GLIN==> Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Announces Interim Director

[Irene Miles <miles@uiuc.edu>]

For Immediate Release
 
May 24, 2005
 
Sources: William Sullivan (217)333-6444; wcsulliv@uiuc.edu
                 
Brian Miller (765)494-3586; bmiller3@purdue.edu


Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Announces Interim Director
 
URBANA - As Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) launches into new
directions and searches for a new director, William Sullivan, the
director of the Environmental Council at the University of Illinois, will
lead the program. 
 
In his role as interim director, Sullivan brings to Sea Grant a
background of research on the relationships between people and their
environments. He was the co-founder of the Human-Environment Research Lab
and is a U of I associate professor of landscape architecture, natural
resources and community development. Sullivan succeeds Dick Warner, who
led the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program since 2001. 
 
"This is a great and finely-tuned program," said Sullivan,
"My task is to keep it running, but I also hope to open doors to new
partners and expanded visibility, especially in Chicago. The southern
Lake Michigan region faces significant concerns related to aging
infrastructure, urban growth and sustainability of natural resources.
Through Sea Grant science, we can help foster healthy
communities."
 
IISG is one of over 30 Sea Grant programs nationwide that sponsors
research, outreach and education to address coastal concerns. Funding for
the program is provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of Commerce, the University of
Illinois and Purdue University.
 
In recent years, through two joint appointments, IISG has expanded its
partnership with the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office to
address broader Great Lakes ecosystem issues such as monitoring and
remediation of contaminants. Sea Grant also played a pivotal role in the
signing of the historic Wingspread Tri-State Accord, an agreement by four
regional planning agencies to address economic, environmental and
transportation concerns across traditional boundaries. And, IISG is a key
player in the Great Lakes region in efforts to manage and control the
spread of aquatic invasive species.
 
Now, as the program completes a one-year strategic planning process, the
focus will be on four new cross-cutting topic areas: Habitats and
Ecosystems; Water for our Future; Coastal Cities; and Nourishing Healthy
Communities. 
 
"Many problems facing urban areas today need to be addressed from a
number of perspectives," said Brian Miller, IISG associate director.
"Sea Grant's new progressive approach is designed so that scientists
and program staff members work together across a multitude of disciplines
to achieve positive impacts in the southern Lake Michigan
region."

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Irene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
376 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
(217) 333-8055
FAX (217) 333-8046