Director's Note

Unlocking resilience: Innovation to adapt, thrive and survive

(Photo credit: Christine Angelini)

The catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene, spanning from southwest Florida to North Carolina over the last week raises critical questions: can we rebuild communities devastated by this event and if so, when, where and how should we proceed? This dilemma prompts us to consider the necessary path toward climate adaptation.     

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CCS 🧡 SCCF: The transformative power of enduring partnerships

(Photo credit: Christine Angelini)

The preservation of our coastlines, vital to both local ecosystems and human communities, demands a unified effort across many fields of expertise and organizations. For researchers, finding the right partners to support and collaborate on these efforts can make or break the success of critical scientific endeavors. For the Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS), the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) has been that indispensable partner since 2020. 

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In the Field

How grasses drive dune growth and post-storm recovery: Dutch students survey U.S. coasts from Florida to Massachusetts

(Photo credit: Joe Marchionno)

More than a quarter of the Netherlands lies below sea level, making dunes a crucial defense for coastal communities against the impacts of climate change. As sea levels rise, the safety of Dutch communities depends on understanding and enhancing the strength and resilience of dunes. To help with this, graduate students Paul Berghuis and Floris van Rees from Utrecht University conducted surveys of dunes in August and September from Florida to Massachusetts to better understand how grasses affect dune growth and recovery after storms.

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Tech Dive

Environmental conditions may trigger cancer in sea turtles

(Photo credit: Peter Clark – stock.adobe.com)

When sea turtles return to the coast after spending their early years in the ocean, they encounter a new threat: the risk of developing tumors. These cauliflower-like tumors are a symptom of fibropapillomatosis (FP), a debilitating cancer that affects all sea turtle species in Florida and worldwide. Costanza Manes, a graduate student in the University of Florida Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, studies how pollution may cause this disease.  

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SeaSquad

Chu-En Hsu gives back: Mentoring the next generation as a new professor

(Photo credit: Xuan Zhao)

Growing up in Taiwan, where typhoons and coastal storms were a regular occurrence, Chu-En Hsu developed a deep fascination with the ocean and the forces shaping his surroundings. This interest eventually led him far from home to the University of Florida, where he earned his doctorate degree in coastal and oceanographic engineering.

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Events

Ph.D. students help future data and environmental scientists build new skills

(Photo credit: Leya Joykutty)

Alexis Jackson didn’t discover environmental engineering as a career option until right before graduate school, when she was on track to become a wetland ecologist. Now a Ph.D. student in the University of Florida’s Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, she volunteers to connect young students with science fields they might not otherwise encounter. In August, she teamed up with environmental engineering graduate student Nick Chin to lead a class for high school students, helping them analyze data sets to explore how chemicals can impact human health and the environment.  

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New program launched to foster stewardship and resiliency in the Gulf

(Photo credit: Elena Ashburn)

On September 10, leaders in environmental journalism, history, architecture and engineering gathered at Pugh Hall to launch the UF Gulf Scholars Program, a new initiative of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida. The program aims to foster stewardship, resiliency and innovation in the Gulf of Mexico by providing students with hands-on-experience to explore its environmental, social, economic, political and cultural dynamics.  

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More research news

Large grazers suppress a foundational plant and reduce soil carbon concentration in eastern U.S. saltmarshes

The timing, magnitude and relative composition of extreme total water levels vary seasonally along the U.S. Atlantic Coast

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