As a professor and academic program coordinator, Knox plays a key role in the and is highly regarded in the field, as reflected in the peer-nominated award recognizing her significant impact on the program and its students.

鈥淚 was incredibly honored to receive this award,鈥� Knox says. 鈥淭hese awards mean more to me than other recognitions because they’re from the practitioner community. As a former practitioner, I have such high regard for emergency management professionals and what they go through on a daily basis for their communities. The fact that they see me as not just one of their peers but also as someone they want to partner and collaborate with is extremely humbling.鈥�

Growing up in coastal Louisiana, Knox has long understood the importance of emergency management in communities. This lifelong familiarity fuels her passion for preparing students to enter the professional field and make an immediate impact after graduation.

“Living along the bayou, coastal wetlands are our first line of defense against disasters,鈥� Knox says. 鈥淗aving lived through several hurricanes, I saw communities completely devastated. I learned how government response works, and I also saw community members and organizations rise to the challenge. It drives so much of my passion for designing a program that will help our students go into their communities and make them more resilient.鈥�

鈥淚’m really adamant about providing opportunities for students to sharpen skillsets that they need as they advance in a career.鈥�

Her background as a practitioner in the field was also crucial for informing how she designed her emergency management courses.

鈥淚’m really adamant about providing opportunities for students to sharpen skillsets that they need as they advance in a career,鈥� she says. “This was informed by the experiences I had when I first started working for the federal government. It was assumed that I could write a technical report, facilitate a meeting, speak in front of policymakers and more, so I incorporate many of those experiences into class assignments, so students have a safe space to hone these skills and receive feedback.鈥�

Whenever possible, Knox also provides students with ample opportunities to engage directly with practitioners and community partners 鈥� from local public administrators to panels of emergency management professionals 鈥� while gaining experience presenting and answering questions from real practitioners.

One of Knox鈥檚 favorite classes to teach, she says, is the capstone for the emergency and crisis management master鈥檚 program. In this course, students are paired with mentors from various emergency management agencies in roles they are interested in pursuing after graduation, helping them build professional networks and gain practical experience.

鈥淪tudents share their career goals with me, and I take my time in selecting their mentors, doing the research, searching through my network and making cold calls,” Knox says. 鈥淚 see this as an investment in my students鈥� futures, so I take it very personally.鈥�

Other hands-on experiences include visiting local emergency operations centers for functional and tabletop exercises, working with real-world scenarios, visiting the Orlando Wetlands, attending professional conferences and hearing from real practitioners about the challenges they face in the field.

鈥淸Being] able to invest in and shape the future generation of emergency management practitioners is very rewarding.鈥�

鈥淲e have amazing partners in our local community that allow us to bring students into the field for different types of emergency management exercises and trainings,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t gives them a chance to not only use the equipment, but to be in the space, try out these different roles, and utilize the concepts and ideas that we have discussed in class. For me, it’s all about getting them out of the classroom and into the workspace they鈥檙e going to be in.鈥�

Knox鈥檚 investment in her students and collaboration with working practitioners have not only led to co-authored publications and several teaching awards throughout her career, but have also played a key role in the emergency management program鈥檚 success and national recognition.

鈥淭o be part of a team of amazing faculty, staff, and advisory board members who [are] all on the same page about these types of learning experiences and end goals for our students 鈥� it’s my dream job,鈥� she says. 鈥淸Being] able to invest in and shape the future generation of emergency management practitioners is very rewarding.鈥�

Now, Haigh is ready to embark on a new chapter in his career. This fall, he joins the university as the director of 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 National Center for Integrated Coastal Research (麻豆映画传媒 Coastal) and a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering.

鈥溌槎褂郴解�檚 strong interdisciplinary approach and commitment to community engagement perfectly match my belief that science should have real-world impact,鈥� Haigh says. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to bring my experience to this new chapter, helping to drive innovative coastal research and resilience in a region that feels surprisingly like home 鈥� with a climate much closer to Zambia than the chilly English winters that I won鈥檛 miss.鈥�

Directing 麻豆映画传媒 Coastal

As director of 麻豆映画传媒 Coastal, Haigh plans to establish the center as a globally recognized hub for interdisciplinary coastal science. In addition to the innovative research driven by the faculty, he also says he hopes the center will deliver tangible, real-world solutions to the challenges faced by Florida鈥檚 shoreside communities.

鈥淏y fostering collaboration across [several] fields, the center will develop holistic strategies to address the complex and interconnected issues of sea-level rise, storm impacts, habitat loss and coastal resilience.鈥�

鈥淚 envision 麻豆映画传媒 Coastal as a vibrant bridge connecting [various] disciplines, including engineering, environmental science, social science, conservation, public policy, community planning and emergency management,鈥� Haigh says. 鈥淏y fostering collaboration across these fields, the center will develop holistic strategies to address the complex and interconnected issues of sea-level rise, storm impacts, habitat loss and coastal resilience.鈥�

Haigh says 麻豆映画传媒 Coastal will cultivate an environment where all researchers can flourish, including students. They can get involved in hands-on research, mentorships and in new student-led initiatives. He encourages early-career researchers to learn more by attending upcoming events and seminars or by connecting with him via email. Students can also look forward to future studies with Haigh, who will develop a course on coastal science and resilience that he plans to teach during his second year with 麻豆映画传媒.

