US, Canada collaborate to advance oil spill science and preparedness
The commissioning of the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise on May 10, 2024, marked a historic commitment by the US Coast Guard to Great Lakes stewardship and a lasting partnership with Lake Superior State University’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education, which hosts the GLCOE.
“The GLCOE, unique within the Coast Guard, advances freshwater and icy water oil spill response capabilities through innovative research, equipment acquisition, and responder... read more
The commissioning of the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise on May 10, 2024, marked a historic commitment by the US Coast Guard to Great Lakes stewardship and a lasting partnership with Lake Superior State University’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education, which hosts the GLCOE.
“The GLCOE, unique within the Coast Guard, advances freshwater and icy water oil spill response capabilities through innovative research, equipment acquisition, and responder training,” said U.S. Coast Guard Deputy Director of Emergency Management Capt. Justin Peters.
The event highlighted the importance of international partnerships in addressing environmental issues on shared US-Canadian waters. U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, along with Director General of Natural Resources Canada, Yani Messi, and U.S. Coast Guard Deputy Director of Emergency Management Capt. Justin Peters, underscored the importance of preserving and protecting freshwater resources.
Dr. Ken Lee, former Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas, and Energy Research, was honored with the inaugural Senator Gary Peters Award for Innovation in Great Lakes Research for his leadership in oil spill science.
“Dr. Lee truly embodies the mission of the GLCOE. He is a decorated steward of the Great Lakes, our shared and treasured natural resource, and his research on oil spill preparedness has made a lasting impact in Canada and the US,” Senator Peters stated.
Earlier this year, Lake Superior State University secured a $3.87 million grant from Natural Resources Canada’s Multi-Partner Research Initiative, supporting the International Consortium on Oil Research for Our Waters of the North. ICOR-OWN is a consortium that unites 12 organizations and 24 scientists from both the United States and Canada, with LSSU’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education and Algoma University from Canada as lead partners. Additionally, LSSU received funding from the US Coast Guard’s GLCOE to bolster research and response capacity along the shores of the St. Marys River.
Dr. Ashley Moerke, Dean of the College of Great Lakes Ecology and Education at LSSU and lead of the ICOR-OWN, emphasized the significance of the international partnership.
“ICOR-OWN leverages our unique location at the nexus of the upper Great Lakes and the expertise of our US and international partners to build scientific capacity and ensure the best available science guides our response to oil spills in cold, freshwater environments,” said Moerke.
Collaborative efforts that span international boundaries such as ICOR-OWN and the GLCOE play a crucial role in addressing complex challenges. By uniting diverse perspectives, resources, and expertise, these efforts are able to support comprehensive research and effective responses to environmental threats. show less
