The NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME) is a partnership led by Florida A&M University (FAMU) with the goal of making profound national impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems education, science, and policy. It is funded by a $30 million award over five years from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Educational Partnership Program (EPP).



The NOAA CCME has four primary and interrelated goals:


  1. Increase the number of scientists, particularly from under-represented minority groups in the environmental, coastal and oceanic sciences;
  2. Enhance the scientific understanding of human interactions with the coastal environment in support of NOAA’s place-based management;
  3. Improve the scientific basis for coastal resource management by developing tools and research products to characterize, evaluate, and forecast coastal and marine ecosystem responses to natural and human induced stressors;
  4. Facilitate community education and outreach relating to the function and significance of coastal ecosystems.
CCME Group Photo

CCME RESEARCH

CCME research is conducted in support of NOAA's line office the National Ocean Service (NOS) and focuses on the following key NOS research priority areas:


CCME INSTITUTIONS

CCME institutions bring forth a wealth of relevant academic programs and faculty with extensive expertise in coastal and marine ecosystems. Additionally, CCME institutions have well-established records of educating students from underrepresented groups in NOAA-related science and policy, preparing graduates for productive careers and conducting high impact research.

CCME Stories

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Mya Brown
Mya Brown
The experience I had working with NOAA social scientists was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This experience validated the importance of my thesis research in how it emphasized the importance of community-stakeholder dynamics and the effects that this has on resources.
Geaceli Orive
Geaceli G. Orive
Geaceli G. Orive
During Fall of 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to be a NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities (NERTO) Intern at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SFSC) in Pascagoula, Mississippi. My project involved analyzing the changes in Sargassum habitat community structure from offshore to inshore areas in the northern Gulf of Mexico (East to West). It was absolutely amazing to be out at sea, gain a hands-on experience and witness the breathtaking views (fantastic marine organisms, endless sea, a plethora of stars, and glorious sunrises and sunsets).
David de la Garza
David De La Garza
David De La Garza
My NERTO at the NOAA NOS NCCOS lab in Beaufort, NC was a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills in the field and lab, learn how a NOAA lab is structured and operates, and participate in other areas of research. I was able to meet and work with great people and cherish my time spent in Beaufort.