Consortium Welcomes Emily Osborne as New Executive Director

Emily Osborne, Ph.D., has been selected as the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium executive director, effective October 1, 2025. Previously, she was a principal investigator/research physical scientist at the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and the acting deputy director at NOAA AOML’s Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division from August to November 2024. Prior to these positions, Osborne was a staff scientist and program manager at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, adjunct faculty at the University of the District of Columbia, and a program manager at the UCAR and NOAA Arctic Research Program. She also was a Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy fellow, nominated by the Consortium.

Osborne earned a Ph.D. in marine science at the University of South Carolina and a B.S. in geology at the College of Charleston. She has received several awards, including the NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 2023 Employee of the Year, and has published numerous scientific papers.

“I’m honored to lead an organization whose mission is so closely aligned with my own values and to follow in the footsteps of the dedicated leaders who have guided the Consortium over its 45-year history,” said Osborne. “I look forward to building on the Consortium’s legacy of impact and working alongside our partners to advance a more resilient, sustainable future for South Carolina’s coast.”

Her first day at the Consortium was August 25, 2025, and, during the month of September, Osborne will be working closely with Susan Lovelace, Ph.D., the Consortium’s current executive director, to ensure a seamless transition into the role upon Lovelace’s retirement.

Researching Natural Alternatives to Plastics for Use in Coastal S.C.

The Consortium’s collaborative research project, “From Blue-Gray to Blue-Green: Facilitating the Transition to Non-Plastic, Natural Material Use Within the Coastal Zone Economy” led by Principal Investigator William Strosnider, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, seeks to address the potential for microplastic pollution from sources within the aquaculture, shoreline restoration, and water-quality protection sectors.

The research and outreach project team conducted a series of workshops and meetings to guide alternative materials selection, and developed an initial list that included jute, coir, glass aggregate, and biopolymers. Materials were selected for factors such as buoyancy, physical degradation, tensile strength, and elasticity. The team began field and laboratory testing of the materials on the initial list at the University of South Carolina Baruch Marine Field Laboratory and the Water Treatment Technology Laboratory at Clemson University. They then refined the list of alternatives based on results from preliminary tests.

At the top of the list are coir geotextiles, which could be used for oyster reef restoration and shoreline protection, as well as glass aggregates and cork, which provide buoyancy for floating wetlands that aid in water-quality improvement. The team also is developing an economic analysis on the viability of using these materials. These findings will lead to a final list of economically and ecologically sound non-plastic alternatives for use in the coastal zone of South Carolina. The goal is to reduce barriers to adopting non-plastic materials and preventing microplastic pollution in the region.

The project team includes the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, College of Charleston, University of Dayton (Ohio), Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, N.C.), Robinson Design Engineers, and Consortium extension and education specialists. The project is funded through the National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition.

Learn more about what the research and outreach team has accomplished so far and plans for the future in the full version of the article. For more information, contact William Strosnider, principal investigator, at (843) 904-9031 or Brooke Saari, Coastal Environmental Quality and Extension Services specialist, at (843) 953-6406.

Samples of coir geotextiles labelled and prepped for analysis at the University of South Carolina Baruch Marine Field Laboratory. Photo: Hailey Murphy, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.

Special thanks to Hailey Murphy, Coastal Public Information coordinator, for providing this research and outreach update.

New Report Assists Bluffton, S.C., to Plan for Flooding

Staff of the Consortium’s Coastal Resilience Program and the College of Charleston’s Lowcountry Hazards Center recently published Resilience Planning Analysis: Town of Bluffton, S.C. The report was produced at the request of the Town to address its growing population and flood concerns, as well as in response to a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision removing federal protections for wetlands under the Clean Water Act.

The 63-page report covers hazards and land-use change and the need for resilience planning; community engagement, including results of a “Flood Reporter” survey and vulnerability metrics selection process; policy related to wetlands protections; and mapping and modeling methods used in the analysis.

Detailed maps reveal current land use, water-flow direction, and flood vulnerability, while modeling efforts include flood vulnerability at maximum development build-out in the year 2053. Also included are forested wetlands maps and elevation maps for six Planned Unit Developments within the Town, comparing data from 2023 to projected data in the year 2053.

Among the report recommendations are to consider protecting wetlands and areas nearby to mitigate the impacts of flooding events and implementing elevation-based zoning to reduce flood risk. The Town has already instituted a new wetlands’ ordinance, requiring a 50-foot buffer surrounding wetlands, which is double the requirement set in May 2024.

Contact Landon Knapp, Coastal Resilience Program manager, at (843) 953-2078 for more information about the report and other resilience efforts.

Litter Cleanup Set for September 20

Beach Sweep/River Sweep, South Carolina’s largest one-day litter cleanup, is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2025. Volunteers are needed at many locations to clear debris from beaches, marshes, and waterways. In 2024, over 3,200 dedicated volunteers removed nearly 14 tons of litter statewide, covering 294 miles and enhancing 8,215 coastal acres of environmentally sensitive habitat.

The event is organized by the Consortium in partnership with S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and is held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Major sponsors for the 2025 cleanup are INEOS Aromatics, Nature Adventures, Ocean Conservancy, Safe Harbor Charleston City, Taco Boy-Folly Beach, and Walmart Market #34.

To participate in coastal counties, visit the Consortium’s website for locations and contact information. Visit SCDNR’s website to participate in inland counties. For more information, contact Susan Ferris Hill, coastal coordinator, at (843) 953-2092 or Bill Marshall, inland coordinator, at (803) 734-9096.

Volunteers removed 70 pounds of debris from Fort Lamar Heritage Preserve on James Island, S.C., in 2024. Photo: Drew Deardorff, Alcami Corporation.