National Undersea Research Program
Progress in oceanography in the past quarter century has been greatly assisted by the development of undersea technology. The National Undersea Research Program (NURP), within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, provides a unique national service by providing undersea scientists with the tools and expertise they need to work in the undersea environment. We equip scientists with submersibles, remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicles, mixed gas diving gear, underwater laboratories and observatories.
Our research programs cover a range of undersea environments from the shoreline to the deep sea, capturing nearly all the scientific disciplines. A compendium of NURP's scientific studies illustrates the significance of gathering information from the ocean, and the delight and dedication associated with ocean research and discovery. Beyond the glamour of diving on warm coral reefs, experienced scientists must overcome the many obstacles inherent in Earth's harshest environment. Undersea research requires risk and perseverance. The scientists' reward comes from overcoming the many obstacles and helping humans understand and live on the "water planet."
NURP's science programs are carried out by a series of regional centers around the nation. Projects are selected by peer-review, thus, opening up opportunities for undersea support to all of the nation's science community. Presently, the regional centers include:
- Caribbean: Perry Foundation's Caribbean Marine Research Center
- Hawaii and the Western Pacific: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
- Mid-Atlantic Bight: Rutgers University
- West Coast and Polar Regions: University of Alaska at Fairbanks
- North Atlantic and Great Lakes: University of Connecticut-Avery Point
- Southeast and Gulf of Mexico: University of North Carolina at Wilmington
For more information contact:
Barbara Moore, Program Director
National Undersea Research Program
1315 East West Hwy
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-2427, fax 301-713-1967
email barbara.moore@noaa.gov
http://www.nurp.noaa.gov
atmosphere | climate | oceans
organization | education
| newsroom | search | home