Susan White
Bio
Susan White is the executive director for North Carolina Sea Grant, the Water Resources Research Institute for the University of North Carolina, and North Carolina Space Grant. All three programs provide targeted research, outreach and education projects to address critical issues in the state and within the region. Sea Grant, with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and WRRI, with funding from the U.S. Geological Survey, focus on coastal, ocean and water resource topics for ecosystems and communities. Space Grant projects, with funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, include partnerships with the aerospace industry.
In fall 2017, White was named chair of the N.C. Sediment Control Commission by Gov. Roy Cooper. She previously was director of NOAA’s Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, S.C. Formerly the national research coordinator for NOAA’s Estuarine Reserves Division and National Estuarine Research Reserve System, she has served on national and regional steering committees on topics including technology transfer, integrated drought monitoring and early warning, and climate’s connections to health. White earned a doctorate from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree from Duke University.
Grants
State Appropriations for research matching
Shoreline erosion and resulting property damage can occur quickly during a storm event or over decades with sea-level rise and from human activities, including repeated shoreline modifications, dredging, and boating. The need to protect coastal properties and infrastructure against erosion and damage has increased with human populations along coastlines, with traditional, ���gray��� approaches, such as shoreline hardening, often having negative ecological, geophysical, and socioeconomic impacts on coastal communities and ecosystems. As coastal hazards and exposure to these hazards continue to increase, stakeholders need access to data, information, and expertise that can help them make informed decisions about coastal protection. Further, an interdisciplinary approach implemented in partnership with stakeholders is needed to translate data and technical information in a framework and format that directly facilitates coastal protection decisions. This proposal will co-develop (1) a coastal protection design and siting framework; and (2) living shoreline training courses and certification program for stakeholders, including coastal property owners, engineers, and contractors. The coastal protection framework and training courses will be co-developed through a partnership between North Carolina Sea Grant, East Carolina University, Carteret Community College, the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, and the North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF), leveraging data and findings from USCRP and NC Sea Grant-funded projects, as well as input from a diverse group of coastal stakeholders.
North Carolina is among the fastest growing states in the nation. That growth brings challenges but also opportunities to engage skillful graduate students from the state������������������s public and private institutions with the state������������������s legislative and executive branches, as well as state boards and commissions, to tackle topics including biotechnology, healthcare, energy, agriculture and natural resource management. A NC STEM Policy Fellowship ������������������ focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ������������������ provides a unique in-state, non-academic career opportunity that may lead to greater retention of these highly trained individuals in state. It also advances the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) endeavor to provide funding for biomedical research, STEM education, and areas of career development for scientists.
The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) of The University of North Carolina is responsible for fostering and developing a research training and information dissemination program that addresses the water resource concerns of the State and region. In developing its programs, WRRI carries forth a proactive effort to interact and communicate with water resource professionals, managers, and researchers from state and federal programs, local government, industry, environmental organizations, private consultants, water and wastewater treatment plants, our partners at the USGS South Atlantic Water Science Adaptation Center, and the university research community. Close interaction with these entities results in the prioritization of ever changing North Carolina water research priorities that WRRI strives to address, as well as ensuring that our USGS mission priorities are also incorporated, through WRRI research, training and outreach programs.
Continuing agreement between the Water Resources Research Institute of The UNC and the City of Burlington for membership in the Urban Water Consortium. Funds will be used for the support of projects approved by the members.
The Urban Water Consortium is a membership of local municipalities to support research related to water issues. Funds will be used to support projects approved by the Urban Water Consortium members.
The Urban Water Consortium is a membership of local municipalities to support research related to water issues. Funds will be used to support projects approved by the Urban Water Consortium members.
The North Carolina Sea Grant College Program integrates three university functions: research, education, and outreach into a cohesive, innovative, program that addresses priorities of the state's numerous coastal stakeholders. These stakeholders include but are not limited to: communities located along the 300 miles of oceanfront shoreline and those within the 20 counties designated by the Coastal Area Management Act; communities further inland and located in the watersheds that drain to the Atlantic Ocean; coastal and estuarine water- and landbased industries; and many others. North Carolina's vast natural environmental resources including the 2.3 million acres of estuarine habitat are of important ecological, cultural, and economic significance for the entire state. North Carolina Sea Grant (NCSG) positions itself at this intersection of research, education, and outreach, working to ensure results are translated to actionable information in support of the varied stakeholders invested in the state's coastal region. Taking discoveries, demonstrations, and experiential knowledge developed by experts and delivering those results to identified audiences is a model our program embodies. These efforts support improved understanding and appreciation of the watershed, near-shore, and coastal ocean environments and the sustainable use and development of their resources. We join other coastal and Great Lakes states in a national network of Sea Grant universities charged with meeting the needs of society in our home state, our regions, and the nation as a whole. In North Carolina, Sea Grant program activities began with an institutional planning and project grant in 1970. With the establishment of the 16-campus University of North Carolina system in 1972 and involvement of Duke University via a consortial arrangement, NCSG became the nation's 12th recognized Sea Grant College in 1976. The UNC system has remained committed to Sea Grant throughout the program's history, including state funding generously provided through North Carolina State University, supporting portions of cost-share match requirements for the federal award received from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NC Water Resources Research Institute is awarded $219,189 from the State of North Carolina to award research awards that are matched to our federal United State Geological Survey award annually. Creating a proposal for the new 5 year award starting in 2020 to 2025.
North Carolina Sea Grant (NCSG) is committed to strengthening the integration of research, extension and communication programs to maximize investments and effectively translate research results to a range of clientele in understandable and relevant ways. This current proposal supports opportunities to capitalize on these programmatic interactions to further the Sea Grant mission of delivering timely, accurate information to support the wise use of the State������������������s coastal and marine resources.