Mare Nostrum Caribbean
A newly-hatched Leatherback turtle.
VI-EPSCoR - The Virgin Islands Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
The National Science Foundation has provided funding for only 29 EPSCoR jurisdictions in the United States . VI-EPSCoR, hosted by the University of the Virgin Islands, is one of them.
VI-EPSCoR was awarded $20,000,000 by the National Science Foundation to implement the project Mare Nostrum Caribbean: Stewardship through Strategic Research and Workforce Development. This 5-year grant commenced August 1, 2014. We are excited to share with you, through this blog some of the incredible work being done in the Territory by VI-EPSCoR- funded researchers under this grant.
University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas Campus
The Scope of Mare Nostrum Caribbean
Mare Nostrum supports coral reef research that studies the interactions between physical, biological, and human factors to understand coral reef composition and its ecosystems from shallow waters to deeper offshore reefs. In particular, the research is focused into three areas: Dynamics, Disease, and Demographics. Additional emerging research areas include oceanography, watershed dynamics, and human dimensions.
VI-EPSCoR and VI-ISERP in Collaboration
VI-EPSCoR’s workforce development area is dedicated to supporting The Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice (VI-ISERP) and its mission. The Institute fosters a cohesive research-based strategy for continued improvement in STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) education in the Territory. The long-term goal of the workforce development area is to improve the quantitative and scientific skills in the USVI workforce to strengthen economic competitiveness in STEM fields. The short-term goal is to significantly improve STEM education in the Territory at the 6-12 and University levels. Improved STEM education leads to a workforce that is better prepared to train for and work in STEM-related careers. VI-ISERP provides a collaborative infrastructure for STEM research.
To learn more about NSA's EPSCoR program view their epscor_brochure.
To learn more about the University of the Virgin Islands visit www.uvi.edu.