Sea Grant Program Management

Objectives:MIT Sea Grant Program is responsible for Sea Grant activities in MAssachusetts and works as the partner in collaboration with the Sea Grant Institutional Program at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Program management objectives are to support the goals of the National Sea Grant College Program and those of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by deploying financial and human resources in appropriate endeavors throughout the Commonwealth.Methodology:Broad policy and program directions are established by two advisory bodies working in concert with the Sea Grant Director. Both the State-Industry Advisory Council and the Sea Grant Faculty Committee meet three times a year, including a joint meeting for preliminary project proposal review and the process for selecting projects for full proposal write-up. At a subsequent Meeting, full proposal write-ups and peer review rankings are discussed to aid the Director regarding content of the annual Omnibus Proposal. A third joint meeting is held each year to review advisory themes, discuss research objectives and advisory activities.Rationale:MIT Sea Grant is the locus for activities and personnel related to autonomous underwater vehicles at MIT. MIT has given us some limited additional space and we expect to need more in the near future. Co-locating the AUV activities within the Sea Grant office has been mutually beneficial. The research staff and students stimulate and support our efforts and, in turn, all visitors to MIT Sea Grant are exposed to our AUV activities.