1 CILER Review – 2005 A Presentation to the NOAA Science Advisory Board Carl Richards Chair, CILER Review Committee Director, US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division November 9, 2005

2 Outline Purpose Overview and Background Major Findings of the Review Recommendations SAB Action

3 Purpose Summarize the five-year review of the Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research (CILER) at the University of Michigan

4 Overview and Background A five-year ( ) review of Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research (CILER) was conducted on June 1–2, 2005 Review committee members: –Carl Richards, Chair –Judith Budd, Michigan Technological University –Wayne Gardner, Univ. of Texas at Austin –John Stein, NOAA Northwest Marine Science Center –Randy Peppler, CIMMS, The University of Oklahoma Full report made available to SAB in Sept. 2005

5 Major Findings of the Review Science Plan –Clearly supports NOAA strategic plan –Publication record is of high quality in a wide range of journals and books Science Review –Successful track record conducting large interdisciplinary research programs 5 Research Tasks –Collaborative research efforts

6 Major Findings of the Review Science Review –Examples of strengths Long term biological monitoring in Great Lakes benthos NOBOBs Contaminants Physical modeling

7 Major Findings of the Review Education/Outreach –Active K-12, summer fellowships –NOAA Coast Watch, Great Lakes COSEE Management Plan –UM funded targeted research seed money to faculty –Solid past leadership record –Adequate management and administrative systems

8 Challenges for CILER & NOAA Re-competition of NOAA Cooperative Institutes Introduces high degree of uncertainty Expansion of research portfolio and funding Addition/enhancement of research in regional freshwater ecosystems, GL Integrated Coastal Observing Systems Will require greater communication, coordination, planning & prioritization within CILER & among partners Need to engage other entities within NOAA Location of CILER offices and labs Potential for sharing facilities on UM campus A new Director of CILER is needed Selection/transition to effective new Director essential

9 Recommendations Develop a new CILER Strategic Plan –Recognize importance of GLERL but allow broader vision Hire a new CILER Director –Strong academic credentials –Appointment at Full or Associate Professor level within the Univ. Consolidate CILER and other Great Lakes Scientists in one building –Synergy, efficiency, partnerships

10 Recommendations Increase CILER’s Partnerships with other parts of NOAA –Interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research Set “sunrise” and “sunset” times for sub- projects in new Strategic Plan –Allows objective evaluation Continue and Build on Successful Outreach and Education Efforts –Opportunity for leadership –Need for more metrics

11 Recommendations Encourage SNRE Faculty from Wide Range of Disciplines –Diversity is a strength Reinvigorate the Council of CILER Fellows –New members and talent –Need to play a stronger role in Strategic Planning Improve the Content and Usefulness of Annual Reports

12 Recommendations Re-examine the issue of using CILER as a funding mechanism for Great Lakes research. –How to fund non Univ of Michigan institutions Great Lakes research. –System that is fair and mutually beneficial to UM, NOAA, CILER, and other institutions

13 SAB Action Accept CILER Report