Biodiversity and Conservation Science

1. Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies The Harte Model - A synergy of science, economics and policy for a sustainable Gulf of Mexico Geographical Information Science Marine Policy and Law Ecosystem Studies and Modeling Biodiversity and Conservation Science Socio-Economics Ocean Health

2. ACADEMICS Our most important product: students trained in the Harte Model HRI and TAMU-CC supported… Post doctoral researchers – 6 to 8 each year PhD students – 12 to 16 each year Masters students – 14 to 26 each year Undergraduates – 14 to 30 each year NOAA’s Environmental Cooperative Science Center Grant ($2.5 million) will fund 5 HRI graduate students from under represented populations each year for the next five years

3. RESEARCH Data Management and Integration for Ecosystem Studies - The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) of deepwater benthic impacts from Deepwater Horizon (BP spill) blowout Wiring the Texas Coast Coastal Geohazard Studies

4. RESEARCH HRI expertise in environmental flows, freshwater inflows to estuaries and related economics and policy issues. Freshwater inflows, policy and contributor to SB-1, SB-2 and SB-3 legislation development and implementation Recognized expertise on environmental flows. Science lead for SB-3 Economic valuation of freshwater inflows and ecosystem services.

5. ENGAGEMENT summit2011 State of the Gulf of Mexico Houston Texas dec 4 – 8 2011 Gulf Base is the network for coastal and marine scientists in the Gulf of Mexico Provide scientifically based metrics that guides future research Promote sound Policy and decision-making Support effective restoration efforts