For now, Haigh will focus on bringing his vision for 麻豆映画传媒 Coastal to fruition while building a second academic home at the university. He says he is grateful for the warm welcome he has already received from the 麻豆映画传媒 community.

鈥淎s I embark on this exciting new chapter, I鈥檓 eager to work alongside such talented and passionate colleagues and students, united by a shared mission to advance coastal science and build resilient communities,鈥� Haigh says. 鈥淭ogether, I鈥檓 confident we can make a lasting, meaningful impact that reaches far beyond our shores.鈥�

Studying Across the Pond

At age 19, Haigh left Zambia to attend college in England. He enrolled in the University of Southampton, where he discovered his passion for the ocean.

鈥淚 vividly remember a lecture on tidal dynamics and sea level change, given by the late David Pugh, where everything clicked; I knew this was what I wanted to dedicate my life to,鈥� Haigh says. 鈥淪ince then, I鈥檝e been fortunate to spend over 25 years exploring the complex and dynamic world of coastal science, working on [varied] and stunning coastlines across the globe.鈥�

“I鈥檝e been fortunate to spend over 25 years exploring the complex and dynamic world of coastal science, working on [varied] and stunning coastlines across the globe.鈥�

After earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree in oceanography, he worked in the industry before returning to the University of Southampton for his doctoral degree. He completed his postdoctoral studies in Australia before returning to his alma mater as a faculty member.

In addition to his work in academia, Haigh has contributed to several coastal projects around the globe. In Vietnam, he mapped the current and future flood risks of the Mekong River Delta, considered one of the world鈥檚 most sensitive coastal regions. In the U.K., he developed innovative methods to predict and manage coastal erosion and flood risks, leading to the creation of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan, which protects London from flooding. He also has current partnerships with government agencies in the U.K., the U.S. and the Netherlands to explore how storm surge barriers perform under extreme storms and long-term sea-level rise to ensure they stay effective for decades to come.

Although he will bring this experience and expertise to 麻豆映画传媒, Haigh is leaving his first academic home behind. He says he鈥檚 grateful for the friendships and collaborations he鈥檚 developed over the years, but looks forward to doing the same at 麻豆映画传媒.

鈥淟eaving was not an easy choice; Southampton holds deep professional and personal connections for me,鈥� Haigh says. 鈥淏ut the chance to lead 麻豆映画传媒 Coastal was too exciting to pass up.鈥�

As mangrove populations are increasing due to successful restoration efforts and favorable weather, their strong comeback may pose unintended consequences for oysters, according to new research from 麻豆映画传媒 graduate student Katherine Harris and Pegasus Professor Linda Walters published in the .

To protect Florida鈥檚 coastlines, the researchers hope their new findings can initiate efforts to strike a balance within coastal ecosystems so both oysters and mangroves can flourish without harming each other. Otherwise, the mangroves could eventually dominate oyster reefs.

鈥淢angroves are great at changing their surrounding habitat to benefit more mangroves coming in,鈥� says Harris, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in integrative and conservation biology. 鈥淢angroves will naturally acidify surrounding sediment, which may not be great for oysters. Oysters, since they are a shell-forming organism, are prone to dissolution in acidic conditions. So, as the acidity increases, the oyster shells might degrade, which would impact the overall reef viability and the ability of those reefs to provide beneficial services such as filtration, storm surge reduction and wave attenuation.鈥�

The research team found that mangrove populations have nearly tripled in areas where oysters also live over the past 20-30 years, leading to a significant acidification of oyster reef sediment. This acidification causes oyster shell dissolution, with shells losing 8% of their mass over two years in mangrove-dominated areas compared to 1% in oyster reefs without mangroves. Some extreme cases even showed as much as a 40% loss of shell mass.

Walters, who is also part of the 麻豆映画传媒 Coastal: National Center for Integrated Coastal Research faculty cluster, says that the mangroves鈥� encroachment on oyster reefs isn鈥檛 as much of an act of war as it is an advantageous opportunity for them.

鈥淭his is the primary question that we get: 鈥楽hould we now be removing mangroves from oyster reefs, including restored oyster reefs?鈥� 鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is important to share that the mangroves have done nothing wrong – they are simply being mangroves, trees that have hundreds of propagules that disperse in the water via currents.鈥�

鈥淚t is important to share that the mangroves have done nothing wrong – they are simply being mangroves, trees that have hundreds of propagules that disperse in the water via currents.鈥� 鈥� Pegasus Professor Linda Walters

So, what鈥檚 at stake if oyster reefs decline to critical numbers?

