<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br></div><div> The Woods Hole Sea Grant (WHSG) program will hold an informational meeting to discuss its 2014-2016 Omnibus Request for Proposals on<b> Friday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m.</b> in the Redfield Auditorium in Woods Hole.</div><br><div><div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial">Based at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHSG supports research, education, and extension projects that encourage environmental stewardship, long-term economic development, and responsible use of the nation’s coastal and ocean resources. It is part of the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a network of 30 individual programs located in each of the coastal and Great Lakes states.<o:p></o:p></font></div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial"> </font></div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial">Sea Grant’s legislative charge is to “increase the understanding, assessment, development, utilization, and conservation of the nation’s ocean and coastal resources by providing assistance to promote a strong educational base, responsive research and training activities, and broad and prompt dissemination of knowledge and techniques.”<o:p></o:p></font></div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial"> </font></div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial">During the current 2012-2014 funding cycle, WHSG is supporting 12 concurrent research projects. The average award is $50,000 per year. Sea Grant proposals require a match of $1 of non-federal funds for every $2 of federal funds requested.<o:p></o:p></font></div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial"> </font></div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial">In keeping with the strategic plans of the NSGCP and Woods Hole Sea Grant, the theme areas for 2014-2016 are Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture<span style="color: navy; ">, </span>Resilient Communities and Economies, and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development. However, pre-proposals representing other areas will be considered.<o:p></o:p></font></div><div style="margin: 0in -5.95pt 0.0001pt 13.5pt; "><font face="Arial"> </font></div><font face="Arial"> </font><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; ">For further information, including a calendar of important dates, changes in submission requirements and a list of current projects,</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; "> please visit our website at <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/seagrant">www.whoi.edu/seagrant</a>.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; "><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; "> Questions may be directed to Judy McDowell, director, at <a href="mailto:jmcdowell@whoi.edu">jmcdowell@whoi.edu</a> or 508-289-2557.</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; "><br></span></div></body></html>