The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC) is led by Florida A&M University in collaboration with Delaware State University, Jackson State University, Morgan State University, South Carolina State University, and the University of Miami. ECSC was established in 2001 as part of NOAA’s Education Partnership Program to address ecological and coastal management issues at specific National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. When viewed collectively, ECSC activities will impact much of the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coastal regions of the United Sates including the Mississippi and Florida Gulf coasts, South Florida, the Outer Banks of South Carolina, and the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. These sites were selected because of the critical nature of their coastal ecosystems; their proximity to ECSC member institutions; and because they presented ideal opportunities to expand existing research, education, and outreach activities involving member institutions.

ECSC has four primary and interrelated goals:

• increase the number of underrepresented minorities in atmospheric, environmental, and oceanic sciences by training students and expanding the capacity of faculty from member institutions to participate in NOAA related research;
• develop tools, including conceptual models, to assess the response of coastal ecosystems and communities to perturbation and develop measurement programs to monitor critical system attributes;
• improve the scientific basis for coastal resource management; and
• facilitate community education and outreach relating to the function and significance of coastal ecosystems.