Florida oil spill research goes on with or without BP money

When the BP oil spill began following a rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, researchers in Florida didn't wait, says State University System Chancellor Frank Brogan.

Instead, they began working to study the extent of the oil spill and the possible effects on the Gulf before they received any money from the giant oil corporation for research, Brogan said.

On May 24, BP committed $500 million to Gulf research and said a panel of scientists would determine how the money would be distributed. But Brogan said he has become concerned about the fate of that money and the $100 million that Gov. Charlie Crist requested in June for research for Florida institutions.

"Some people think it is all about the money" but it's not, Brogan said. "These folks (Florida researchers) stepped up to that plate 48 hours after that oil spill and said, 'What can we do?' -- and knew there was no new money to get it done."

Read more at the Florida Tribune.