The National NEMO Network Never more than a page to ponder Quick and Painless Update: February 2002 NEMO U2 a Huge Success! Conference moves National Network to next level of collaboration Happy campers at NEMO U2 came from 21 states and territories NEMO U2, the second national conference of the National NEMO Network, was held on Jan 28-30 under the unseasonably sunny skies of Charleston, SC. The conference was sponsored by the Network Hub and the South Carolina NEMO Project (SC Sea Grant and Clemson CES), and hosted by the NOAA Coastal Services Center. The 65 attendees represented 19 Network projects from 21 states and territories, and a wide variety of organizations and agencies. Conference goers gave updates on their projects, which are evolving into an impressive array of educational efforts diverse in their educational approaches, geographic targets and topical foci. The U2 crowd heard the latest from the Connecticut Hub, including an update from the Geospatial Extension Program funded by NOAA and NASA. They also soaked up technical presentations from NEMO Network partners at the Center for Watershed Protection and the Coastal Services Center. More important, they got to know each other over the course of the 3 days, boosting the Network to a new level of collaboration. This will be supported by additions to the National Web Site and the addition of a new Communications position at the CT Hub that is being supported by EPA and NOAA. NOAA Releases Coastal NEMO Grants Program On January 28, NOAA released a Request for Proposals entitled Development and Enhancement of Coastal NEMO Network Projects. The program is the result of discussions between the National NEMO office and four arms of NOAA, the National Sea Grant College Program, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, the Coastal Services Center, and the Coastal Management Program. As the RFP states, the program "…seeks to provide increased education and assistance to local land use decision makers in the coastal zone, through grants that strengthen NEMO projects in coastal states and stimulate intra-NOAA collaboration on these projects." NOAA's National Ocean Service has provided the funds, with $188,000 to be competitively awarded and administered through the Connecticut Sea Grant Program. This program is a much-need and appreciated shot in the arm for the National Network, which continues to be heavily coastal in its composition. Many thanks to our Work Group members at NOAA for this support! Do you have news you would like to share with the Network? Send your news to John. John Rozum nemo.uconn.edu (860) 345-4511 Back NOTE: if you wish to be removed from future mailings, reply to this email with REMOVE in the subject line.