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at a glance

Science on the high seas

We have prepared a program summary to provide a sense of its scope, focus, partner communities, as well as education, outreach, and communication efforts.

Program Management

NSF's BEST program is the Bering Ecosystem STudy, a multi-year (2007-2010) project funded by the National Science Foundation.

sea ice NPRB's program, BSIERP, is the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (2008-2012), funded by the North Pacific Research Board.

The overlapping goals of the these projects led to a partnership that brings together some $52 million worth of ecosystem research over six years.

From 2007 to 2012, NPRB and NSF are combining talented scientists and resources for three years of field research on the eastern Bering Sea Shelf, followed by two more years for analysis and reporting.

Who's Involved

Approximately 90 federal, state and university scientists will provide end-to-end coverage of the Bering Sea ecosystem.

They are studying everything from atmospheric forcing and physical oceanography through humans and communities, including the attendant economic and social impacts of a changing ecosystem. Learn more

Science Advisory Board

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) meets regularly and provides scientific leadership, encouragement and oversight in program integration, data exchange and synthesis, and for providing scientific input to the respective program offices, as well as dispute resolution.

Any recommendations for program revisions made by the SAB are given to the NPRB and NSF program officers, who meet following the annual review meetings to assess the program and take action as appropriate.

Current Members

Carin Ashjian (BEST, 2-year term)
Kerim Aydin (BSIERP; 1-year term)
Rolf Gradinger (BEST, 1-year term)
Rodger Harvey (BEST, 2-year term, co-chair)
Mike Sigler (BSIERP, 2-year term, co-chair)
Phyllis Stabeno (BSIERP, 1-year term)

Project Management Plan

The Project Managment Plan identifies the responsibilities and intentions of each organization. The Plan has been signed by all investigators participating in BEST-BSIERP (hard-copy signatures are on file at the NPRB offices). It outlines participant responsibilities in 10 major areas:

Project leadership and program responsibilities
Meeting and activity schedules
Field season planning
Communications among field programs and with modelers
Data sharing protocols
Education and outreach
Coordination with other programs
Annual reviews and progress reports
Reporting and synthesis of results
Dispute resolution