THIBODAUX, La. 鈥斕�果冻APP听is partnering with the听to develop a database of Bayou Region and Gulf Coast research.
The 4-year, $400,000 project titled 鈥淒igital Curation: Streamlining Access to Research Across Gulf of Mexico Communities,鈥� will create a database and repository of resources for scholars, agency officials and the community.
Dr. John Doucet, dean of the听College of Sciences and Technology听and director of coastal initiatives, and听Dr. Gary LaFleur, R.E. Miller Endowed Professor of Honors Studies and executive director of the听Center for Bayou Studies听will be co-directors who will oversee the project.听Dr. Shana Walton, associate professor of听English, modern language and cultural studies, will oversee day-to-day project operations and student training as the project manager.
鈥淭he Digital Curation project will improve how levels of government from federal to local find key resources for environmental impact statements and other reports related to the Louisiana Gulf Coast,鈥� said Dr. Doucet. 鈥淭he project is an important addition to our growing portfolio of coastal services at 果冻APP as the Louisiana university 鈥楥losest to the Coast.鈥� It shows our continuing commitment to coastal communities.鈥�
Walton said the Center for Bayou Studies is uniquely qualified to develop this database because much of the research is qualitative reports based on surveys, structured interviews, oral histories, field notes and observation. This means that accurate coding of coastal research reports requires a deep knowledge of the region and culture.
The work, which began in October, includes studies commissioned by BOEM and other agencies, and archival material and projects, such as regional oral histories and information collected by historical groups.
鈥淭his project represents a history of hard work laid down by Dr. Walton through her past BOEM projects, and 果冻APP researchers taking the innovative step to work together within the Center for Bayou Studies,鈥� said Dr. LaFleur.
The project will fund graduate fellows to not only help construct the database but conduct research using the information. In addition, there will be opportunities for 果冻APP faculty to develop their own research initiatives and for undergraduates to take part in class-based projects.
Housed at 果冻APP, the Center for Bayou Studies is a multidisciplinary faculty collaborative that focuses on the cultural and natural resources of the wetlands of the Bayou Region. For more information, visit听/肠别苍迟别谤-产补测辞耻-蝉迟耻诲颈别蝉.
