RandallE.HicksProfessorofBiology,and

Director,UMDCenterforFreshwaterResearchandPolicy

SeaGrantVision“TheNationalSeaGrantCollegeProgramenvisionsafuturewherepeoplelivealongourcoastsinharmonywiththenaturalresourcesthatattractedandsustainthem.ThisisavisionofcoastalAmericawhereweuseournaturalresourcesinwaysthatcapturetheeconomicandrecreationalbenefitstheyoffer,whilepreservingtheirqualityandabundanceforfuturegenerations.”

“ThisvisionreinforcesthevisionarticulatedinNOAA’s2006‐2011StrategicPlan:‘...aninformedsocietythatusesacomprehensiveunderstandingoftheroleoftheoceans,coasts,andatmosphereintheglobalecosystemtomakethebestsocialandeconomicdecisions’.”

from National Sea Grant Strategic Plan 2009-2013

MinnesotaSeaGrantVision“TheMinnesotaSeaGrantCollegeProgramenvisionsafuturewhereitscitizensuseascience‐basedunderstandingoftheenvironmenttoaddressissuesconcerningLakeSuperiorandMinnesota'saquaticresourcesandassociatedeconomies.”

“MinnesotaSeaGrant’smissionistofacilitateinteractionamongthepublicandscientiststoenhancecommunities,theenvironment,andeconomiesalongLakeSuperiorandMinnesota'sinlandwatersbyidentifyinginformationneeds,fosteringresearch,andcommunicatingresults.Moresuccinctlystated–SuperiorScienceforYou.”

from Minnesota Sea Grant Strategic Plan 2009-2013

I firmly believe achieving this vision depends upon equal, outstanding, and interactive subprograms that:

  Fund impeccable scientific studies that address coastal issues

  Extend research findings to stakeholders   Educate citizens about issues that science can help

solve

ThevisionoftheMinnesotaSeaGrantProgrammustbeconsistentwiththeNa:onalSeaGrantProgram’svisionof

“ScienceservingAmerica’scoasts”

Communica)on

RESEARCH

EDUCATION

EXTENSION

“Minnesota Sea Grant Family”

ScienceServingAmerica’sCoasts

Researchers

ResearchisanAnchorfortheSeaGrantCollegeProgram

Discovery-based research to better understand how aquatic ecosystems operate

Discovery-based Science

Directed Research

Directed research that anticipates issues and provides solutions

“Harness University Research Power”

JayAus:nandStevenColmandiscoveredwaysclimatechangehasmanifestinLakeSuperior*Since 1980, Lake Superior has:

  surface water warming twice as fast as air (2°F versus 1°F)   exhibited longer summer stratification (spring overturn 1/2 day earlier

each year)   experienced diminished ice cover (decreasing 0.5% per year)   showed increasing wind speeds over the surface (three times faster than

in 1980)

* Austin, J. A., and S. M. Colman. 2007. Lake Superior summer water temperatures are increasing more rapidly than regional air temperatures: A positive ice-albedo feedback. Geophys. Res. Letters 34:1-5.

Minnesota Sea Grant support of discovery-based research like this can help people and coastal communities plan for the future by anticipating problems and opportunities associated with a changing climate:

  lower water levels   more frequency and intense storms   longer ice-free shipping season   wind as an alternative energy source

PeterSorensenandhiscolleaguesisolatedamigratorypheromonethatmayhelpcontrolsealampreypopula:ons*

* Sorensen, P. W. et al. 2005. Mixture of new sulfated steroids functions as a migratory pheromone in the sea lamprey. Nature Chem. Biol. 1:324-328.

Minnesota Sea Grant support of directed research like this can help mitigate current and future problems our coastal ecosystems face

But, the relatively quick reversal of eutrophication in Lake Erie was due in part to its relatively short turnover time compared to a larger body of water like Lake Superior.

Changingthetrajectoryofeutrophica:oninLakeEriewasoneofthegreatenvironmentalsuccessstoriesofour:me.

ThechallengeforLakeSuperiorthenistoan:cipateissuestopreventfuturedegrada:on.

Thus, an appropriate approach for Minnesota Sea Grant is to support both:   Discovery-based science to better understand how this lake

and its watershed operate   Directed research that anticipates issues and develops

solutions and technology to mitigate current and future problems

There must be research and extension responses before an issue becomes so large that there is less opportunity for change

 Funding more multidisciplinary research to discover how the Lake Superior ecosystem functions, which can lead to science-based approaches to respond to new stresses and conservation of the watershed, pristine shorelines, and deep blue waters of this great lake for future generations.

 Supporting more directed research that identifies and solves coastal issues and problems encountered by communities, businesses, and governments so these groups seek our assistance and applaud the creation of Sea Grant College Program

ResearchersExtensionSpecialists

Stakeholders

ExtensionistheCri8calLink

Often overlooked, is the important role extension professionals play in communicating stakeholder’s problems back to scientists, so that the research power of universities can be tapped to address these problems and provide solutions.

Minnesota Sea Grant should provide opportunities for greater engagement between scientists and extension professionals within the Sea Grant “family” to further develop a rapid response capability

GreatLakeandmarinecoastsfacecommonissuesthatarecomplex,manyofwhicharelinkedtopopula:ongrowth.

