Penn State is one of seven member institutions of the CRC, which has existed since 1972 as an efficient mechanism for Bay region universities to collaborate on shared research and education initiatives and, importantly, to facilitate the application of good science to Bay management and help the universities be stronger partners within the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership.  Mission Statement -- i.e., to help regional universities better compete for national funding and to help bring the best possible science to bear on managing  the complex Chesapeake ecosystem (watershed + Bay + all contained in both, including humans of course!)