UF to lead expanded Florida Climate Institute

September 18, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Climate Institute is broadening to expand its collaborations with universities and state and local agencies in Florida.

The move will promote cooperation with the state’s private sector to help develop a climate-ready workforce and provide information about climate-related risks unique to our state. The broadened institute will bring together scientists from multiple universities to conduct research on climate change and sea level rise, and will provide education on economic and environmental opportunities and risks.

UF will lead the expanded institute over the next three years.

“This uniquely positions us to better promote all of our talented researchers and students here at UF, facilitate collaborations more broadly, and establish our university as a leader in this emerging institute,” said Jim Jones, FCI director and a UF distinguished professor.

The FCI was originally developed with the goal of adding complementary expertise from other state universities. A clustering grant funded by the Board of Governors further emphasized the need for universities and external stakeholders throughout the state to collaborate. Besides UF and Florida State University, the Florida Climate Institute will now also include Florida Atlantic University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Miami and the University of South Florida. FCI officials said they expect the broadened expertise base to increase each institution’s ability to compete national and international funding.

The FCI at the University of Florida will host a workshop on Nov. 2 at the Reitz Student Union to explore ways to strengthen the climate-science community at UF and plan for new opportunities as the leader of the statewide institute.

For more information about the Florida Climate Institute, visit www.floridaclimateinstitute.org or contact Carolyn Cox at 352-392-1964, ext. 233.