Frequently Asked Questions
Role of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Within the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) Partnership:
The Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) administers STAC through a Cooperative Agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program. The oversight role for the CRC epitomizes one of CRC’s primary goals: to facilitate the transfer of scientific information to inform science-based management throughout the Chesapeake basin. CRC employees oversee the committee’s technical and administrative operations. Additionally, CRC’s Director, Dr. Kevin Sellner, serves as Executive Secretary for the committee. To learn more about the CRC, please visit its website.
The CBP’s Goal Implementation Teams (GITs) (address the six priority goals of the Chesapeake Bay Program: 1) protect and restore fisheries, 2) protect and restore vital aquatic habitat, 3) protect and restore water quality, 4) maintain healthy watersheds, 5) foster Chesapeake stewardship, and 6) enhance partnership, leadership, and management. While STAC does not have a designated seat on the GITs, the Committee has identified STAC member liaisons who participate in GIT meetings and foster communication between the two groups in order to enhance STAC’s advisory capacity.
- For more information on the CBP’s GITs, please visit the Chesapeake Bay Program’s website: www.chesapeakebay.net.
The Science, Technical Analysis and Reporting team (STAR) is the CBP’s technical support arm. STAR supports the CBP’s goal implementation teams (GITS) by providing them with technical support such as GIS data, modeling and monitoring data, information management and web support. Conversely, STAC provides scientific and technical guidance to the CBP by reviewing and recommending scientifically sound policy, programs and research. Together, STAC and STAR fulfill the CBP’s need for technical and scientific support and guidance.
Since its creation in December 1984, STAC has worked to enhance scientific communication and outreach throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. STAC provides independent scientific and technical advice in various ways, including (1) technical reports and position papers, (2) discussion groups, (3) assistance in organizing merit reviews of CBP programs and projects, (4) technical workshops, and (5) interaction between STAC members and the CBP. STAC serves as a liaison between the scientific community and the CBP. Through professional and academic contacts and organizational networks of its members, STAC ensures close cooperation among and between the various research institutions and management agencies represented in the Bay watershed.
- View the STAC structural diagram to find out more about the committee’s structure.
- To find information on STAC meetings, workshops, or reviews, navigate the activities menu.
STAC Research on the Bay:
STAC produces a variety of publications each year. Most of the publications are related to STAC workshops and reviews, and are available for download on the publications page. Occasionally STAC releases larger technical documents such as the report, Chesapeake Futures. Factsheets and press releases are also produced for select STAC activities. All forms of STAC publications are available electronically on the STAC workshops and reviews publications pages; hardcopies of some of these documents are also available. To request a a hard copy of any STAC publication, please contact STAC Staff.
Through its cooperative agreement with the EPA, STAC receives an allotment of funds to support its activities and operations within each fiscal year, June 1 – May 31. Recipients of STAC funding will have access to monies no sooner than June 1 to spend on or before May 31 of the proceeding calendar year.
STAC engages in two types of activities: proactive activities that address scientific and technical issues the Committee deems important to restoring the Chesapeake Bay, and responsive activities that are conducted in direct response to CBP requests.
Along with providing scientific and technical support to the Chesapeake Bay Program through reviews and workshops, STAC also pursues proactive scientific issues imperative to Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. The committee’s workgroups serve as starting points for proactive science activities. Through these workgroups, members can organize activities that are important to the Committee due to their impacts and implications in Bay restoration as well as responding to the requests from the Chesapeake Bay Program. For more information on STAC’s workgroups, please visit the workgroups page.
STAC Research and Communications Outreach:
As the conduit connecting the Chesapeake Bay Program to the scientific community, STAC is constantly seeking outside experts to collaborate on STAC activities. This includes participating or assisting in organizing STAC workshops, serving on expert review panels, and assisting with other activities addressing priority science issues related to Chesapeake Bay health. If you would like to volunteer or recommend an expert to collaborate with STAC on an activity, we encourage you to submit your contact information and a description of expertise to STAC Staff. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you in the future!
STAC nominations are typically submitted to STAC through its members, however outside membership nominations will also be considered with an accompanying STAC member sponsorship. To find a sponsor, you are encouraged to network with one or more of our members by visiting the STAC membership page, which provides links to their bios and contact information. Membership nominations may be submitted throughout the year, but will not be considered until a STAC appointment becomes available. Nominations are vetted by STAC at its quarterly meetings and only accepted with full membership approval. To be considered, nominees must submit their curriculum vitae to STAC Staff, review and agree to the STAC membership expectations, and have a STAC sponsor.
STAC does not provide research services to individuals or organizations. Instead, the Committee provides scientific and technical support for Chesapeake Bay Program partners through the form of workshops and technical reviews. Additionally, STAC does not fulfill individual research or data requests. If you are a Chesapeake Bay Program partner and would like to request data or have other immediate research needs, please contact the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Science, Technical Analysis, and Reporting team (STAR).
STAC produces factsheets and press releases on select STAC activities. These resources are accessible on our presskit page.
STAC does not produce resources specially geared for K-12 education. However, STAC encourages you to visit www.baybackpack.com for educational resources. STAC also encourages you to read Chesapeake Futures, a STAC publication that outlines the likely consequences of choices we are making at the dawn of the 21st century. You can request a free copy from STAC Staff, and can view an accompanying video through Maryland Sea Grant. STAC also has a large number of technical reports accessible through publications. Any questions on STAC resources may be directed to STAC Staff.
- Access STAC Factsheets through our media page.
- Visit www.baybackpack.com for additional educational tools.
Connecting with STAC:
STAC is supported by team of CRC employees. This team, or “STAC Staff,” handles all STAC administrative items. If you would like to comment to the Committee as a whole, or if have any questions for the Committee, please email STAC Staff.
STAC is comprised of 38 scientific and technical experts from across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. STAC members are open to working with the public on important scientific and technical issues related to restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed. If you are interested in contacting individual STAC members, please visit the membership page, where you may access their bios and contact information.
STAC supports the scientific and technical basis of the Chesapeake Bay Program through the independent peer review of technical reports, policy statements, and activities. The objective of these reviews is to provide thorough, competent, and objective technical reviews in a timely fashion to advise the Chesapeake Bay Program decision-making process. Review requests may only be submitted by the Chesapeake Bay Program or a STAC member(s). If you are a member of the Chesapeake Bay Program or a member of STAC and would like to submit a proposal for a STAC review, please visit the apply for assistance page to see more details about the Committee’s review proposal process.
Workshops allow STAC to bring the broad expertise of the scientific and technical community to bear on critical and timely issues relevant to the successful restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. STAC workshops convene independent experts and active managers in a dialogue to review the current state of knowledge on an issue and outline management concerns and priorities. These workshops provide a format for formulating recommendations from the scientific and technical community on information needs, opportunities for collaborations, and further management actions. Workshop requests may only be submitted by the Chesapeake Bay Program or a STAC member(s). If you are a member of the Chesapeake Bay Program or a member of STAC and would like to submit a proposal for a STAC workshop, please visit the apply for assistance page to see more details about the Committee’s workshop proposal process.
Registration is required to attend STAC events. There are no fees associated with registration. To access more information on upcoming STAC events, please see the STAC calendar.
A list of upcoming events may be accessed through the STAC calendar. Standard events include workshops, conferences, and quarterly meetings. The calendar also provides links to various workshop or meeting pages.