Maryland Marine Notes: May-August 2000 Sidebar - From The Director

[Maryland Marine Notes masthead]

Volume 18, Numbers 3-4 • May-August 2000

Table of Contents


From The Director
Since joining Maryland Sea Grant in 1998, I've had the opportunity to fill several different roles within our program. I've learned not only how we function, but also our history as a member of the Chesapeake Bay community. We are a program built upon the efforts of Sea Grant staff, Extension faculty and, without question, our partners throughout Maryland. The interaction of these contributors has led to numerous accomplishments in the state, region and nation. Funding research to answer complex problems, fostering the development of new technologies and communicating the outcomes and role of the scientific process are all hallmarks of Maryland Sea Grant. As I begin my tenure as Director, the time I've spent scaling the learning curve has been invaluable. It has given me an admiration for what Sea Grant is and, perhaps more importantly, a genuine enthusiasm for what we will be in the future. Maryland Sea Grant's contribution to the protection and wise use of Chesapeake Bay will require approaches that cross traditional boundaries and enfranchise new partners. Across Maryland, from concerned citizens to government agencies, there is a deeply held belief in the importance of restoring Chesapeake Bay and the importance of research in that restoration. Maryland's research communities – in particular, the state's estuarine and coastal scientists – are among the finest in the world. That combination of concern and capability is remarkably potent. I believe strongly that Maryland Sea Grant's greatest strength and greatest challenge is to integrate research, outreach and education in ways that maximize their impact. As I look to Maryland Sea Grant's future, three words that characterize our program come to mind – catalyst, source and platform. We should strive to catalyze creative activities in all of our program elements and within the communities we serve. Research investments should be problem driven, and should balance short and long-term outcomes. We must constantly seek new ways to link research to the Sea Grant outreach and education effort and to develop programs with our partners that advance these capabilities within the state and region. Maryland Sea Grant constantly strives to be an unbiased source of information. We are not advocates for a particular point of view; rather we work to provide useful information in various formats to the public, to environmental managers and to industry around the Bay. One of our most important roles is to infuse science and the scientific process into the ongoing dialogue about Chesapeake Bay so individuals can make better-informed decisions. A key component in this process lies at the level of the Sea Grant Extension Program. The tremendous expertise and the close ties of Sea Grant Extension faculty to constituents around the Bay are essential. Finally, Maryland Sea Grant should be a platform for interaction among numerous stakeholders. We should provide avenues for scientists, managers and others to meet and focus on important and emerging issues. We are in a wonderful position to bring together stakeholders with different expertise and views. The work ahead of us means making solid choices that maximize our effectiveness and impact. From my vantage, we must build upon our strengths and use that foundation to help us improve. In short, to find better ways to meet the needs of our constituents, partners and most importantly, Chesapeake Bay and coastal Maryland. I hope you will join us as we begin the next stage of Maryland Sea Grant's evolution.
	Jonathan Kramer, Director Maryland Sea Grant

		Contents of this issue	Other Issues

[Maryland Sea Grant]

[NOAA]