GLIN==> Press release: O'Neill appointed as NY Sea Grant's Interim Associate Director

PRESS RELEASE:  February 5, 2010
Contact: Charles R. ³Chuck² O¹Neill, Interim Associate Director and Coastal
Resources Specialist, 585-395-2638, cro4 at cornell.edu

O¹Neill Appointed as NY Sea Grant¹s Interim Associate Director

Brockport, NY, February 5, 2010 ­ Charles R. ³Chuck² O¹Neill has been named
New York Sea Grant¹s Interim Associate Director effective February 1, 2010.

³Chuck O¹Neill has been with New York Sea Grant since 1981. As a coastal
resources specialist, he brings a clear understanding of the environmental
opportunities and challenges impacting New York¹s environmental resources as
well as the history of success of Sea Grant¹s educational programming,² says
New York Sea Grant Director James W. Ammerman.

³I look forward to the opportunity to assist Director Jim Ammerman with
educating stakeholders and legislators about the importance of New York Sea
Grant. In nearly 30 years of environmental service, I have seen the success
of the paradigm that connects New York Sea Grant¹s professional educators
with topnotch scientists and delivers information in a form that a wide
variety of audiences can use to effectuate positive change,² O¹Neill says.

O¹Neill says in the past year New York Sea Grant has seen success with
programs that:
·       ³teach the teachers² how to engage students in learning about
shoreline science through hands-on training along the Great Lakes, distance
learning programs, science exploration days and the new Exploring the
Estuary! A teacher guide to the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary

·       connect recreational and charter fishing services with online travel
audiences

·       educate and excite youth about ocean engineering

·       ensure seafood safety through good manufacturing practices and
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) education and training

·       educate the public about keeping pharmaceuticals out of water
supplies

·       ensure healthy Long Island estuaries through Nonpoint Education for
Municipal Officials (NYSG NEMO)

·       share the facts and fun of fishing with New York City and Long
Island audiences

·       share trawling technology design and use expertise with
international partners

·       communicate Cornell University¹s Drs. Paul Bowser and James Casey¹s
research on ways to prevent and contain the VHS (viral hemorrhagic
septicemia) virus in fish

·       provide a new-in-2009 Lake Ontario water levels update resource

·       inform audiences about the Eastern Lake Ontario Dunes and Salmon
River ecosystems through a new-in-2009 stewardship blog

·       facilitate regional sediment management for New York¹s Long Island
ocean coastline

·       celebrate New York¹s freshwater maritime heritage and scuba diving
opportunities through the three-time award-winning Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Shipwrecks and Dive the Seaway Trail project

·       network with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
specialists nationwide on climate change extension.
 
O¹Neill will continue to maintain his nationally-recognized leadership in
the area of invasive species in addition to his new administrative and
management responsibilities as Interim Associate Director. O¹Neill is the
founder of the New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse at http://nyis.info/.

In addition to his service to New York Sea Grant since 1981, O¹Neill¹s
career has included time as director of the Sullivan County Environmental
Management Council and as an environmental analyst with the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation and Monroe County Environmental
Management Council.

O¹Neill follows Robert Kent, who has served as Interim Associate Director
since December 17, 2008, following the retirement of Dale Baker. Kent
remains in his ongoing role as New York Sea Grant Marine Program
Coordinator.

New York Sea Grant is a cooperative program of the State University of New
York (SUNY), Cornell University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and sponsors research, extension and education
programs to promote the wise use of New York¹s Great Lakes and marine
resources.  Learn more online at www.nyseagrant.org
<http://www.nyseagrant.org>. #
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