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Frequently Asked Questions
As co-chairs of the Environmental Research Initiative
Committee (ERIC), we have addressed below the most common questions
by faculty and administrators at the University of South Carolina
concerning ERIC, but if you have additional questions, please
contact us.
Bruce C. Coull, Carolina Distinguished Professor of Marine
Biology and Dean, School of the School of the Environment (
bccoull@sc.edu)
Will Graf, University Foundation Professor Department of
Geography
CO-Chairs, ERIC ( graf@sc.edu)
What is ERIC?
ERIC is a university-level committee appointed by Harris Pastides,
Vice President for Research and Health Sciences, to advise him
regarding decisions related to environmental research at the
University of South Carolina. Members of the committee represent
the broad range of environmental programs at the university, rather
than home departments or colleges. Bruce Coull (School of the
Environment) and Will Graf (Geography) co-chair the committee, and
Sonya Duhe' (Journalism) is the liaison between the committee and
the office of the Vice President. Other members of the committee
are Tom Chandler (Environmental Health Sciences), Hanif Chaudhry
(Civil and Environmental Engineering), Susan Cutter (Geography),
John Ferry (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Madilyn Fletcher (Baruch
Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences), and John Shafer (Earth
Sciences & Resources Institute). Bill Bailey (School of the
Environment) provides administrative support.
What does ERIC do?
ERIC is a faculty-based mechanism for the identification of
university capacities, strategic opportunities, and major research
goals in the environmental arena. ERIC has been working to define
the areas of emphasis for investment in environmental research by
the university and advises the Vice President by reviewing various
proposals and requests, including proposals through the Centenary
Program (CP) to hire Research faculty. The committee provides input
and makes recommendations, but the Vice President makes the
decisions. The Faculty Excellence Initiative (FEI) of the Office of
the Provost to hire tenure-track faculty has also asked ERIC for
input on environmental hires. ERIC is now entering an intense phase
of facilitating major inter-collegiate program development that
will be an essential component of the university's ambitious vision
in environment research.
How do I get ERIC to review my CP or FEI proposals?
You don't. The Vice President for Research & Health Sciences
receives proposals via USCERA and occasionally sends some of them
to the committee for review.
What is ERIC looking for in faculty proposals or requests for
financial support from the Vice President?
ERIC supports requests based on three dimensions. First, the
committee considers the overall quality of the proposal. Second,
the committee considers all topics related to environmental
research, but seeks to be especially supportive of proposals
focused in one of the three subject areas designated by the
committee for special emphasis in the university (see next
question). Third, the committee seeks to support proposals that are
highly integrative, involving more than one department and more
than one college.
What are the three general subject areas of emphasis?
ERIC has defined for the university three general subject areas or
themes that are the focus of the university's efforts to grow
environmental research. The committee has identified the following
areas or themes:
- Water and coasts. Water in any location is the primary
physical environmental component that connects ecosystem elements
and provides transport of mass and energy; coasts are interface
zones where oceans, upland waters, the earth surface, fragile
life forms, and human activities interact with each other; water
and coasts are primary natural resources for the economic
development of South Carolina.
- Environment and health. Human and environmental health are
intertwined with many connections and feed-back mechanisms;
understanding disease vectors related to the natural environment
are major keys to maintaining a healthy human population, and
toxins have direct connections to both human and environmental
health; South Carolina is a natural laboratory for exploring
these issues which have direct bearing on the health of the
state's citizens.
- Environmental risk and vulnerability. The focus is on
interactions between hazards, and environmental degradation
and/or human populations. The continuation of a safe and
sustainable South Carolina includes an understanding of the
environmental risks that the state's ecosystems, species and
citizens face, from hurricanes and flooding to releases of toxic
chemicals.
Why pick these particular areas?
ERIC conducted an assessment of the capabilities of the university
and the availability of research funds, which included input and
feedback from the faculty community. ERIC concluded that these
three areas offered superior chances for large-scale, integrative
projects. These areas also connect to the economic development of
the state.
Will ERIC support other types of research in advising the
Vice President?
Yes, at a lower priority than research in these three areas. ERIC
is not eliminating other worthwhile areas of research, simply
putting extra emphasis on these particular ones.
Last year ERIC dispensed incubator grants to several
university teams. What's happening with them?
Six multi-disciplinary teams began work supported by these
incubator grants in January 2005. The teams are making good
progress and, in Fall 2005, will report their initial efforts at
seeking expanded support from outside the university.
Will there be another incubator grant program in the
2005-2006 year?
No. ERIC will continue to assess the progress of the existing
grants and will launch other large-scale initiatives in 2005-2006
and 2006-2007.
What else is ERIC up to?
ERIC is also establishing working relationships with the Center for
Nanotechnology to explore the implications of nanomaterials for
environmental quality. This is an almost unexplored subject, but
massive investments in the development of nanotechnology are likely
to stimulate interest among researchers and decision-makers in the
environmental connection. An ad hoc committee of ERIC and other
faculty are planning initial activities including a symposium to
bring cutting edge thinkers on the subject to the campus during the
2005-2006 academic year.
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