  Climate change   Declines and changes in fish and shellfish stocks   Habitat destruction   Invasive species and ballast water discharge   Shoreline development and land use   Environmental degradation   Human health issues

Common problems like these provide opportunities for extension partnerships as well as research collaborations

Manystudentsinundergraduateandgraduateprogramsinenvironmentalandaqua:csciencesdesirealterna:vestocareersinresearch...

Let’s explore establishing a Minnesota Sea Grant Graduate Fellowship to support student career development in non-research areas that would also enhance the extension and education missions of Minnesota Sea Grant

 Providing opportunities for greater engagement between scientists and extension professionals, so research results are rapidly mobilized to serve stakeholders and university research capabilities can be quickly focused to help solve emerging problems stakeholders face

 Assisting the training of future extension professionals and educators (as well as research scientists), who will be crucial for sustainable development and maintaining the health of the Minnesota’s coastal areas

Educa8onandCommunica8onareKeyElements

  Delivering accurate, science-based information

  Communicating important issues to students and citizens as they arise

  Helping the public identify reliable information

  Promoting the program’s successes, increasing it visibility, and supporting the needs of stakeholders, communities, and policy makers

Communica)on

RESEARCH

EDUCATION

EXTENSION

TheSeaGrantCollegeProgramisviewedasanunbiasedorganiza:onandisposi:onedtoplaykeyrolesthatotherorganiza:onscannotplay

Is there a reason Minnesota Sea Grant cannot embrace a variety of communication technologies so science-based information reaches more people and reliable information is more easily recognized by the public?

  Partnerships on issues of common concern   GLRRIN: Great Lakes Regional Research and Information Network

  Enhancing the relevance of science to citizens and increasing public awareness of issues our coasts face

  Water on the Web   Weather and stream data animations for television   Lake Superior real-time data kiosk at Great Lakes Aquarium

  Exploring other new ways to communicate with constituents [YouTube, Twitter, etc.]

 Serving Minnesota’s citizens in ways that more people understand how science serves our coastal zone and the management of our aquatic resources

 Reaching a larger portion of Minnesota’s communities and policy makers through emerging communication technologies to increase understanding of the importance of Sea Grant’s mission to Minnesota’s economy and the conservation of its natural resources

•  Oceanographerandmeteorologist

•  JoinedWHOIin1936anddevelopedthebathythermograph–helpedshipcaptainses:matesonar’srangeofeffec:venessduringWorldWarII

•  Dean,UMIns:tuteofTechnology1949‐1966–  Creditedforproposingthe

establishmentoftheSeaGrantCollegeProgramin1964

–  Proposedgran>ngeachSeaGrantcollegeacubickilometerofocean

MinnesotaSeaGrant’sCumula:veFunding

from Minnesota Sea Grant web site: http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/about/history

Minnesota Sea Grant’s funding from federal and state sources have increased roughly at the rate of inflation during the past 30 years.

Extramural funds obtained during the past 14 years were responsible for much of the growth in Minnesota Sea Grant’s funding base.

America’seconomyisnowinarecessionandwehaveenteredaperiodofdwindlingresources,but...

I will seek to enlarge Minnesota Sea Grant’s effective funding base by:   Expanding our resources through partnerships with other groups

concerned about issues we have in common. [NERR, LCCMR, DNR, MPCA, other state Sea Grant programs]

 Helping scientists leverage Sea Grant research funds with funding from other organizations. [NSF, EPA, NOAA, USACE, business, foundations]

  Acquiring additional extramural funds for Minnesota Sea Grant’s extension and education activities by promoting collaborations between scientists and our extension professionals and educators.

  Seeking support for fellowships that help train future extension professionals, educators, and policy makers as well as scientists.

 Being increasingly successful at creating a larger effective funding base by leveraging its existing base budget and acquiring additional extramural funds to support the research, extension, education, and communication efforts valued by Minnesota’s citizens, businesses, communities, and policy makers

  Increasing efforts to provide unbiased, science-based information that is vital for sustainable development, management, and conservation of our aquatic natural resources

ThenextMinnesotaSeaGrantDirectormustbe:

  Committed to the Sea Grant concept and vision   Respected for achievements in aquatic research,

education, and service within Minnesota and the nation

  Able to lead the program to a larger effective budget, an enhanced regional presence, and increased national visibility

  A persuasive, goal-oriented leader and decision-maker

  Able to convince Minnesota’s citizens and politicians of the program’s importance to the state’s economy and coastal resources

  A fresh perspective from outside Minnesota Sea Grant that compliments existing strengths of the program

  Broad knowledge of marine and aquatic sciences, and issues facing the Great Lakes and coastal marine areas

  Significant research experience on a diverse range of topics affecting Great Lakes and other aquatic systems

  Professional interactions with a wide variety of Great Lakes and marine scientists, funding agencies, organizations, and businesses

  Development and support of graduate education in aquatic sciences

  A record of actively promoting Minnesota’s freshwater research, extension, and education activities

  Proven record of sound organizational management   Demonstrated fundraising skills   Recognized leadership in aquatic sciences

  sustainable development of aquatic resources,   maintaining the health of coastal ecosystems, and   preserving our coastal areas for future generations.