Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: 2001 South Carolina EPA/EPSCoR Program: Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP)

EPA Grant Number: R829424E01
Title: 2001 South Carolina EPA/EPSCoR Program: Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP)
Investigators: Druffel, L. , Scrivens, W. A. , Little, T. Scott
Institution: South Carolina Research Authority , University of South Carolina at Columbia
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2003 (Extended to September 30, 2004)
Project Amount: $101,701
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2000) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

Objective:

The 2001 South Carolina U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) consisted of a Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) and two Science and Engineering Environmental Research (SEER) Projects. The overall objective of this research project was to achieve permanent improvements in the State of South Carolina’s capability to conduct nationally competitive environmental research. The specific objectives of this research project were to:

1. develop the intellectual capital;
2. build the physical infrastructure;
3. integrate research and education;
4. and promote state/industry/university partnerships.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

This final report summarizes the activities of the SIP and the management team. The SIP included precollege enrichment activities for K-12 students, undergraduate and graduate research programs, and activities to promote science to the public. The management team was responsible for fiscal management of the SEER projects, project data collection, and implementation of the outreach programs. SIP staff successfully obtained nonfederal cost-share support for the 2001 South Carolina EPA/EPSCoR project from the General Assembly of South Carolina. Two years of cost-share provided by the State of South Carolina totaled $365,554 in cash contributions. The SIP also implemented a self-evaluation program through the administration of an External Advisory Board.

Educational and Outreach Activities

Over the duration of the 2001 South Carolina EPA/EPSCoR project, the SIP supported several educational and outreach endeavors, including four extensive field exercises in the Okefenokee Swamp and the Everglades-Mangrove Swamp-Marsh Complex in Florida; 16 internships by graduate, undergraduate, and high school students; and 20 K-12 demonstrations on the fundamentals of chemistry to approximately 1,000 students. The SIP also supported a seminar series at the University of South Carolina, led by experienced Center-level directors, to assist South Carolina faculty in developing successful competitive Center-level environmental research proposals.

Supplemental Keywords:

sediment contaminants, education and outreach, field exercise, undergraduate research, algal blooms, estuarine research, South Carolina, SC, aquatic ecosystems, bioassessment, bloom dynamics, coastal ecosystems, coastal habitats, coastal resources, environmental indicators, estuaries, marine biology, marine ecosystem, strategic improvement plan, SIP, ecosystem protection/environmental exposure and risk, geographic area, water, aquatic ecosystem, aquatic ecosystems and estuarine research, biochemistry, ecological risk assessment, ecology and ecosystems, oceanography, state,, RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, algal blooms, Aquatic Ecosystem, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Ecological Risk Assessment, State, estuarine research, Oceanography, Biochemistry, Ecology and Ecosystems, coastal resources, environmental indicators, marine biology, water quality, estuaries, coastal ecosystems, bioassessment, South Carolina (SC), strategic improvement plan, bloom dynamics, coastal habitats, aquatic ecosystems

Relevant Websites:

http://www.scepscor.org/programs/epa Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2002 Progress Report

2003 Progress Report