9627624 Hayden The proposed workshop will be held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, from 18-20 July 1996. The workshop will 1) detail the programmatic similarities and differences in Land-Margin Ecosystem Research (LMER) and the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) programs, 2) evaluate the scientific merits for a LTER and LMER merger, 3) evaluate the administrative merits for an LTER and LMER merger, 4) evaluate the special needs of each program, 5) assess the means and procedures for merger of the two programs, and 6) prepare a report to NSF with recommendations concerning the future management of LMER with respect to the LTER program. It is anticipated that the results of this workshop will serve as a means to guide to future directions in long-term coastal research, and promote the synergism between LTER and LMER research programs.