Creating New Economic Opportunities in Downeast Coastal Maine by Enhancing Marine Education and Research Capacity: Developing the Infrastructure for Innovation

[0227729]本合同授予缅因大学马基亚斯分校，用于支持以下36个月的活动。该提案是根据创新伙伴关系计划征求（NSF 02060）提交的。合作伙伴包括缅因大学马基亚斯分校（牵头机构）、东南应用海洋研究与教育研究所、日出县经济委员会、缅因东部发展公司、比尔斯镇、卡弗贝类公司、华盛顿县委员会、缅因州水产养殖创新中心、科斯库克湾资源中心、自然温室、缅因州海洋资源部、缅因州国家规划办公室和缅因州科学与技术基金会。该计划的目标是在应用海洋研究和技术转让方面产生显著的增加，从而导致产品和工艺的商业化，并增加缅因州东部在缅因大学马基亚斯分校注册的副学士和学士学位课程的人数，为海洋技术的新劳动力做好准备。为了实现这些目标，将在海洋生态学、海洋生物学和自然资源经济学领域设立新的教师职位。将设立海洋研究设施。该大学正在设立管理人员职位，以实现技术转让和商业化。该地区超过40%的家庭年收入低于2万美元。该地区的经济在很大程度上依赖可再生海洋资源。海洋水产养殖具有振兴区域经济的巨大潜力，因为增加了研究和教育/培训，为开办公司提供技术和商业支助以及训练有素的劳动力。通过几个现有的项目，如少数民族参与联盟项目、麦克奈尔学者项目、通往学士学位项目的桥梁项目以及与波多黎各大学的附属项目，将增加未被充分代表的少数民族学生在该项目中的参与。

0227729Beal This award is to the University of Maine at Machias to support the activity described below for 36 months. The proposal was submitted in response to the Partnerships for Innovation Program Solicitation (NSF 02060). The partners include the University of Maine at Machias (Lead Institution), Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research & Education, Sunrise County Economic Council, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Town of Bealls, Carver Shellfish Inc, Washington County Commissioners, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, Cobscook Bay Resource Center, The Nature Conservatory, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine State Planning Office, and Maine Science & Technology Foundation. The goals of the program are to produce a significant increase in applied marine research and technology transfer leading to commercialization of products and processes, and to increase the numbers of people from eastern Maine enrolled in associate and baccalaureate degree programs at the University of Maine at Machias preparing them for the new workforce in marine technologies. To accomplish these goals new faculty positions will be created in the areas of marine ecology, marine biology, and natural resource economics. Research facilities for marine research will be installed. Positions for managers to enable technology transfer and commercialization are being established at the university.More than 40% of the households in the region have incomes less than $20,000 annually. The economy of the region relies very heavily on renewable marine resources. Marine aquaculture has a huge potential to revitalize the regional economy given increased research and education/training to provide the technological and business support as well as the trained workforce for start-up companies. The participation of underrepresented minority students in the program will be increased through several currently existing programs, such as Alliance for Minority Participation Program, McNair Scholars Program, Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program, and affiliate programs with the University of Puerto Rico.