鈥淧rimarily, we鈥檇 lose water filtration capacity as well as some protection against storm surges and erosion,鈥� Walters says. 鈥淓ach oyster filters approximately 20 gallons of water per day. Oysters remove sediments and plankton to improve water clarity for species like seagrasses to get sufficient sunlight, and a decline in oyster reefs would cause food loss for birds, crabs and fish. Because oyster reefs also reduce the impact of waves on shorelines, a decline in reefs also may lead to coastal communities experiencing higher storm surges and more erosion.鈥�

Ensuring that oyster reefs can safely navigate these changes and thrive along with mangroves is a crucial part of coastal restoration efforts, she says.

鈥淲e work on public lands, state and national parks, so our mission is to provide the science to the park resource managers to help them make decisions,鈥� Walters says. 鈥淲hile both species benefit estuaries in numerous ways, tipping the balance so that mangroves dominate and have the potential to completely overtake oyster reefs is a very new concern.鈥�

For the experiment, the research team did not use live oysters. They instead placed cleaned and emptied shells in mesh bags throughout areas with varying mangrove densities within Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon to study the effects of acidification on the shells.

The results inspired researchers to explore ways to help mangroves and oysters coexist more effectively and continue protecting coastal ecosystems.

While comparing sediment pH, researchers found a dramatic difference in acidity between habitats. When comparing an oyster reef without mangroves to an oyster reef with mangroves, they observed an 85% increase in acidity while comparing an oyster reef without mangroves to a fully mangrove dominated area, there was 142% increase in acidity.

Live oysters may be able to protect against acidification and build their shell over time, but that may be a misappropriation of the animal鈥檚 limited energy, Harris says.

鈥淟ive oysters probably are going to be able to have some pushback against acidification,鈥� she says. 鈥淗owever, it probably would negatively impact their health, because they’re no longer focusing on getting bigger.鈥�

Harris suggests that future efforts might consider the balance between mangrove benefits and oyster reef viability, potentially altering restoration strategies to mitigate these impacts.

鈥淚t’s really important to understand that both of these habitat types are essential,鈥� she says.

The university鈥檚 (CEELAB), helmed by Walters, partners with local educators to help mangroves grow from seedlings until they鈥檙e ready to be planted in areas marked for restoration. In the past academic year, Walters estimates that 1,700 mangroves were grown in 35 classrooms to support coastal restoration. Walters鈥� CEELAB has been studying oyster restoration efforts for about two decades, and these new findings add crucial context for future research.

鈥淲e do understand the importance of mangroves for shoreline protection and along these shorelines the mangroves grow landward of the oysters,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here is something novel about mangrove encroachment on oyster reef islands and this requires further study.鈥�

Harris led the project in collaboration with 麻豆映画传媒 biology undergraduate researcher Meghan Bradburn 鈥�22 and with the guidance of Walters.

Researchers鈥� Credentials

Harris is a doctoral candidate in conservation biology at 麻豆映画传媒, where she studies coastal ecosystem dynamics and effective methods of science communication. Her research explores habitat shifts and leverages visual storytelling through virtual reality to foster community engagement in restoration. Recognized for excellence in graduate teaching, mentoring and interdisciplinary research, Harris is passionate about bridging ecology, visual media and outreach to help coastal ecosystems.

Walters joined 麻豆映画传媒 in 1997 and was named Pegasus Professor in 2012. She is part of the coastal cluster and leads CEELAB. CEELAB鈥檚 work connects 麻豆映画传媒 biology students with firsthand experience, putting classroom learning into practice. Walters has received more than $19.7 million in grant funding, published more than 120 peer-reviewed journal articles and authored 11 children鈥檚 story books about marine conservation.

A new $1.1 million award to 麻豆映画传媒 from NOAA Sea Grant as part of the Marine Debris Challenge Competition will fund joint research between 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 CEELAB and Aquatic Biogeochemistry Laboratory鈥檚 research on plastic-free restored habitats in coastal shorelines and oyster reefs. 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 work, in partnership with Texas A&M, and University of Texas Marine Science Institute was selected as one of 11 projects across Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin. Combined, the team received $2.27 million dollars for the collaborative project.

鈥淲e were delighted to receive funding from NOAA鈥檚 Marine Debris Challenge Competition 鈥� a highly competitive process,鈥� says Pegasus Professor of Biology Linda Walters, who leads Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab (CEELAB). 鈥淥ur take on this was to focus on coastal restoration. We are evaluating novel non-plastic materials used for oyster reef restoration to ensure that there aren鈥檛 negative impacts in surrounding marine habitats, including communities that live in the sediment or to larger animals, such as crabs, which call the oyster reefs home.鈥�

Walters says that marine debris 鈥� which includes microplastics and nanoplastics 鈥� is affecting every habitat around the globe.

