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National Oceanographic Partnership Program

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AbbreviationNOPP
Formation1997
PurposeOceanography research, funding, education
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Program Coordinator
Leigh Zimmermann
Websitenopp.org
RemarksHost organization is the Consortium for Ocean Leadership

The National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) is an innovative collaboration of U.S. federal government agencies that fund research partnerships in academia, government, industry, and non-governmental organizations.

NOPP adds integrative value to the individual oceanography (ocean science), resource management and ocean education missions of the federal agencies and their partners in common pursuit of the wise use of the oceans and the maintenance of their health.

Overview

NOPP was established by the United States Congress Public Law 104-201[1] in Fiscal Year 1997 for two general purposes:

  • To promote the national goals of assuring national security, advancing economic development, protecting quality of life, and strengthening science education and communication through improved knowledge of the ocean; and
  • To coordinate and strengthen oceanographic efforts in support of those goals by:
    • identifying and carrying out partnerships among federal agencies, academia, industry, and other members of the oceanographic scientific community in the areas of data, resources, education, and communication, and
    • reporting annually to Congress on the Program.

The National Oceanographic Partnership Program Office (NOPPO) was set up to assist in the management of NOPP and provide daily administrative support. Using competitive procedures, a contract for the operation of the NOPPO was awarded to the Consortium for Ocean Leadership[2] in 2008.

Strategic plan

The NOPP Ten-Year Strategic Plan[3] identifies four goals, to be completed in 2014, on which NOPP has already taken significant action:

  • Achieve and Sustain an Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
  • Promote Lifelong Ocean Education
  • Modernize Ocean Infrastructure and Enhance Technology Development
  • Foster Interagency Partnerships to Increase and Apply Scientific Knowledge

Purpose

NOPP brings together the public and private sectors to support large, comprehensive projects to promote sharing of resources, and to foster community-wide innovative advances in ocean science, technology, and education. On average, 11 new projects are started each year. Since 1997, NOPP has invested more than $549 million to support 181 research and education projects involving public and private institutions. A comparable amount of in-kind support has been committed by the research and education community.

Ocean Leadership Logo

NOPP promotes lifelong education. It sponsors the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, a national academic competition for high school students conducted by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. The NOSB competition is intended to increase knowledge of the oceans on the part of high school students, their teachers, and communities.

Modernizing ocean infrastructure is another high priority of NOPP. The federal oceanographic research and survey fleet consists of sophisticated research vessels that permit scientists to survey and conduct research on the complex ocean, seafloor, and sub-sea floor environment. The fleet capacity and capabilities must be evaluated to see how they can support agency missions and national priorities. In 2007, NOPP published and widely disseminated the Federal Oceanographic Fleet Status Report.

Governance

Interagency committees and working groups provide guidance and oversight to NOPP activities and funding opportunities. The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Partnerships is the operational feedback body charged with organizing, directing, and conducting most NOPP activities; it functions under the National Ocean Council, a Principal and Deputies level committee tasked with implementing the National Ocean Policy. The Ocean Research Advisory Panel provides advice and scientific guidance to NOPP and the National Ocean Council. NOPP also provides support to the Interagency Working Group on Facilities and Infrastructure.

  • The Interagency Working Group on Ocean Partnerships (IWG-OP) plans and implements partnerships among federal agencies relating to research opportunities, such as publication of annual broad-agency funding announcements and managing of research awards. Using the guidance provided by Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the United States for the Next Decade: An Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy, the IWG-OP continues to use NOPP as a standing forum for discussion of ideas and priorities within that report.
  • The Interagency Working Group on Facilities and Infrastructure (IWG-FI) reviews and evaluates federal infrastructure regarding facilities, such as ships, necessary to conduct ocean research and observation. This group also evaluates future needs and plans for future investments in ocean-related facilities.
  • The Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) was called on in the Ocean Action Plan (OAP) to provide independent advice and guidance to ICOSRMI. Members are individuals from the National Academies, state government, academia, and ocean industries, representing marine science, marine policy, and other related fields, which now specifically include resource management.
  • The NOPP Program Office serves four main functions: meeting support for the NOPP committees, project management, reporting on NOPP annually to Congress, and NOPP outreach.

Funded projects

Overall investment in NOPP-funded activities has increased significantly since the program’s inception in 1997 to more than $549M total. Since FY 1997, NOPP has funded 181 projects, including renewal projects.[citation needed]

Using a peer review process, NOPP identifies and funds the most scientifically and technically meritorious research that clearly demonstrates public-private partnerships in the areas of interest each year.

In FY 2011, 18 research projects were funded on two topics:

Descriptions of NOPP-funded projects can be found on the NOPP website.

Participating agencies

See also

References

  1. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  2. ^ "About". Oceanleadership.org. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  3. ^ [2][dead link‍]
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