The national estuarine research reserve system (nerrs) science collaborative (NSC) works closely with the nerrs to support their collaboration with estuarine and coastal managers in jointly…

The national estuarine research reserve system (nerrs) science collaborative (NSC) works closely with the nerrs to support their collaboration with estuarine and coastal managers in jointly identifying and responding to local, regional, and national research and management needs. The reserves CO-develop natural and social science knowledge with decision-makers, helping their communities address coastal management problems with the most effective and appropriate strategies for these complex estuarine ecosystems. Reserves are uniquely positioned to provide responsive, locally-relevant research and knowledge, while being embedded in a national system that shares lessons learned, data, and decisions magnifying each reserve's impact and reach. The NSC is qualitatively different from other research programs. IT both supports nerrs-based research, and is an important partner in the production of usable, science-based knowledge. The NSC works with the nerrs and project teams to build collaborative science skills, generate new knowledge and facilitate its use, and support development of products and knowledge for the benefit of intended users. A foundational truth about the science collaborative is that the support IT provides contributes to the reserves functioning as a system. The overarching programmatic goal is as follows: coastal and estuarine health and resilience are supported through better coastal policy-making and management decisions informed by the collaborative science of the nerrs and their partners. To achieve this goal, UM will apply the collaborative science mindset and principles and a consultative approach to meet the following objectives: 1. Deliver a national collaborative science program that solicits, administers, and supports competitive, peer-reviewed natural and social science projects that address system-wide, regional, and local management needs of the nerrs; 2. Support sharing and transfer of research outputs and monitoring information, as well as knowledge related to methodologies, best practices, lessons learned, and tool development, among the reserves and with other stewards and rights holders in the broader coastal and estuarine community; 3. Increase the capacity of individuals, reserves, and sectors to participate in the program; and 4. Increase the capacity of project teams and reserves to communicate outcomes of collaborative science projects to decision makers and the broader coastal and estuarine community. UM will offer a suite of competitive and non-competitive grant opportunities for original research, data synthesis and trend analysis, planning, and knowledge exchange among reserves and partners. These are designed specifically to meet the diverse needs and capacities of the nerrs, including at different moments in their collaborative work. To support the sharing, transfer, and long-term archival of research outputs and information, UM will offer annual science transfer funding opportunities; maintain and expand a project catalog and resource library for data and products; continue to host monthly webinars and provide monthly program updates to share findings from projects. UM will build the capacity of individuals, reserves, and sectors to participate in the program by developing a new workshop series to support team formation and proposal concept ideation for reserve staff who are new to collaborative science or the system, or have not yet received a grant. UM will also continue to offer capacity building grants to reserves and refine tools and resources to support applicants and teams, including those available through the guide to collaborative science. UM will support project teams and reserves in communicating about their work by: 1) increasing their capacity to both capture and explain their expansive impacts; and 2) developing improved approaches to project reporting that produce rich impact narratives that are ripe for informing and inspiring decision makers and the broade