鈥淓ven though we cannot see them, marine invertebrates and vertebrates consume them, which can negatively impact the animal,鈥� Walters says. 鈥淚f these animals are then consumed by humans, the plastic enters our digestive tracts. Other microscopic plastic particles are light enough to enter the atmosphere and move with the wind. Recent research is documenting that these particles can end up trapped in our lungs.鈥�

麻豆映画传媒 is uniquely poised to conduct this research because of our substantial history of oyster reef restoration within Mosquito Lagoon and our local knowledge of the ecosystem, says Lisa Chambers, associate professor and principal investigator (PI) of the Aquatic Biogeochemistry Laboratory, a co-PI on the NOAA Marine Debris award.

鈥淭his research is timely and important because the desire to stop using plastics in coastal restoration has opened a floodgate of new and novel restoration materials,鈥� Chambers says. 鈥淭his funding supports the continued study of alternative, non-plastic materials for use in coastal restoration. We need to know how materials affect the microbes and natural chemical cycles in the coastal ecosystem and long-terms impacts of restoration efforts.鈥�

CEELAB focuses on a wide variety of problems impacting Florida鈥檚 coastal waters, in particular, the Indian River Lagoon system. The group, led by Walters and Melinda Donnelly, a research assistant professor in biology, has a long history of ecosystem restoration efforts that focus on restoration 鈥� including oysters, marsh grass, mangroves and seagrass.

As one of the longest running academically based coastal restoration programs in the U.S., CEELAB works with 麻豆映画传媒 faculty, graduate students, undergraduate researchers, postdoctoral fellows, field technicians, numerous community partners and volunteers to restore Florida鈥檚 Indian River Lagoon. Current partners include the Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Coastal Conservation Association, Canaveral National Seashore, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The combined efforts of 麻豆映画传媒 and its partners highlight ever-changing best practices in ecosystem restoration and provide a ripe opportunity for research and innovation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unique to have a long-term restoration project led by a university laboratory. We started community-based oyster reef restoration in 2007, living shoreline stabilization in 2012, and seagrass restoration in 2024,鈥� Walters says. 鈥淲e have created a 鈥榟abitat mosaic鈥� where all these species work together to make the environment better. We are finding lots of areas have degraded, whether through storms or human impact. It鈥檚 important to find solutions that bring the natural environment back.鈥�

NOAA also provides large, transformative awards to create communities of practice in coastal restoration and 麻豆映画传媒 (co-PIs Walters and Donnelly) is receiving $1.2 million for restoration efforts as part of the NOAA funding of $9.4 million to the Indian River Lagoon鈥檚 National Estuary Program. NOAA is funding 32 projects nationwide.

鈥淩estoration efforts require funding and are vital for our communities 鈥� we are grateful for the continued support of NOAA and the National Estuary Program for our coastal restoration work in Mosquito Lagoon,鈥� Walters says.

CEELAB鈥檚 work connects 麻豆映画传媒 biology students with firsthand experience, putting classroom learning into practice.

鈥淭hrough this grant, we鈥檙e providing opportunities for many students to gain field experience 鈥� from planting mangroves to conducting innovative ecosystem research 鈥� that has the mutual benefit of restoring vital habitats in Florida,鈥� Walters says. 鈥淎 lot of the graduate students whose work is funded through awards like this go on to become our coastal restoration leaders at the state or federal level.鈥�

More than 70,000 volunteers 鈥� including 麻豆映画传媒 students, faculty, staff and community members 鈥� have contributed to the CEELAB鈥檚 coastal restoration work since 2007.

鈥淲e are all working together to restore a truly magical place 鈥� a place that鈥檚 home to birds, fish, mangrove islands, manatees, dolphins and everything that makes Florida special,鈥� Walters says.

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 REU site, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, connects promising STEM students with established faculty at REU sites, enhancing their in-class learning experience with research, workshops and events.

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 Office of Undergraduate Research and Office of Research collaborate to support REU principal investigators and student participants. There are six cohorts covering distinct areas of research that are comprised of 11 principal investigators and dozens of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and faculty mentors:

• Research Experience for Undergraduates in Computer Vision
• Advanced Technologies in Hypersonic, Propulsive, Energetic and Reusable Platforms
• Research in Materials for Energy Applications
  • and
• Engineering and Nanoscience of Materials and Device Applications in Biotechnology and Medicine
  • and the
• Conservation, Restoration and Communication
  • and Coastal Cluster
• Applied Computation Mathematics

麻豆映画传媒’s CRCV, led by director Mubarak Shah, has run the nation’s longest continuous REU program for 37 years. The university has maintained five or six REU programs since 2022, and 麻豆映画传媒-based nonprofit has been approved for next summer鈥檚 REU.

Students engage in a 10-to-12-week program and participate in workshops, labs and an individual research project that they may select from topics provided by corresponding mentors. Students then present their research to their cohort at the conclusion of the REU just before the start of the fall semester.

Launching Research and Accelerating Learning

Isabella Llamazares, a rising junior studying mechanical engineering at Florida International University, wanted to learn more about aerospace engineering but opportunities were limited at her school. She was accepted into the HYPER REU at 麻豆映画传媒 and was excited to supplement her learning.

