Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME-II) consortium
The Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II (CCME-II) is a partnership led by Florida A&M University (FAMU) with the goal of making profound national impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems education, science, and policy. It is funded by a $15.4 million award over five years from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program (EPP).
CCME-II has four primary and interrelated goals:
- Increase the number of scientists, particularly from under-represented groups in the environmental, coastal and oceanic sciences;
- Enhance the scientific understanding of human interactions with the coastal environment in support of NOAA’s place-based management;
- Improve the scientific basis for coastal resource management by developing tools and research products to characterize, evaluate, and forecast coastal and marine ecosystem responses to natural and human induced stressors;
- Facilitate community education and outreach relating to the function and significance of coastal ecosystems.
CCME-II institutions bring forth a wealth of relevant academic programs and faculty with extensive expertise in coastal and marine ecosystems. Additionally, CCME-II institutions have well-established records of educating students from underrepresented groups in NOAA-related science and policy, preparing graduates for productive careers and conducting high impact research. Partners include:
- Florida A&M University (FAMU)
- The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
- Bethune-Cookman University
- California State University – Monterey Bay
- Jackson State University
- University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
Participating TAMU-CC faculty from HRI, the Department of Life Sciences (LSCI), and the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences (PENS) include:
- Jennifer Beseres Pollack, Ph.D., Larry D. McKinney Endowed Chair for Coastal Conservation & Restoration, LSCI Professor
- Dale Gawlik, Ph.D., HRI Chair for Conservation & Biodiversity, LSCI Professor
- James Gibeaut, Ph.D., HRI Chair for Coastal and Marine Geospatial Sciences, PENS Professor
- Xinping Hu, Ph.D., HRI Chair for Ecosystem Science & Modeling, PENS Professor
- Paul Montagna, Ph.D., HRI Chair for HydroEcology, PENS Professor
- Greg Stunz, Ph.D., Senior Executive Director of HRI, HRI Chair for Fisheries and Ocean Health and Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation Director
- Michael Wetz, Ph.D., HRI Chair for Coastal Ecosystem Processes, LSCI Professor
- Kristina Alexander, HRI Chair for Marine Policy & Law, PENS Professor