NGI Formation

Introduction

   The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Institute developed within the context of the Memorandum of Agreement between Mississippi State University (MSU) and NOAA. The NGI is a partnership of five academic institutions and NOAA. The collaboration led by Mississippi State University (MSU), includes the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), Louisiana State University (LSU), Florida State University (FSU), and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL).

   The NGI defines the Northern Gulf of Mexico region as the upland, watershed, coastal zone, and coastal ocean areas from the Sabine River in Louisiana east to the Suwannee River in Florida. This region is a rich and interdependent natural environment of great complexity vital to the Nation. The riverine-dominated Northern Gulf ecosystems are under pressure from increasing population and coastal development, impacts from severe storms and climate variability, inland watershed and coastal wetlands degradation, and many other factors. This is the geographic focus for the NGI.

   The Northern Gulf Institute 2007 - 2012 Strategic Plan outlines the vision and mission and guides the operation of the Institute. The plan lists the distinctive challenges that the NGI faces and details the research themes chosen to focus the research endeavors of the member institutions. As the core element of the plan, the NGI goals are outlined with accompanying strategies and measures of success. The combination of these elements provides a common framework for the NGI partnership. Although the primary audience for this strategic plan is the NGI consortium, stakeholders, and NOAA, it will be available to all interested parties on the NGI web site at www.NorthernGulfInstitute.org.

   Recognizing the need to integrate research and technology to more effectively address the needs of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) issued an Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (OAR-CIPO-2006-2000641) on April 26, 2006. NOAA evaluated and awarded the Northern Gulf Institute Cooperative Institute to the team led by Mississippi State University on October 1, 2006. The award is for a five-year term in the Cooperative Institute Program furthering regional and national interests in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

   The strategic plan outlined here is consistent with and expands upon the Memorandum of Agreement between MSU and NOAA, the NOAA notice of award to MSU of October 1, 2006, NOAA's review of MSU administrative and grants processes, and the NOAA Cooperative Institute Interim Handbook. NGI's approach to Northern Gulf Regional issues, problems and opportunities is closely aligned with NOAA's strategic and research priorities. The NGI is also guided in its mission by a number of sources, the White House's Ocean Action Plan and the 2004 coordinated and comprehensive report of the congressional U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and others. The result is an approach that is science driven, regionally focused, and coordinated with other Gulf of Mexico Basin activities.