鈥淚 always knew that I had to find other opportunities, and I knew that I wanted to come to 麻豆映画传媒 either for undergraduate or graduate studies,鈥� Llamazares says. 鈥淭his REU will help me back at my university. Although we don鈥檛 have aerospace down there, I鈥檓 part of an aviation club, and I have this as knowledge that I can build upon.鈥�

With an interest in fluid dynamics and propulsion, her project described timing detonations as part of the combustion process for rockets and how to ultimately make them safer.

鈥淚 came in just having very basic knowledge from my classes,鈥� Llamazares says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have the average aerospace engineering experience, but it was that dedication and really wanting to continue in this field that got me here. This REU and this project have really helped solidify that I want to pursue something related to the fluids field.鈥�

James Hippelhauser 鈥�11 鈥�20MS 鈥�23PhD, a HYPER REU mentor and postdoctoral researcher for astrodynamics and space robotics, was pleased with his students.

鈥淚’m definitely satisfied with their progress,鈥� he says. 鈥淎strodynamics is a topic that they don’t really get to learn from a classroom standpoint. I know they learned a lot just from a concept standpoint, but also applying it.鈥�

Hippelhauser was impressed with how well the students absorbed and applied complicated topics such as orbital mechanics.

鈥淚t kind of reminded me a lot when I first started research,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t can be a challenge. Orbital mechanics isn鈥檛 a common topic especially for undergrads. They learned as much as they could and as fast as they could.鈥�

Hippelhauser encourages prospective REU students interested in hypersonics, space, propulsion and energy to explore something they may not know.

鈥淒on’t limit yourself to a topic you’re comfortable with,鈥� he says. 鈥淭ry to go for a topic that you would not have considered.鈥�

Emmelia Lichty, a junior mechanical engineering major at Oral Roberts University, was drawn to 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 REU because she says she鈥檚 always loved space.

鈥淢y dad was an Air Force pilot and he flew fighter jets,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o, I got to see them up close and I鈥檝e always been infatuated. I came here because everything aerospace is right here with NASA, the space coast, and 麻豆映画传媒 is so involved in aerospace research.鈥�

Lichty worked under the mentorship of Florida Space Institute (FSI) Interim Director Julie Brisset to enhance a precision cooling loop for a space-based payload.

鈥淎ny fluctuations would affect the actual experiment itself,鈥� Lichty says. 鈥淢y cooling loop had to be very precise, within plus or minus point one degrees. I had to make the improvements and monitor hardware and code modifications to get the cooling loop to that precision, which I was able to do by the end of the summer.鈥�

The ability to not just apply classroom knowledge but move beyond it was something she says was very appealing and rewarding.

鈥淕etting hands-on experience with problem-solving is a really a big part of the REU,鈥� Lichty says. 鈥淵ou also get a taste of research, and it helps you make those decisions about your career, like if you want to go to grad school or not.鈥�

Brisset, who also is an associate scientist with FSI, agrees that exposure to research is crucial in understanding and navigating a STEM education.

鈥淭here are two components that need to work together, both in the classroom and in the research lab,鈥� she says. 鈥淪ometimes it can be an abstract exercise working in a classroom, but if you have a real-life application, it can be easier to make a connection.鈥�

It was rewarding seeing Lichty immerse herself fully in her research, Brissett says.

鈥淚 think it was very complete,鈥� she says. 鈥淓mmie did mechanical work, fluid mechanics, some electronics and some coding. In the end, it was a very complete lab experience. The research was a success as she achieved the cooling precision.鈥�

The competitive nature of REUs across the board has increased, as well as the quality of applicants, Brisset says.

鈥淲e have undergrads who go through this program who stay in STEM and routinely end up in grad school,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e have people who are mid-career that come to us and say they discovered their love for astronomy when they did the REU program.鈥�

Getting Out and Shoring Up

Rowan Wyss, a senior biology student at Eckerd College, participated in 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 Coastal Cluster REU, where he studied feral hog populations and their interactions with the environment and other animals at the Mosquito Lagoon.

He says found the research experience gratifying and hopes to continue quantifying where and how these animal populations forage.

鈥淚 was looking for an REU experience and was aware of its transformative nature 鈥� how it exposes you to grad school and different software or programs used for biology research,鈥� Wyss says. 鈥淚 got way more out of the REU than I thought. I built so many connections and I鈥檓 much more proficient in software and the tools of the trade.鈥�

In the early stages of applying and even participating in the REU, it can be easy to feel the 鈥渋mposter syndrome,鈥� or feeling like you鈥檝e lucked into a position you鈥檙e not qualified for despite being actually qualified, Wyss says.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e surrounded with people extremely proficient in this field when you might have little to no research experience. But that’s just science. It’s never a competition. It鈥檚 people working together,鈥� he says.

Otis Woolfolk, a junior studying biology/marine biology track at 麻豆映画传媒, tested the resiliency and sustainability of novel non-plastic oyster bags filled with recycled shells to restore shorelines throughout Florida. Woolfolk鈥檚 research marks the first test of the new materials in warm water restoration conditions.

