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Director's NoteMark Mulligan |
NOAA Cooperative Agreement
As Hank mentioned at the Hail & Farewell in June, some concerns have been raised regarding staff support due to programs ramping down, the effects of sequestration, and continuing resolution on others.
The 2013 NOAA cooperative agreement request is a modest $322k less than 2012 budget, less than a 3% difference. However, the 2013 request does include two significant infrastructure projects that are primarily equipment purchases. If the infrastructure projects are removed from the 2013 request, the difference is a more substantial $2.7M. One of the many reasons the Center has been successful over the last 45 years has been the adeptness to redirect resources from projects that are winding down to projects that are need of support. In this case, some staff have been reassigned to other funded projects or asked to support development work such as the GeoMetWatch STORM Data Center. As many of you are probably aware, the STORM instrument and data center development projects appear closer to reality each day. (GMW recently signed a deal with NASA to provide them with data, click here for details) When the STORM Data Center is awarded, there will be a need for talent in many areas.
The Center raises and spends approximately $30M per year. Along with other needs, departmental resources are used to support proposal efforts to maintain the funding stream and to provide support to staff as projects wind down (AWG) until new projects (STORM) start. This allows continuity within the Center enabling it to retain a talented and experienced staff. If you are at all concerned about your funding support, please don’t hesitate to contact your supervisor or any director with your concerns.
Update on the Mobile Atmospheric Measurement System
In the April Director’s note, Fred described the new truck and trailer that will be replacing the AERIBago. There are a few updates to report on this front. We have received the pickup truck. If you have entered or left the building via the loading dock you have probably noticed it (it’s hard to miss). The trailer has been delivered with its structural frame and exterior enclosure. It will be kept at the IDDO warehouse while the interior paneling and electrical system are installed. A local RV/Camper company will then complete some finishing work on it. The goal is to have it ready by this fall as plans are already being made to utilize it. Initially, an AERI and an HSRL will be housed in it potentially with the microwave radiometers and/or a ceilometer. The HSRL is currently deployed in Huntsville, AL and will not be available until November.
Many of you submitted a number of very clever names for truck and trailer. Wayne is continuing to sift and winnow through all of the suggestions. I suspect he will work with Hank to select and announce a name in the very near future.
UW Wage Increase
You may have read about it, but in case you missed the good news, the Joint Committee on Employment Relations approved Gov. Scott Walker's proposal for a 1 percent wage increase in each of the next two years for state employees, including UW-Madison employees. The committee also approved a compensation plan for classified employees. Details on the implementation of this are still being fleshed out by campus administration. Stay tuned for more updates soon!
