The Coastal Laboratory Consortium, comprised of four North Carolina Universities, operates degree granting programs in marine science research and research training. This award will provide funding for the modernization of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill's Institute of Marine Science. Interdisciplinary research activities currently performed at the institute are in five general areas: experimental analyses of ecological processes of sea floor communities, biogeochemical cycling and productivity in coastal waters, geology of sedimentary coastlines, ecology of coastal organisms and air and sea interactions in near shore waters. The Institute of Marine Science attracts visiting scientists from many institutions in the US and abroad, fostering strong research collaborations. Both graduate and undergraduate students participate in research training activities at the facility, including a large percentage of minority studnets from historically minority colleges and universities. Present conditions, at the 25 year old facility, are unsafe and laboratories are inadequate for conducting research. The lack of climate control, proper electrical and air supply, incubation facilities, clean rooms, and modernized laboratory space adds to the problems researchers encounter daily. Funds are requested to upgrade laboratory space that is designed to accommodate sophisticated chemical, biotechnological, analytical research activities and equipment. Modern research facilities at the Institute of Marine Science will contribute to the productive research and research training within the marine science programs of the consortium institutions and strengthen the nation's scientific infrastructure.
