By Kate Kellogg
News and Information Services
A new agreement between the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and the state of Michigan will address and research the state’s pressing resource management issues.
The agreement, initiated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ (MDNR) divisions of fisheries and wildlife, provides full funding for new U-M faculty research scientists with expertise in natural resources management. The faculty research scientists, to be hired by SNRE, will focus on projects related to the state’s needs in fish and wildlife management. Agency staff and SNRE faculty will jointly define specific research areas.
“We are pleased to enter into this landmark agreement and believe it will be most helpful to Michigan citizens,” says Michael D. Moore, MDNR deputy director for research management. “The opportunity to utilize the University’s facilities and structure will help us accomplish some of Michigan’s important goals in fish and wildlife research.”
SNRE Dean Garry D. Brewer believes the agreement will benefit the state “by allowing the University to attract top quality scholars who want to work on natural resources and environmental management issues. The two MDNR divisions will have flexibility in defining and supporting research goals. They will be able to retain highly qualified scientists whose interests match the state’s natural resource management needs.”
The U-M soon will be negotiating the hiring of the first researcher for the new program, an expert in fisheries management. Other researchers may be hired as the two partners in the agreement determine other research priorities.
“This is a great opportunity to bring more expertise to the SNRE and to do so in collaboration with the MDNR,” says James S. Diana, associate professor of natural resources who helped develop the partnership with the MDNR fisheries division. The agreement also will benefit students, Diana added, since the faculty research scientists will teach one class each year and supervise graduate students.
The MDNR will provide laboratory and office space and office support services through its Institute for Fisheries Research on the Ann Arbor campus.
