EPP Cooperative Science Centers

The EPP Cooperative Science Centers advance education and collaborative research, support U.S. students, and build capacity in NOAA-mission sciences. There are four Centers, each of which is a consortium of academic institutions led by a minority serving institution (MSI), as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, with doctoral programs in NOAA mission-aligned disciplines.  

NOAA’s partnerships with the Cooperative Science Center institutions are an investment in cutting-edge research and workforce training that has long-term strategic benefits for the agency and the nation. The Centers build capacity in NOAA core focus areas at partner institutions by leading new education and cutting-edge research programs and specifically by: 

  • Funding, educating, and training students, including through collaborative research opportunities such as required NOAA graduate internships called NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTOs).
  • Increasing the number of highly qualified postsecondary graduates in NOAA mission fields.
  • Working collaboratively with NOAA to advance research, technology, and tools that solve real-world problems in local communities.
A group of people in matching blue shirts with CCME logos pose in front of a large, docked vessel.
EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Center quarterly highlights and feature story

Each quarter, the EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers highlight their accomplishments, and one Center shares a feature story that spotlights a particularly notable event or accomplishment. 

Current Cooperative Science Center awards

There are four current NOAA Cooperative Science Center institutional awards, which were initially awarded in 2016 and renewed in 2021 and 2022. Each Center’s research and education program focuses on an area that is core to NOAA’s mission: Atmospheric sciences and meteorology, earth system sciences and remote sensing technology, coastal and marine ecosystems, and living marine resources. View each Center’s lead and partner institutions in the list below.

    A photo of a college campus that looks down on the campus as if the photo was taken from an upper story. The campus has central lawn with decorative geometric walkways with modern fountains at the entrance. Buildings surround the central lawn.

    NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II (CCME II)

    Lead institution: Florida A&M University

    CCME II partner institutions

    • Bethune-Cookman University

    • California State University Monterey Bay

    • Jackson State University

    • Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

    • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    Several buildings in English Gothic style, built with dark stone and white trim. Trees surround the campus in the foreground and a large city sits behind the campus.

    NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST II)

    Lead institution: City College of the City University of New York

    CESSRST II partner institutions

    • Hampton University

    • San Diego State University

    • University of Maryland at Baltimore County

    • University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez

    • University of Texas at El Paso

    A short brick wall with lettering that reads "University of Maryland Eastern Shore." Behind it, there is a nicely landscaped lawn leading to a college campus.

    NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center II (LMRCSC II)

    Lead institution: University of Maryland Eastern Shore

    LMRCSC II partner institutions

    • Delaware State University

    • Hampton University

    • Oregon State University

    • Savannah State University

    • University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology

    • University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

    NCAS-M II partner institutions

    • Jackson State University
    • Pennsylvania State University
    • San José State University
    • State University of New York at Albany
    • University of Maryland Baltimore County
    • University of Maryland College Park
    • University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
    • University of Texas at El Paso

    More about the Cooperative Science Centers

    Establishing the Cooperative Science Centers

    Cooperative Science Centers are institutional awards, which are competitive awards that establish a long-term partnership with the recipients. Minority serving institutions lead the application. Partner institutions in the award may be majority or minority serving institutions. Each Center award supports research, education, and student training in a focus area that is core to NOAA’s mission, and must meet programmatic and administration requirements. 

    Maintaining a strong connection between the Centers and NOAA

    There are multiple coordination and monitoring efforts in place to ensure that Centers stay connected with NOAA, achieve their scientific goals, and meet the programmatic and administrative requirements of the award. 

    Positions involved in coordination and monitoring efforts:

    • Technical Monitor and Technical Advisor are approved and supported by the NOAA line offices. Their role is to facilitate Center activities and serve as liaisons between NOAA and the Center institutions.
    • Center Director is the Principal Investigator based at the lead center institution who oversees the Center with support of a Deputy Director.
    • Education Expert ensures that all Center-supported students are successfully educated and trained in NOAA mission disciplines.
    • Distinguished Scientist is a tenured position at the lead Center institution who develops and directs significant research projects for the Center.
    • Data and Information Manager manages student and alumni data and showcases and promotes Center data and achievements.

    A timeline of the Cooperative Science Center awards

    • 2000: Memorandum of Understanding between NOAA and a consortium of 10 HBCUs. This established the foundation and framework for NOAA’s EPP program.
    • 2001: Cooperative Science Centers awarded through cooperative agreements.1 Awards were made in four focus areas: Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center (CREST), Environmental Cooperative Science Center (ECSC), Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences (NCAS)
    • 2006: Second Center award cycle. Awards were made in five focus areas: CREST, ECSC, LMRCSC, NCAS, and Interdisciplinary Scientific Environmental Technology Cooperative Science Center (ISETCSC)
    • 2011: Third Center award cycle. Awards made in four focus areas: CREST, ECSC, LMRCSC, NCAS
    • 2015: EPP is designated an Institutional Award Program.2 This designation included new requirements:
      • NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTOs) required for all graduate students.
      • Center-supported students must develop competency in two crosscutting topics: social science and data science. 
      • Each Center must have a Data and Information Manager to manage student and alumni data in an enhanced data-tracking system.
    • 2016: First institutional awards cycle. Awards were made in four focus areas: Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST), Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME), Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M).
    • 2021/2022: Institutional awards begin five-year renewal. All four Cooperative Science Centers submit non-competitive applications and are found to be satisfactory. The four awards continue: CESSRST II, CCME II, LMRCSC II, NCAS-M II.
    1. A cooperative agreement is similar to a grant, but federal employees participate more closely in project activities, often working side-by-side with the grantee.
    2. Institutional Award Programs are competitive awards with the intent to maintain a long-term partnership with the recipient. After the initial award period, the recipient may apply for a "five year renewal award" on a non-competitive basis.