Research Database and Funding Opportunities

National Council for Science and the Environment : OCEAN-OIL

• Online Clearinghouse for Education & Networking: Oil Interdisciplinary Learning (OCEAN-OIL) is an open-access, peer-reviewed electronic education resource about the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The project is funded by the National Science Foundation.
• OCEAN-OIL already contains:
  • 1,000+ hyper-linked encyclopedia style  articles related to the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, including offshore oil and gas, the ecological effects of oil spills, details of the event, oil spill response, and lessons from the disaster, and related topics
  • 400+ glossary of important terms related to oil spill causes, impacts, clean-up, and prevention
  • 75+ acronyms (LPG,  PPM,  ROV,  VOC) to help decode the language of oil spill science
  • 80+ external resource links to federal government sites, image galleries, news sources, industry, environmental groups, education, and journal articles
  • Deepwater Horizon photo gallery: Images by renowned photojournalist Gary Braasch
  • Deepwater Horizon by the Numbers: Publication quality graphs
  • Reports of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
• To be a reviewer, follow these procedures.  You can become a contributor by registering here.  For more information contact Mallory Nomack at MNomack@bu.edu

NCSE will also be holding a special one day symposium on the Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster, exploring what is necessary for ecological and economic recovery as well as the broader issues of off shore oil drilling. It will kick off NCSE’s 11^th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Our Changing Oceans, January 19-21, 2011 in Washington, DC. Former EPA Administrator William Reilly and Senator Bob Graham, Co-chairs of National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling will keynote the symposium. Register today, space is limited. For more information, visit http://communities.earthportal.org/ncseoceans2011/.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Deepwater Horizon Disaster Research Consortia: Health Impacts and Community Resiliency

• Solicits applications to:  1) examine impacts of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster on health, illness and quality of life for the general population residing in the Gulf coast region; and 2) increase the scientific evidence base needed to strengthen the resiliency of vulnerable populations along the Gulf coast to prepare for and recover from the effects of the DWH and similar disasters.  In addition to the potential for exposure to oil, dispersants and other chemical mixtures, residents in the Gulf region are experiencing economic hardship, job loss, resettlements and other forms of psychological distress which may all adversely impact health and quality of life.
• Requests for proposals are currently available with a closing dates of January 21, 2011.

The Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant

• Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Research and Monitoring Activities Database
  This database, developed by the Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant College Programs and NOAA’s National Coastal Data Development Center, serves as a single location to capture the research and monitoring activities being conducted in response to the Gulf Oil Spill.

A letter describing the project is available for viewing here.

• Oil Spill Related Request for Proposals
  Two requests for proposals are currently available with closing dates of July and August 2010 (for fall competition).

National Science Foundation (NSF)

• Rapid Response Research Grants Available for Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Research
  The National Science Foundation has the Rapid Response Research (RAPID) mechanism in place, which serves to enable research on unanticipated events, like the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. RAPID may be used to request access to data, facilities or specialized equipment, as well as quick-response research funds.