He learned about REUs after being encouraged to apply by his ecology professor, Melinda Donnelly, and through his volunteer work with 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab.

鈥淚 was asked about the ideas I had for my Ph.D., and I really want to work on microplastics and how they affect mangroves,鈥� Wolfolk says. 鈥淪o, this was close to that. Oyster bags generally use plastics, so I experimented with using more environmentally friendly materials made of potato starch or basalt that deteriorate within years.鈥�

He found the process exciting and enjoyed delving into a component of marine biology and conservation that he may not have considered had he not participated in the REU.

鈥淎s a novice scientist, I learned a huge amount,鈥� Wolfolk says. 鈥淚t’s a time for you to get messy and make mistakes. You鈥檙e doing research, doing workshops and you鈥檙e learning how the science world works.鈥�

During his poster presentation, Wolfolk says he felt a newfound confidence in his ability as a novice scientist when a freshman asked him how to get involved with research.

鈥淢y advice?鈥� he says. 鈥淰olunteer as much as possible and don鈥檛 doubt yourself.鈥�

Linda Walters, lead investigator for the Conservation, Restoration and Communication NSF REU site and Wolfolk鈥檚 REU mentor, says Wolfolk did an exemplary job in his research.

鈥淚t was very rewarding to watch this journey,鈥� she says. 鈥淥tis had the opportunity to be on the ground-floor of our cutting-edge research in marine restoration this summer. He is gifted at asking good, thought-provoking questions and communicating his science.鈥�

The program is very competitive and only 10 students were selected for the Coastal Cluster REU out of 377 applicants, says Walters, who also is a Pegasus Professor of biology. Those who participate in the REU usually continue their education through graduate school, she says.

鈥淒uring the 10 weeks, the students go from a very limited research background to developing their research questions, collecting data, analyzing their data and presenting their projects to the larger community,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is a lot of work for the mentors to keep everything on track for this accelerated timeline, but the students make it worthwhile. They become confident researchers in 10 weeks.鈥�

Honing a Vision

麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 CRCV has hosted about 370 students since it was designated as an REU site 37 years ago and continues to guide undergraduates in the evolving field of computer vision, says Niels Lobo, associate professor of computer science and CRCV REU mentor.

鈥淭he nature of the REU has matured,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he field has evolved, and what students are doing now in their projects is vastly different than what people would have done 10 to 20 years ago.鈥�

Lobo came to 麻豆映画传媒 31 years ago and was encouraged to assist with REUs within the first year. Lobo has seen the composition of student applicants and participates becoming more dynamic during his time at the university.

鈥淲hat we’re seeing is that the student population applying for these research opportunities is exploding,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat means that the overall experience of the cohort is going to be a little bit richer because everybody gets exposed to something different.鈥�

Computer vision is harnessing the power of technology to not just view things through a camera, but to understand them, Lobo says. Continually adapting to the constant evolution of the field while also considering computer vision鈥檚 ethical implications are two components he is teaching students.

鈥淓very two or three years, the field discovers something new,鈥� Lobo says. 鈥淚n research, there are no study guides, so you need to go out and explore. That process of discovery is only accomplished through research.鈥�

Claire Zhang, a junior studying applied mathematics-computer science at Brown University, was glad to have embarked on CRCV REU.

She previously conducted remote research, but she says the program at 麻豆映画传媒 provided her with a more immersive and shared experience.

鈥淚t was really nice meeting this community and coming to work together,鈥� Zhang says. 鈥淚 imagined it being very independent, but I found that it was a lot more collaborative than I originally thought even though we all had our own independent projects.鈥�

Her project involved creating segmentation masks for solar cells to show their degradation in a quantitative way rather than the qualitative way of identifying degradation by darkened glass regions of cells. Zhang created and used a model that outlines the materials and can characterize how degraded the cells are.

鈥淚 have almost no experience with material science,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his project connected material science to computer science, and it was a great introduction.鈥�

Zhang gained not just expertise in a field she鈥檚 interested in, but also knowledge and momentum to continue her education and pursuit of a STEM career.

鈥淔or the past semester, I had been thinking about whether I should explore different concentrations,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his summer showed me that I can continue to explore other interests while remaining in this concentration, specifically, that I could apply computer science to these other聽interests.鈥�

Students interested in more information about 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 REU program should visit: .

麻豆映画传媒 Professor Christopher Emrich, an expert in hazard science, social vulnerability, disaster recovery and community resiliency, has plenty of experience with hurricanes. He鈥檚 worked with FEMA and other federal agencies to identify vulnerabilities in communities affected by hurricanes and to develop resiliency strategies.

As part of 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, Emrich conducts studies into planning for and responding to disasters.

