UA Nets Largest External Award In University's History

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama on Wednesday announced the largest external award in university history that will fund research into operations aimed at improving the nation’s ability to predict water-related hazards and effectively manage water resources.

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Totaling $360 million, the funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will be administered over the next five years and establishes the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, or CIROH.

CIROH will consist of a consortium of 28 academic institutions, non-profit organizations and government and industry partners from across the United States and Canada, who will work to develop and deliver national hydrological analyses, forecast information, data, guidance and equitable decision-support services to inform essential emergency management and water resources decisions.

Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby referred to the CIROH as "cutting-edge."

“UA has the unique environment and expertise to lead the nation in high-level water research between 28 partners," Shelby said. "Thanks to the Alabama Water Institute’s leadership in assembling a world-class team, the growing scientific expertise and collaborations in Alabama will continue to benefit the nation. Additionally, NOAA’s efforts to create this innovative institute will, in turn, protect communities and promote wise investments across the nation through better water models, forecasts and predictions. This award is excellent news for Alabama and its findings will influence decisions made across the continent for years to come.”

The University of Alabama said CIROH will work with two federal organizations located on campus — NOAA’s National Water Center and the recently announced U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility — to allow for collaboration between AWI and other federal agency scientists.

“The research institutes were established on campus to support and expand upon the great work done by our faculty, staff and students in addressing real challenges facing our society,” UA President Stuart R. Bell said. “This award will elevate those contributions, bringing innovation to such a critical issue as water quality and availability while enriching the educational experience of our students. The expertise of the Alabama Water Institute is positioned well to answer our nation’s call to improve the lives and livelihood of Americans and our partner nations.”

CIROH’s 14 consortium members include: The University of Alabama; Brigham Young University; Colorado School of Mines; Tuskegee University; The University of Alabama in Huntsville; University of Arizona; University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography; University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa; University of Iowa; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; University of Saskatchewan; University of Utah; University of Vermont; and Utah State University.

Consortium partners include: Baron Weather Inc.; Coastal Carolina University; Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrological Science Inc.; Dauphin Island Sea Lab; Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System; Jupiter Intelligence; New Mexico State University; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; The Pennsylvania State University; RTI International; Stevens Institute of Technology; University of California, Davis; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and University of South Carolina.

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