The Coastal Institute IGERT Project (CIIP) at URI
Q Kellogg, Peter August & Judith Swift, Faculty Leads
Steph Koch, TraineeAnna Pfeiffer-Herbert, Trainee
Assessing change in coastal ecosystems:
Integrating natural and social sciences
Sea level rise Increased air & water
temperatures Changes in precipitation
patterns salinity, nonpoint pollution
Increased erosion from extreme storms
…all of which have an effect on…
Global climate change…
Fisheries: (e.g., flounder, lobster, quahogs, etc.)
Overfishing?
Marine population shifts due to habitat and community changes
Human population shifts - fishing culture as a way of life
Government regulation vs. voluntary management
Marine protected areas (MPA’s)
Urban Waterfront Development Mixed Use
Working waterfront Tourist destinationCondo development
Public Access
Coastal Pollution
Nutrients
Pathogens
Sediment
Organic Chemicals
Heavy Metals
= Watershed Management
Increased competition for resources
Human uses – shipping, fishing, recreation, etc.
Ecosystem services – how to evaluate?
Coastal marshes and lagoons as nurseries, filters, buffers
Sense of place
Integrating social and ecological dimensions to address these issues:
Curriculum – Starting Year 3
Assessment (trainees, faculty, external evaluators)
Adaptive management
Application of interdisciplinary approach:Within URIExternal NGO’s, government agencies (federal and local)Wider public forum - increased communication
Fall – Years 1 & 2
Multidisciplinary Problem Solving in Coastal Ecosystems
Second-year students lead curriculum
Topics relevant to coastal ecosystem management
Examine all dimensions
Guest scholars
Adaptive management at work:
Year 1: 4 topics…faculty enthusiasm gone awry!
Year 2: 3 topics…saner trainee minds prevail
Year 3: 1 topic…getting it right
Intersession – Year 1
Leadership and Communication in Coastal Ecosystem Science and Management
Second year trainees assist
Communication
Ethics
Social justice
Culture
Logic and Argument
Leadership
Spring – Years 1
White Papers on Contemporary Policy Issues in Integrated Coastal Science
Project relevant to host agency.
Create a document that is useful to a wide audience.
Hosts:
Office of Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)Office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)National Park Service*Rhode Island Economic Policy Council* Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental ManagementThe Nature Conservancy*Conanicut Island Land Trust*Conservation Law Foundation & RI Coalition for Water SecurityEcoAssets Markets, Inc.
*Subsequently published in either a refereed journal, conference proceedings, or other media outlet.
Summer – Year 1
Field Practicum in Coastal Science5 weeks
Uncertainty
Tractable questions
Different field methodsFish trawl in Narragansett Bay
Dissolved oxygen profiles in Narragansett Bay
Stream sampling at Baltimore LTER
Horseshoe crab tagging at Monomoy National Wildlife
Reguge, Cape Cod
Resource Economics policy SimLab
Spring – Year 2
Internship in Coastal Ecosystem Management Work outside of academia
Gain exposure to the wide range of concerns
Hosts:
USAID/Coastal Resources Center (Tanzania)
CERES (coalition of investors, environmental and public interest organizations)
National Park Service
The Nature Conservancy
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Reefball Foundation
Other Activities
Metcalf Fellows / IGERT Pizza Summit
Writing Op-Eds
Workshops on the art of critiquing, negotiation, writing for lay audiences
Work-life issues (with NSF ADVANCE at URI)
Meetings for women in STEM disciplines
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Acknowledgements:
National Science FoundationCoastal InstituteUniversity of Rhode Island
Dr. Peter August & Prof. Judith Swift, co-PI’s
The rest of the gang (IGERT Trainees):
Abby AnthonyJosh AtwoodCarrie ByronCrystal FryKifle HagosLeanna HeffnerJason KrumholzKim Lellis
Erika LentzCathy McNallyRonan RocheNicole RohrLeslie SmithTiffany SmytheKaren SullivanNathan Vinhateiro