Delaware Sea Grant Research Funding Proposals

The following research areas, along with their companion outreach components, have been identified as priorities for one year of funding to commence in February 2011 and end Jan. 31, 2012.

Healthy Coastal Ecosystems. Science and policy research and outreach in support of ecosystem-based approaches to managing coastal environments. Emphasis is on:

• Ecosystem processes and relationships between coastal stressors, particularly sea-level rise, and long-term human and ecosystem health.
• Marine spatial planning.

Sustainable Coastal Development. Research and outreach that address issues related to climate change and associated risks faced by coastal communities. Emphasis is on:

• Estimates of coastal inundation and sea level rise.
• Socio-economic data and modeling focused on assessing risk and impacts for coastal communities to climate change-related factors such as sea-level rise.

Hazard Resilience in Coastal Communities. Science and policy research and outreach that provide an informed basis for assessing the risks associated with living and working in coastal communities. Emphasis is on:

• Development of strategies that will help communities mitigate and adapt to climate change- related issues such as sea-level rise.
• Assessing community risks and vulnerabilities associated with coastal natural hazards and climate change-related issues.

Investigators who wished to participate in this one-year program of targeted research submited proposals, according to the guidelines outlined in this document, to the Delaware Sea Grant Office in spring of 2010.