The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) College Program today announced a new funding opportunity for promising two-year research projects addressing issues relevant to the southern Lake Michigan ecosystem and the surrounding communities in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
The competitive grant program funds research projects aligned with the goals outlined in the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Strategic Plan 2024-2027. These goals include Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Resilient Communities and Economies, Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development.
IISG plans to award successful projects up to $200,000 per project ($100,000 per year) with a 50% non-federal match requirement. Funded projects should begin no earlier than February 1, 2026 and end no later than January 31, 2028.
View the full request for proposals for more information.
Focus Areas and Research Topics
Two focus areas will receive special prioritization in this funding competition.
- Projects with outcomes that demonstrate broad scientific accessibility for veterans, rural populations, or other groups that face science-accessibility challenges.
- Projects exploring social, economic, or legal barriers to aquaculture production of Illinois- and/or Indiana-grown fish or shellfish.
In addition, there are several topics this cycle, including:
- Helping communities or ecosystems adapt to changing lake levels in southern Lake Michigan.
- The development, deployment and/or analyses of novel sensors and resulting data for studying physicochemical and biotic dynamics of southern Lake Michigan
- Analyzing contaminant levels in fish or shellfish that are or can be used for food.
- Addressing environmental justice concerns associated with restoration of degraded southern Lake Michigan coastal sites (e.g., decommissioned power plants, industrial parks).
- Analyzing contaminant input into southern Lake Michigan associated with roads, road traffic, and driving.
- Conducting human dimensions research on fisheries on Lake Michigan or its tributaries.
Questions regarding eligibility or submission requirements may be directed to Stuart Carlton at carltons@purdue.edu.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a partnership between NOAA, University of Illinois Extension, and Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources, bringing science together with communities for solutions that work. Sea Grant is a network of 34 science, education and outreach programs located in every coastal and Great Lakes state, Lake Champlain, Puerto Rico and Guam.
