The Gulf Research Program within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will collaborate with the Natural Hazards Center (NHC) at the University of Colorado Boulder to establish and cultivate a robust Community of Practice to strengthen preparedness for future oil spills of national significance (SONS) in the U.S. Gulf region. Building on lessons from past spills and recognizing the importance of sustained collaboration, this initiative will connect early-career and senior researchers, Gulf-based institutions, community-based organizations, incident response practitioners, and others working in relevant domains. The Community of Practice will function as an active, accessible virtual network that facilitates ongoing knowledge exchange, information sharing, and interdisciplinary relationship building. Its development will prioritize Gulf-based expertise and community-rooted research practices that reduce burden on affected populations and ensure that research is conducted in a coordinated manner.

To support and grow this emerging network, the National Academies and NHC will also design and deliver a series of interdisciplinary, interactive webinars that serve as a central mechanism for convening Community of Practice members. These webinars will provide early-career researchers with essential knowledge transfer from experienced researchers and oil spill practitioners related to coordinating post-disaster research, learning about different research strategies and community engagement, while reinforcing ties across disciplines and regions. Together, the Community of Practice and associated webinar series will preserve institutional memory, strengthen Gulf-centered research capacity, and prepare the next generation of researchers to work collaboratively and responsibly in the event of a future spill.