The Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME) is led by Florida A&M University (FAMU) in partnership with:

• Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU)
• California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB)
• Jackson State University (JSU)
• Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC)
• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)

The NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME) was established in 2016 as a Cooperative Science Center through a competitive award funded by the NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI). The goal of the NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME) cooperative agreement (NA16SEC4810009) is to educate and train a new generation of scientists, particularly from underrepresented minority communities, in NOAA-relevant STEM disciplines and social sciences, equipped to utilize interdisciplinary approaches to address issues confronting marine and coastal communities.

CCME collaborative research is conducted in the areas of Place-Based Conservation, Coastal Intelligence and Coastal Resilience. Through NOAA-relevant research and a discernible social science integration, the CCME faculty, staff and students produce results that can be used for better understanding and resolution of short-term and long-term science and policy issues related to coastal regions. The community engagement activities of the CCME are designed to increase knowledge and awareness of science and policy issues by various community stakeholders and to influence future CCME education and research priorities. 

Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME)

Dr. Larry Robinson, Principal Investigator, and Center Director
Dr. Michael Abazinge, Associate Director
Dr. Sharmini Pitter, Assistant Director
Dr. Steve Morey, Distinguished Research Scientist

CCME NOAA Technical Advisor

Nicole LeBoeuf, Acting Director, NOAA National Ocean Service

CCME NOAA Technical Monitors

Dr. Steven Thur, Director, NCCOS, NOAA National Ocean Service
Dr. Chris Kelble, AOML, NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

CCME Partners - Institutional PIs

Bethune-Cookman University – Dr. Hyun Jung Cho
California State University – Monterey Bay – Dr. Corey Garza
Jackson State University – Dr. Timothy Turner
Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi – Dr. Paul Montagna
University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley – Dr. David Hicks

(Pitter, 2017)

Our focus areas include:

• Coastal Resilience

  Dr. David Yoskowitz, Lead, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi
  Dr. Owen Temby, Co-Lead, University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

• Coastal Intelligence

  Dr. Richard Long, Lead, Florida A&M University
  Dr. Paul Montagna, Co-Lead, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi

• Place-based Conservation

  Dr. Hyun Jung Cho, Lead, Bethune-Cookman University
  Dr. Corey Garza, Co-Lead, California State University

Our integrated training areas include:

• CCME Education

  Dr. Bernadette Kelley, Lead, Florida A&M University,

• Social Sciences

  Dr. Phyllis Gray-Ray, Lead, Florida A&M University

• Big Data Boot Camp

  Dr. Hongmei Chi, Lead, Florida A&M University

Five Things to Know about CCME

1. CCME builds on the successes of the Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC) as a national leader in training an advanced STEM workforce supporting NOAA mission science and coastal decision-making for coastal managers.

   CCME continues to support the development of coastal resilience for coastal communities and economies. CCME is dedicated to diversifying the NOAA-mission workforce through education and workforce training conducted through its six partner institutions.

2. CCME is engaged in the training of a new generation of environmental scientists in coastal and marine sciences particularly in the areas of Place-Based Conservation, Coastal Resilience, and Coastal Intelligence.

   CCME Scholars must demonstrate competency development in all three research focal areas as well as the cross-cutting areas of GIS and Big Data. CWCC activities ensure that all CCME Scholars achieve a minimum set of competencies related to Center research and education programs.

3. CCME collaborates extensively with several NOAA labs and facilities.

   CCME particularly aims to address the needs of the laboratories and facilities of NOS and OAR. For example, CCME has engaged in collaborations with AOML, PMEL, OCM, NCCOS, SEFSC, NWS, NRDA, Hollings Marine Lab NIST, and NCCEH. CCME works with NOAA personnel to enhance the development of CCME Scholars.

4. CCME integrates social and economic sciences in all center research activities to contribute to resilient coastal communities and economies as articulated in the NOAA Strategic Plan.

   CCME Scholars are required to identify social science and human dimension implications of their research and demonstrate growth in key social science competencies in alignment with the NOAA Social Science Vision and Strategy. CCME has incorporated social science as a cross-cutting area and designated a Social Science Lead to spearhead that cross-center effort. The Social Science Lead is an active participant in the monthly meetings held by the NOAA Social Science Committee and the NOAA Cooperative Science Centers. Social science is also a central theme of the CCME summer Center-wide Core Competency Course (CWCC).

5. CCME leverages the expertise of two advisory committees to support student training activities.

   The CCME Stakeholder Advisory Board and Advisory Council committees assist in identifying coastal and marine issues and seeking research training opportunities for CCME Scholars. The role of the Stakeholder Advisory Board is to facilitate community outreach activities, serve as conduits to local issues and concerns, and provide input into CCME research initiatives in their respective communities. The Advisory Council assists in identifying opportunities that will help in CCME student professional development and growth, and other research opportunities and ensure that research goals and student training activities are aligned with NOAA research priorities.