Supporting long-term research
BP has committed to pay $500 million over 10 years to support independent research through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative
The goal of the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative is to improve society’s ability to understand, respond to and mitigate the potential impacts of oil spills to marine and coastal ecosystems. The organization is doing this by engaging the expertise of some of the world’s most respected scientists. This research is separate and distinct from the studies conducted in co-operation with federal and state trustees through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process.
On its website, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative provides information about active and completed research projects, and lists researchers and institutions funded by the initiative.
On its website, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative provides information about active and completed research projects, and lists researchers and institutions funded by the initiative.
Grants awarded
The $500 million in BP funding will cover grant awards and administrative costs. As of the end of 2012, the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative had awarded $184 million in grants. Grant recipients are investigating the fate of oil releases; the ecological and human health aspects of spills; and the development of new tools and technology for future spill response, mitigation and restoration. Grant recipients are expected to publish their results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Through a competitive review process, in August 2012, the initiative approved funding for 19 grants that will provide approximately $20 million to researchers over the next three years.
Through a competitive review process, in August 2012, the initiative approved funding for 19 grants that will provide approximately $20 million to researchers over the next three years.
About the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative
The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative was created following the 2010 oil spill through an agreement between BP and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, a non-profit partnership formed by the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to address common environmental issues.
BP and the alliance agreed to create a fully independent research board to commission long-term research relating to oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems. The research board is responsible for developing all requests for proposals, making all funding decisions and reviewing progress of the funded research. BP has no influence over the science. There is no requirement for BP to approve any research proposal, or any study before publication.
BP and the alliance agreed to create a fully independent research board to commission long-term research relating to oil spills in marine and coastal ecosystems. The research board is responsible for developing all requests for proposals, making all funding decisions and reviewing progress of the funded research. BP has no influence over the science. There is no requirement for BP to approve any research proposal, or any study before publication.
Attestation
The information on this page forms part of the information reviewed and reported on by Ernst & Young as part of BP's 2012 sustainability reporting.
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