The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded more than $1.1 million to the University of Georgia Research Foundation to support programs and research conducted by Georgia Sea Grant.

The award funds program development in coastal and marine education, outreach, extension and program administration. The Georgia Sea Grant is one of 30 Sea Grant college programs located in coastal and Great Lake states supported by NOAA.

“This NOAA grant provides funding necessary to support research, education and extension, while providing decision makers and the public with the necessary science to better manage the marine issues in Georgia,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “NOAA and the Bush Administration are committed to working with the academic community to improve our understanding of the environment.”

Georgia Sea Grant works to “bring the coast closer” by combining research, education and outreach projects that identify the components critical to the economic, cultural, and environmental health of Georgia’s coast and encourage citizens throughout the state to become good stewards of the resources important to the coastal zone. Georgia Sea Grant does its work by channeling funds from NOAA into local research, education and outreach and by encouraging collaboration among government, academia and industry in responding to coastal needs. Over half of Georgia Sea Grant’s funds go directly into scientific research on Georgia’s coastal resources.

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 33 years.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov