizing African American Participation in the North Carolina Seafood Industry<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Led by Barbara Garrity-Blake, president of\u00a0NC Catch<\/a>\u00a0and cultural anthropologist at Duke University Marine Laboratory, and John Mallette, commercial fisherman and owner of\u00a0Southern Breeze Seafood<\/a>, this project will document and share the stories of an underrepresented community of people who have long been vital to the fishing and seafood industries. Follow NC Catch on\u00a0twitter<\/a>,\u00a0facebook<\/a>, and\u00a0instagram<\/a>\u00a0for updates on this project.<\/p>\n

Embracing ways to engage research in the Walnut Creek watershed<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Led by Samantha Krop, Neuse Riverkeeper at\u00a0Sound Rivers, Inc<\/a>\u00a0and Angela Allen, director of the\u00a0environmental technology and management program<\/a>\u00a0in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC\u00a0State\u2019s College of Natural Resources, this project will provide the local community with training to monitor and advocate for water quality improvements in Little Rock Creek in Raleigh. The Walnut Creek Watershed was recently designated by the EPA as the 21st location to join the Urban Waters Federal Partnership program. Stay involved with what\u2019s happening in Walnut Creek by subscribing to the\u00a0Walnut Creek Wetlands Community Partnership<\/a>\u00a0email list.<\/p>\n

Connecting citizen science and youth action within local coastal communities to decrease plastic in our stormwater and advocate for clean water<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Led by Liz DeMattia of\u00a0Duke University Marine Lab\u00a0<\/a>and Lisa Rider of\u00a0Coastal Carolina Riverwatch<\/a>, this project aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution, and train and engage local high schoolers and communities in citizen science. Support this project by\u00a0adopting a drain in your community<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Spatiotemporal patterns of algal toxin contamination in small and juvenile fish across Albemarle Sound and its tributaries<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Led by Astrid Schnetzer of\u00a0NC\u00a0State University\u2019s Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences<\/a>, and Charlton Godwin of\u00a0NC Department of Environmental Quality\u2019s Marine Fisheries Division<\/a>, this project aims to determine whether consumption of fish from northeastern North Carolina could pose a risk to human health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science at NC\u00a0State University is privileged to be part of this community in support of these programs. We remain grateful to the NC Sea Grant and WRRI and the individuals leading these CCRG projects for their tremendous leadership and partnership.\u201d Narayan adds.<\/p>\n

Read more about Community Collaborative Research Grants.<\/a><\/p>\n

Get Involved<\/h4>\n