Here he offers some do’s and don鈥檛’s to help you get ready for hurricane season

The Do’s

1. Get flood insurance. If you do not live in a flood zone the average cost is $660 a year for $250,000 worth of coverage. One inch of flood water can cause more than $25,000 in damage.
2. Make sure you have enough supplies for seven days.
3. Start preparing as early as possible. Pick up an extra gallon of water every time you go to the grocery store until you have 7 gallons per person 鈥� 1 gallon per day for seven days. Or buy a WaterBob or similar product that will turn your bathtub into a storage tank.
4. Buy non-perishable foods that are full of protein, like peanut butter. Two tablespoons provide enough energy to get through a meal time during an emergency.
5. Get 5-gallon buckets with fitted lids from Home Depot, Walmart or similar stores. These are great for storing electronics, batteries, chargers, important documents, medicines and food. Properly closing the lids on these buckets also allows them to float.
6. Establish a designated shelter area where you鈥檒l keep emergency supplies in your home so you鈥檙e not scrambling around to find them. Do not raid your supplies once you have them ready. You can use them and replenish after hurricane season.
7. Make an evacuation plan. Make sure you and everyone in your family knows where to meet in case anyone gets separated. Talk through the plan often so everyone is on the same page. DO NOT wait until an evacuation order is issued to create a plan. Failure to plan = planned failure.
8. Turn on emergency notifications on your mobile devices. Based on your location, new warning systems can send messages with weather updates, alerts and other useful information. These alerts can be more up-to-date than newscasts, so you should trust them for the most accurate information. Take shelter when instructed.
9. Keep an emergency escape tool in each of your vehicles. This may come in handy for cutting seatbelts or breaking glass in an emergency.
10. Check on neighbors, especially those who are elderly or need extra help before, during and after emergencies.

顿辞苍鈥檛’蝉

1. Don鈥檛 let your car鈥檚 gas tank get below half-full at any point during the summer.
2. Don鈥檛 think you know more than weather experts. Instead, listen to trained emergency management officials, meteorologists and other leaders whose job it is to keep you informed and safe.
3. 聽Don鈥檛 bother taping up your windows because it doesn鈥檛 reduce the risk of them blowing out. This is especially true for people living apartments. Plus, it will only cause problems when removing the tape.
4. 聽Don鈥檛 drive through flooded streets, even if you鈥檙e very familiar with the street. A few inches of water can move a vehicle. Sinkholes may also develop on flooded roads and you won鈥檛 be able to see them.

Resources

In the event of a storm, 麻豆映画传媒 will provide communication with instructions on closures, depending on the weather conditions pre-and post-hurricanes. Our priority it to keep you safe. All students and employees automatically are signed up to receive these messages, and settings can be updated via聽. A parent, spouse or other secondary contact鈥檚 email address also can be added, allowing them to receive the updates.

In the meantime, here鈥檚 some information we hope you find useful to help you prepare at home.

Florida Hurricane Preparedness Tax Free Holiday: June 1-14

Floridians can purchase qualified hurricane preparedness related items such as batteries and generators and will not be required to pay sales tax. This year the holiday is earlier to encourage people to plan early. Click for a list of qualified items.

Families with special needs are encouraged to sign up with the , which is a part of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to get information about resources in preparation and during a storm emergency.

Personalized disaster plans are critical and .

Communicating with children about disasters can help alleviate stress. This website offers tips, games and age specific information for families.

Planning for pets is also important. Floridadisaster.org聽offers advice for pet and livestock management.

Emergency kits can make all the difference for riding out a storm. Do you have all the ?

As she grew older, Veelenturf began to recognize the gap between environmental policy and the direct implementation of such policies. Wanting to bridge the divide, she set out to work in the field and conduct research that could make a difference at a political level by contributing to the creation of new conservation policies.

In 2019, Veelenturf launched her own nonprofit organization, The Leatherback Project, to address the issues threatening turtles and ocean ecosystems. After searching for NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to join that would support her vision for combatting threats to leatherbacks at sea and taking a rights-based approach, she realized that there were none. Determined to be a voice for the species, she decided to create her own nonprofit and advocate for the implementation of science-led, high-impact conservation measures and laws designed to establish the rights of this endangered species and ecosystems. Veelenturf knew that leatherbacks could act as flagship species, meaning that by discussing the threats facing their survival, she could draw attention to many of the most pressing threats facing the ocean today.

And the hard work and dedication to conservation efforts is being recognized around the globe.

In addition to being named one of the 2024 Future for Nature Award winners, the University of Rhode Island College of Life Science 2024 10 Under 10 Awardee and The Explorers Club 2024 New Explorer of the Year for her work in exploring new legal pathways to protect Nature as a scientist, her work has been featured on the front page of the Washington Post, and on CBS News, and in Smithsonian Magazine.

Veelenturf was also recognized by the United Nations Development Program Ocean Innovation Challenge as one of the 2022 winners and award recipients. Additionally, she鈥檚 been named a 2020 National Geographic Early Career Leader, a Scientist with the United Nations Harmony with Nature Programme, a Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion, a Fellow and United Nations Youth Representative for The Explorers Club, and one of the 2023 Ocean Youth Leaders of the year through the Sustainable Ocean Alliance.

