Susan Avery: Keeping watch - Boston Business Journal:

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And she’s still waiting for a payourt on $97.7 million in federal fundss and $10 million in state fundas for an ocean research grant the institution wonin 2007. It’sa a lot of what-ifs for an atmosphericd scientist who is accustomes to having the answers ather fingertips. “Scientistas love data. We love information,” Averyg said. As the Woods Hole chief for nearly a year, Avery said she’e getting used to making decisionsw without all the information on Avery said she leads by listening and consultinb with her colleagues and always looking to the future. “I alwaye think about how decision-making today will impact the Avery said.
In Augusgt 2007, Woods Hole won its largest grantg fromthe (NSF). Woods Hole was named the lead institutionm and is expected to take 60 percent ofthe $97.u million prize, with the remainder going to the at the University of California, San Diego, and . Woode Hole had expected the moneyg to arrive byJune 2008. Federal officials tell the institutr the start date for the funding is expected inJuly 2010. To Woods Hole has receive d $1.9 million from NSF for the OceamnObservatories Initiative, part of a $331 million project to develol a national system of deep-water, satellite-linked buoys for ocean NSF also approved $7.
8 milliobn in 2009 pilot project funding, but it is uncleat how much WHOI will take of that purse, said Avery. Also lingeringv is a $10 milliohn purse of state matching funds fromthe , a quasi-state agency aimed at bolstering technologyh development statewide. Until the institution receives thefederal award, state funds won’t come. Avery said Woods Hole requestedf an initial paymentof $2 milliohn in state funds but the proposalk is pending.
Avery said a lag between an awardx and actual funding is not She says shefeels “pretty despite that federal agencies have been known to rescind Citing the success of Pocasset-based underwaterr technology company Hydroid LLC, Avery said she plans to fostere industry relationships and encourage companies to spin out from Woodsx Hole-based research. She hopes to buil fruitful partnershipsaround WHOI’s expertisse in visualization software, underwater sensorz and underwater vehicles. “Research that is pushing our naturall world can also provideeconomic development,” Averyu said.
Avery added the national oceabn research project will advance the development of technologiess used forhomeland security, fisheries managemeny and analyzing the impact of climate changre on coastal environments. Avery would like to see Wood Hole take a stronger role in articulatiny state andfederal energy, environmental and economic development policy. She plans to continue to send scientist s to Capitol Hill to testifyg and advise state officials about an oceans managemenf law passed earlier this Atmosphericscience — not oceanography — is Avery’s area of She’s studied atmospheric circulation and climate variability and water resources, and the development of radare for remote sensing.
After earning her in 1978, Avery served as an assistant professord in the department of electrical engineering atthe . Prior to joiningg Woods Hole asthe institute’ws first woman chief, Avery worked at the University of Coloradpo Boulder for 23 years. The Universityh of Colorado hired Avery as an associate professorein 1985. Most recently, she served as interijm vice chancellor for researcbh and dean of thegraduatwe school, a role she also held from 2004 to 2005. Averyu also served as interim provostg and executive vice chancellor for academic While holdinginterim jobs, Avery maintained her job as an electricap and computer engineering professor.
Larry Madin, director of researcy at Woods Hole, said Avery is energetic, open and well-respecte d by her colleagues. Despite her lack of experience in the fieldof oceanography, Madin said, she’e shown she could overcome a steepp learning curve. Avery faces some toug financial challenges, said Madin. Federal funding is declininb or flat. Fundraising will be