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