The Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies is a marine laboratory operated by San Francisco State University (SFSU), a predominantly undergraduate institution (M.A.) highest degree awarded) with a 57% minority enrollment. The Romberg Tiburon Center (RTC) is the only academic research facility on San Francisco Bay, one of the largest estuaries in the US It is primarily a graduate facility with a tightly focused research mission aimed toward gaining fundamental understanding of the physical and bilogical processes of San Francisco Bay and its surrounding environments. Research scientists at RTC have trained and supported over 45 students in the last five years and have extensive collaborations with fellow university, and federal and local environmental agency scientists. RTC initiated in 1996 its annual Visiting Scientists Program, which supports a visiting scientist at the Center, and 2 other visiting scientists will be in residence in 1997-1998 as well. Fundamental aspect of RTC's research and educational program involves the use of the Research Vessel, the R/V Questuary. This 38 foot vessel was acquired in 1991 and underwent major renovations costing approximately $90,000 in order to be re-engined this year. Although the Questuary is now a modern, sea worthy vessel, it is capable of limited oceanographic sampling and database development due to its out-of-date navigational and scientific sampling equipment. The primary objective of this project is to upgrade the scientific capabilities of the Center's primary research vessel by acquiring an integrated instrument package to collect environmental data with high spatial and temporal resolution and state-of-the-art data acquisition and storage.
