UMC, NWROC Sign Red River Basin Institute Memorandum
Officials from the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) and the Northwest Reseach and Outreach Center (NWROC) participated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Red River Basin Institute on Tuesday, March 11. The purpose of this memorandum is to establish a framework for cooperation and coordination between the Institute and other research entities in the Red River Basin. The agreement will provide a framework to identify and prioritize research needs related to flood damage reduction and natural resource management, to develop proposals to address these needs, and to focus fundraising efforts by the signatories through the Red River Basin Institute.
(Above from left)
UMC Professor of Natural Resources, Dan Svedarsky; Red
River Basin Institute Board Chair and Former North Dakota Governor George
Sinner; UMC Chancellor Don Sargeant; NWROC Head Larry Smith; Chuck
Fritz, Director of the Red River Basin Institute; and Dave Arscott,
UMC Research Assistant Professor of Natural Resources, were all present
for the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
The Red River Basin Institute and the signatories of the memorandum have related goals, objectives, and a common desire to address resource management issues in the Red River Basin using sound, scientific approaches. Signatories will agree to use the Institute as the principle vehicle to focus efforts and pursue funding for applied research projects in the Red River Basin. The signatories will work together with the Institute to identify and build a pool of appropriate credentialed researchers, secure and leverage funds, and provide a clearinghouse for funding, reviewing research proposals and products, and conducting applied research in the Red River Basin. Other signatories include North Dakota State University, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, and Concordia College. The Institute also hope to enlist the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, the University of Manitoba, and the University of Winnipeg.
Signatory entities agree to meet and communicate regularly, review research proposals, prioritize research initiatives, and (if allowed through statute) cooperate in the pursuit of funding for agreed upon applied research through an Executive Research Committee (ERC). Signatories and members of the ERC will work with the Institute’s Management Board and Directors to identify funding sources; solicit funding through existing professional/personal networks; and securing local match dollars or required “in-kind” resources for meritorious research proposals.
For more information about the Red River Basin Institute visit <www.tri-college.org/watershed/>.
Posted 03/12/2003