This project will support two planning workshops to facilitate preparation of a Master Plan for the University of Virginia Coastal Research Center (VCRC). The goal of soliciting input from a variety of scientists and field station managers is to make the proposed field station a scientifically attractive place for investigators from a broad range of academic backgrounds as a way of enhancing understanding of coastal systems. The goal of these workshops would be to plan the research/educational infrastructure that will serve the needs of a diversity of scientists from a variety of institutions with a common interest in integrated interdisciplinary research. Ultimately, the product to be derived from the workshops is the Master Plan for development of the site, including enhancement of existing facilities and construction of new, needed infrastructure. The first workshop will be conducted at the VCRC to solicit information about the needs of potential users of the field station and advice from others with experience in development of field stations. Specifics that would be addressed at this workshop would include both Phase I and later phases of the station construction. Workshop participants will be asked to assess Phase I facilities with respect to the functional aspects of accommodating the housing and laboratory requirements of a variety of physical and biological scientists. Additionally, the participants would be asked to provide insight into the type of field instrumentation, data collection activities, data management, and logistical support envisioned for later phases of the VCRC development. The objective of the second workshop will be to prioritize the recommendations of the first workshop. In addition to UVa coastal research scientists, invitations to the second workshop would be extended to non-UVa scientists who are actively seeking funding to conduct work at the VCRC.
