The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) has announced plans to invest up to $105 million between 2015 and 2017 to support research consortia investigating the effect and impacts of hydrocarbon release into the environment. The funding will be awarded to four or more institutions over two years, under the program known as RFP?IV. GoMRI report that each team will be funded between $1 million and $7.5 million per year.
The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) has announced plans to invest up to $105 million between 2015 and 2017 to support research consortia investigating the effect and impacts of hydrocarbon release into the environment. The funding will be awarded to four or more institutions over two years, under the program known as RFP–IV. GoMRI report that each team will be funded between $1 million and $7.5 million per year.
GoMRI is an independent scientific research program that was established in 2010 following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster to investigate the impact of hydrocarbons released into the environment, in the Gulf of Mexico and the wider environment. The Research Board, consisting of 20 members, is responsible for decisions made regarding research projects funded by GoMRI. The RFP–IV program is similar to other programmes, but includes changes based on discussions between the initiative, the research community, citizens of the gulf communities, and stakeholders in the Gulf region.
Rita Colwell, chairman of the GoMRI Research Board said: "GoMRI continues to fund research in five thematic areas, but we have provided clarity to our public health theme.” She added: "We have been working diligently to identify information needed about oil spill effects and gaps in the research currently being conducted in the Gulf region. This request for proposals reflects changes based on what has been learned."
With the RFP-IV initiative, GoMRI will fund research consortia conducting integrated research in one or more of the following five thematic areas:
• Chemical evolution and biological degradation of the petroleum/dispersant system and subsequent interaction with coastal, open-ocean, and deep-water ecosystems.
• Physical distribution, dispersion, and dilution of petroleum (oil and gas), its constituents, and associated contaminants (for example, dispersants) under the action of physical oceanographic processes, air–sea interactions, and tropical storms.• Environmental effects of the petroleum/dispersant system on the sea floor, water column, coastal waters, beach sediments, wetlands, marshes, and organisms; and the science of ecosystem recovery.
• Technology developments for improved response, mitigation, detection, characterization, and remediation associated with oil spills and gas releases.
• Impact of oil spills on public health including behavioral, socioeconomic, environmental risk assessment, community capacity, and other population health considerations and issues.
Research teams interested in applying for RFP-IV support must complete a pre-proposal by January 15, 2014 to be eligible to submit a full proposal by the June 2, 2014 deadline.
Information about RFP-IV, including all official application requirements and guidelines, is available on the GoMRI website ( www.gulfresearchinitiative.org). Requests for clarification from potential applicants to the RFP-IV program must be submitted via the GoMRI website: gulfresearchinitiative.org/faq-rfpIV Related Links:Oil Sheen Mystery Solved by GCXGC Analysis
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