| NSF Org: |
OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | April 9, 2019 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | June 27, 2024 |
| Award Number: | 1855352 |
| Award Instrument: | Cooperative Agreement |
| Program Manager: |
Rose Dufour
rdufour@nsf.gov (703)292-8811 OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | March 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $336,900.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $1,953,754.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2020 = $239,872.00 FY 2021 = $310,394.00 FY 2022 = $431,370.00 FY 2023 = $500,081.00 FY 2024 = $225,799.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE SEATTLE WA US 98195-1016 (206)543-4043 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
4333 Brooklyn Ave NE Seattle WA US 98195-0001 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | SHIP OPERATIONS |
| Primary Program Source: |
01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002021DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002021RB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
This proposal is submitted to request funding for the Research Vessel Rachel Carson operated by the University of Washington to conduct oceanographic research missions supported by the National Science Foundation. The Marine Operations Department of the School of Oceanography of the University of Washington takes great pride in providing essential marine science research and educational facilities to NSF-funded investigators. The University of Washington remains committed to managing these facilities in a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible manner. The ship is the newest ship to join the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The R/V Rachel Carson will operate under the UNOLS RVSS safety standards as a UNOLS Operating institution.
Oceanographic vessels, operated by the UNOLS academic institutions and funded by NSF, and other agencies, have been the traditional multi-use facilities required to expand human knowledge of the ocean environment. These ships working from the ocean's surface complemented by human-occupied, robotic and - more recently -- autonomous undersea vehicles and sensors, along with aircraft and satellites, continue to provide vital tools in our understanding of the role of the oceans in determining our climate and in studying and accessing the living and non-living resources of the world's seas and sea-beds.
Proper stewardship over ocean resources and their wise use, and decision making for future ocean- and coastal- related issues are inconceivable without an interested and engaged citizenry.
In addition to technology, our national ocean endeavor requires technical support in the form of expert human resources, with sound science, mathematics and technical education: a critical mass of individuals who will collect and analyze tomorrow's data, and design the tools, models and applications we will require. Provision of these sea-going research and educational facilities enables marine scientists and students from the University of Washington and other institutions nationwide to study natural phenomena - and to instruct the future scientists and stewards of our marine ecosystems - on board state-of-the-art oceanographic research vessels complete with laboratories, sensors, analytical equipment, communications to shore-side investigators and educators, and full life support for extended missions. Essential to UW's mission is the provision of educational opportunities-both to students of the marine sciences, and, through educational outreach programs such as REVEL, "Teacher at Sea," to K through 12th grade students, nationwide. Periodically, The University holds open houses and outreach events to provide a learning experience for local students including tours through the ship facilities and hands-on demonstrations of marine science research guided by faculty, students and ships' crewmembers. In 2011, the School of Oceanography hosted the International Research Ship Operators conference at UW. The School of Oceanography hosted the UNOLS Research Vessel Operators Committee annual meeting at UW. During the conference, participants enjoyed the opportunity to tour and ride onboard for a "lunch" cruise from the Seattle waterfront, through the Ballard Locks, to the Oceanography Dock. The University of Washington, with the support of the National Science Foundation and with coordination by the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System, remains dedicated to, and focused upon, furthering mankind's understanding of the world ocean, the living and non-living resources therein, and their interactions with the approximately fifty percent of our citizens who live within fifty miles of the shoreline.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This award was a Cooperative Agreement for funding oceanographic research aboard the University of Washington (UW) owned research vessel (R/V) Rachel Carson. This cooperative agreement was for the period 2018-2024 and coincides with the start of operations of the R/V Rachel Carson at the UW. The vessel is operated by the UW School of Oceanography as part of the US Academic Research Fleet under the University National Oceanography Laboratories (UNOLS) operating framework.
During this period, R/V Rachel Carson completed 131 funded scientific research cruises and a total of 679 funded days. Images 2 and 3 illustrate the cruise tracks for these projects as shown on the Rolling Deck to Repository webpage where the data from these cruises is publically available. Image 4 is a table of the days completed by calendar year and the days in support of NSF-funded Principal Investigators.
In total, this Cooperative Agreement funded 179 days or 26% of the oceanographic research conducted on the vessel over the previous six years. NSF funding also directly supported science upgrades and habitability improvements on this award and other Ocean Instrumentation and Shipboard Scientific Support Equipment grants. Finally, drydock repair periods in 2019, 2021, and 2024 were supported through the Major Overhaul and Stabilization Account (MOSA) to overhaul and improve the machinery and material conditions of the vessel.
The vessel will continue to operate under a new 5-year cooperative agreement that started in 2025 and will continue to support NSF-funded researchers. The UW School of Oceanography is extremely grateful for the support of NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) and other federal sponsors to continue this work.
Last Modified: 05/31/2025
Modified by: Robert A Kamphaus
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