Director's Note

New leadership and an unwavering commitment to our mission

(Photo credit: Brianne Lehan)

I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Interim Director of the Center for Coastal Solutions. It’s a true honor to continue to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate team after serving for several years as an associate director of CCS. I look forward to collaborating with all of you as we continue our mission to understand, protect, and enhance the unique ecosystems that define our coastal landscapes.   

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Summit highlights U.S. Army Corps' national efforts to strengthen coastal resilience

(Photo credit: Dave Schlenker)

Adapt. Prepare. Absorb. Recover. These four principles guide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) approach to coastal resilience, a central theme of the keynote at the Optimizing Solutions for Resilient Coasts summit on December 13 at the Austin Cary Forest Campus. Keynote speaker Julie Rosati, Ph.D., lead technical director for civil works and coastal risk management R&D at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), led a lively discussion with over 100 students, scientists, and industry and government leaders on growing challenges to coastal resilience and how to address them. 

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In the Field

Cutting-edge research takes center stage at coastal summit

(Photo credit: Dave Schlenker)

The survival of eelgrass, once the dominant seagrass species in Chesapeake Bay—the nation's largest estuary—is now severely threatened, primarily due to rising temperatures and heatwaves. Traditional seagrass restoration efforts in the bay have struggled to sustain healthy seagrass meadows. However, innovative research led by experts such as Enie Hensel, Ph.D. is yielding promising results, offering hope for restoring seagrass in the face of increasing temperatures. 

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Tech Dive

JaxTwin: Helping leaders simulate tomorrow's challenges to improve today's decisions

(Photo credit: Megan Sam)

What if decision-making included experiencing the future firsthand? Community leaders can now forecast hazards like hurricanes, model future scenarios, and test strategies to ensure a healthy, resilient and economically vibrant future for Jacksonville’s residents using the JaxTwin, a digital replica of the city.

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SeaSquad

Marc Hensel and Elise Morrison join rising leaders shaping a resilient Gulf

Congratulations to CCS affiliate faculty members Marc Hensel and Elise Morrison, who were awarded Gulf Research Program (GRP) Early-Career Research Fellowships by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. This prestigious fellowship provides rising scientific leaders with the resources to build partnerships and pursue innovative research that strengthens coastal communities and ecosystems. With funding and mentorship, the GRP offers the independence, flexibility and support essential at this pivotal stage in their careers.  

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Events

Marine science symposium unites researchers at the forefront of discovery

(Photo credit: Megan Sam)

Gas bubbles 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt that are being used to improve water quality. The escalating battle between seagrass and pathogens, with each side constantly evolving new strategies of attack or defense. Proteins in the salivary glands of squid that can paralyze crabs. These were a few of the exciting topics covered at the biennial North Florida Marine Science Symposium (NFMSS), held at the UF Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience in St. Augustine on January 23-24. 

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More Research News

Strategic planting and nutrient amendments to accelerate the revegetation of rapidly retreating coastal dunes

A critical eutrophication-climate change link

Water quality trends and eutrophication indicators in a large subtropical estuary: A case study of the Greater Charlotte Harbor System in Southwest Florida

Day-ahead statistical forecasting of algal bloom risk to support reservoir release decisions in a highly engineered watershed

CCS Summit Sponsor Spotlights

Thank you to our 2024 Optimizing Solutions for Resilient Coasts Summit Ocean sponsors! Check out their spotlights here.

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