Researchers/Academia

Scientific research plays an important role in environmental management. It forms the basis for models that predict or describe ecosystem functioning, justifies standards, and supports every aspect of the natural resource management process. An important strategy in The Galveston Bay Plan is to focus current research programs and increase research funding that will help managers of the bay (i.e., the regulators) solve critical environmental problems.

The Estuary Program conducts research looking at the cumulative effects of the Galveston Bay estuary. In order to manage the bay as an entire ecosystem, common research goals are needed to:

• Develop basic information on ecosystem structure, function and productivity
• Focus scientific attention on management concerns of the bay
• Establish research priorities
• Coordinate and target funding
• Assure that results are available to agencies and individuals who can utilize the findings and public at large

For more information about the bay's research needs, check out the research needs list and the Monitoring & Research Subcommittee (M&R) of the Galveston Bay Council.

The M & R Subcommittee — a coordination body of technical experts comprised of reserach organizations, environmental management agencies, environmental research funding agencies, foundations and other entities — provides periodic funding for research projects and seeks feedback on research needs. For more infromation about funding research projects, click here.

Additionally, the biennial State of the Bay Symposia provides a forum for dissemination of research results and encourages interaction among researchers, managers, and the public.

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