By: Dan Filer, CHWA CESU NPS Research Coordinator
CHWA CESU FY18 Funding
Growth in Funding
We had another successful fall and winter in the Chesapeake Watershed CESU Research Network. In the National Park Service (NPS) alone, one of our eleven federal partners, the network saw the creation of 74 new projects/agreements, a 33% increase over the number executed in fiscal year 2017. These projects, involving parks and programs in seven regions of the NPS and totaling
over $4.8 million, represent funding levels nearly equal to those of the three previous fiscal year and demonstrate that our partners here in the this CESU have expertise and skills being sought after nationwide. The state of the network is strong…..and growing!
Welcome New Partners!
The network is growing in the number of partners, not just the number of projects being undertaken. We welcomed twelve new partners in to the network in 2018 and an additional ten in March. The network now includes 53 non-federal partners, which is nearly double the number in 2016.
The new members include:
- Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
CHWA CESU Partners as of May 2019
- Bryn Mawr College
- Hood College
- Mansfield University
- Towson University
- Smithsonian Institution
- West Virginia University
- DC Department of Energy and Environment
- Old Dominion University.
- Lock Haven University
The addition of these entities reinforces the diversity and depth of the researchers we have to offer our federal partners, and makes the CHWA CESU the fastest-growing network in the nation. Federal partners outside of the NPS also continue to connect with us. For example, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) joined the network last year. You can see listings of our partners by visiting our website.
New Partnerships
We continue to work cross-agency when possible to find researchers and ways to combine efforts in research. Partnerships developed with US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Department of Defense (DoD) resulted in several collaborative projects last year. We are also working with BOEM, USGS, DoD (SERDP Program), and the US Army Corp of Engineers on several projects that will use CHWA CESU network partners this year. A recent meeting held in Hampton Roads, Virginia with the Department of Defense, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service demonstrates our ongoing commitment to project planning with partners in within the network. Please contact us if you’re interested in collaborating!
Annual Meeting- Please Join Us
Our Annual Meeting is slated for Wednesday, June 12 at Howard University. This meeting is an excellent opportunity for our partners to network and learn about current work happening in the network and upcoming initiatives from the federal partners. Space is limited, so please consider signing up to attend in person! We also hope to broadcast/record the meeting via ZOOM. You can register using our Survey Monkey form
New Experts Database–Please Sign Up
We are also very excited to announce the official launch of our Experts Database. This database, developed in conjunction with our host university, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science – Appalachian Laboratory, will serve as a clearinghouse for our federal and nonfederal members when seeking researchers with a specific expertise or discipline. You can search the database or complete a profile from the database landing page.
We encourage all researchers from both our federal and non-federal partners to create a profile! We will be actively using the database to identify partners for federal agency projects. It takes about 7-10 minutes to complete a profile if you have an up-to date CV and and photo ready. Everything entered in your profile, including the text of your CV, will be searchable to database users. In addition, we will be requiring all database members to annually update their profiles or they will be removed, ensuring the information is current. If you’ve never had a CESU project before and are looking to engage, then create a profile today! You can get started by submitting an application.
We look forward to another year of work in the Chesapeake Watershed CESU Research Network. As always, if you have additional questions or need clarification on anything, please contact Dan Filer by email at danny_filer@nps.gov or telephone at 301-689-7089.