Proposal for the Operation of Regional Class Research Vessel #3 in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and southwestern Atlantic Ocean

University Of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg MS

Investigators

Abstract

Operator Selection for NSF Regional Class Research Vessel #3. A research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico will help to support scientifically important work in geological, geophysical and biological processes. Studying "societally" relevant topics such as sea level rise, changing weather and climate patterns, and the implications for scientifically and commercially important ecosystems and species. The Gulf of Mexico is also an economic hotspot for fisheries, energy, tourism, etc. Louisiana and Mississippi are both EPSCOR states, and operating this vessel is its own kind of economic stimulation. The consortium is committed to improving diversity and inclusivity in the southern U.S. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.