Gulf Research Program

Stored: Gulf Research Program

Gulf Research Program

Type	Program
Sponsor Organization	National Academy of Sciences
Top Organization	None
Creation Legislation	None
Website	Website
Purpose	The Gulf Research Program enhances oil system safety, human health, and environmental resilience in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. outer continental shelf through research, education, and monitoring. It aims to fund transformative science and capacity building over 30 years, leveraging $500 million from Deepwater Horizon settlements.
Program Start	2013
Initial Funding	$500 million
Duration	30 years
Historic	No

The Gulf Research Program (GRP) is a National Academy of Sciences initiative launched in 2013 with a $500 million endowment from Deepwater Horizon legal settlements to address safety, health, and environmental challenges in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. coastal regions over a 30-year span. Administered by NAS’s Gulf Research Program division, it has awarded over $300 million by 2025 across grants, fellowships—like the 2025 Early-Career Research Fellowships—and monitoring efforts, supporting over 2,000 recipients in projects ranging from ecosystem restoration to offshore energy safety. Distinct from DOE programs, it collaborates with federal agencies like NOAA but operates independently, emphasizing community resilience and scientific advancement through initiatives like the Gulf Scholars Program.

Official Site

Goals

• Improve offshore energy system safety through innovative research and technology.
• Enhance Gulf community health and resilience via interdisciplinary studies.
• Advance environmental monitoring and restoration in coastal ecosystems.

Organization

The Gulf Research Program is managed by NAS’s Gulf Research Program division, led by an Executive Director (currently Lauren Alexander Augustine), with no single top federal agency overseeing it due to its independent funding from BP and Transocean settlements. It operates with an advisory board and staff, distributing funds through grants and fellowships, leveraging NAS’s scientific network.

Partners

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• University of Southern Mississippi
• Louisiana State University
• Texas A&M University

History

Established in 2013 following a 2010 federal request post-Deepwater Horizon, GRP began with a $500 million fund from BP ($350 million) and Transocean ($150 million) settlements, formalized by NAS in 2013. Early efforts included 2014 workshops on workforce needs and resilience, evolving into over $300 million in awards by 2025, with key programs like the 2025 Early-Career Fellowships (web:6) and Safer Offshore Energy Systems grants. It continues through 2043, adapting to Gulf needs.

Funding

Initial funding of $500 million was secured in 2013 from Deepwater Horizon penalties, with over $300 million disbursed by 2025 for research, education, and monitoring. Ongoing support comes from this endowment, managed by NAS, with no fixed annual budget but a 30-year horizon ending in 2043.

Implementation

GRP executes its mission via competitive grants (e.g., $10 million in 2024), fellowships (e.g., $76,000 per Early-Career award), and workshops, using platforms like gulfresearchprogram.org for applications. It progresses through phases—initial planning (2013-2014), active funding (2015-2025), and long-term impact (to 2043)—focusing on Gulf-specific science and resilience.

Related

• Energy Earthshots
• Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Assessments and Research

External links

• https://www.nationalacademies.org/gulf-research-program
• https://www.nationalacademies.org/gulf/about
• wikipedia:Gulf Research Program

Social media

• https://twitter.com/NAS_GRP
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-academies-of-sciences-engineering-medicine