Veelentuf now leads a team of scientists, local community members, storytellers, and students championing the conservation of leatherbacks and other threatened and endangered marine life through community empowerment, research and advocacy. Their work led to the passing of Panama鈥檚 Right of Nature Law 287 in 2022, which can inspire the passage of such laws in other nations around the world.

She鈥檚 also conducting research in Kate Mansfield鈥檚 while working towards her Ph.D. in Integrative and Conservation Biology at 麻豆映画传媒. Her strong desire to work with Mansfield was the primary reason she came to the university. Veelenturf, a native of Norfolk, Massachusetts, says she wanted to learn from the best and collaborate with someone equally passionate about marine conservation.

鈥淭he ocean is the largest ecosystem in the world, so preserving marine life to protect the seas is a vital effort,鈥� Veelenturf says. 鈥淭oday, one of the greatest threats to the marine ecosystems is fisheries bycatch, which is the unintentional capture of marine animals that are not the target species of a commercial fishing operation. It is a paramount issue, causing problems for both sea creatures and industrial fishermen alike and often results in the unnecessary deaths of marine life.鈥�

One species most impacted by bycatch is the leatherback sea turtle, which is Veelenturf鈥檚 primary research focus. She aims to ideate creative solutions to complex environmental problems, including through the recognition of the legal intrinsic rights of these animals and their coastal and open ocean habitats. Without drastic measures, certain subpopulations of the leatherback turtle are in danger of becoming functionally extinct.

Over the years, Veelenturf has conducted marine research and advocacy in various countries around the globe, including Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea and Costa Rica. Through a National Geographic Society Early Career Grant awarded in 2019, she became a National Geographic Explorer and initiated a pilot project to study sea turtles in the Pearl Islands Archipelago of Panama. She has since gone on to be a Scientist with the United Nations Harmony with Nature Programme, support numerous international conservation organizations, and serve as an advisor to various governments fighting for the Rights of Nature.

Veelenturf completed her bachelor鈥檚 degree in marine biology with a minor in wildlife conservation from the University of Rhode Island and her master鈥檚 in biology from Purdue University.

The work is through a five-year grant awarded to the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in order to fund their project, titled the Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative (MissDelta).

The project is focused on the lowermost part of the Mississippi River Delta, also known as the Birdsfoot, where the bed of the river is so far under sea level that it is changing the directions of water flow and is struggling to push back against the seawater coming in from the Gulf.

The work was started by Louisiana State University and Tulane University, which recently expanded their team to experts around other Gulf states, one of which is Thomas Wahl, an associate professor in 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 , and member of 麻豆映画传媒 Costal: National Center for Integrated Coastal Research.

鈥淚 have been successfully collaborating with colleagues at Tulane for a while,鈥� Wahl says. 鈥淪o, when this proposal was developed and they were interested in expanding the team to add certain expertise and have universities from other Gulf states involved, they approached me and that is how I became a member of the team.鈥�

Wahl says the main goals for the MissDelta project are to collect data on the coastal water levels and ocean waves inside of the Birdsfoot region of the Mississippi River and use that data to analyze the extreme storm surges and wave events.

They are also employing machine learning to create models that expand their database and help predict potential changes for future storm surge climates and the ongoing sea level rise.

They are also collaborating with partners to develop input data for all the models, including assessing sediment transportation and physical changes and modeling flood impact. They are also inputting rainfall, river flow, coastal sea level rise and storm surge data.

Along with 麻豆映画传媒, LSU and Tulane, there are 11 other universities involved with the project including the University of Southern Mississippi, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, Southern University of Baton Rouge, Xavier University of New Orleans, Jackson State University, Grambling State University, Dillard University, Alcorn State University, Water Institute of the Gulf, and the College of William & Mary.

Additional Collaboration

Wahl is also working with Tulane on a $3.2 million project to assess how sea-level rise combined with storm surges will impact more than 1,800 military installations worldwide. The work is through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), and Tulane is the lead institution.

The team鈥檚 goal is to obtain consistent, observational sea level data for military installations worldwide by merging newly recovered tide gauge data and a variety of different geophysical ocean and Earth models in a hybrid modeling approach, which will support DoD鈥檚 coastal sea level database.

They aim to have at least 60 years of data at every location for determining sea-level related hazards, and thus provide stakeholders with more accurate and robust information about historical sea-level change at any given site worldwide.

This project also includes scientists from Virgina Tech and California Polytechnic State University.

Researcher Credentials

Wahl is an associate professor of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering with the College of Engineering and Computer Science. He received his diploma and Ph.D of civil engineering from the University of Siegen, Germany. His research connects civil/coastal engineering with science such as oceanography and climatology in order to understand how vulnerabilities of coastal communities. His focus is on the changes of sea levels, ocean waves and freshwater flows in order to develop sustainable adaptation strategies.

The research, performed in collaboration with the University of South Florida and Florida A&M University, was recently published in the Journal of Environmental Management. The work offers a profound understanding of the economic impacts of harmful algae blooms (HABs) on Florida鈥檚 tourism sector.

One of the most striking conclusions of the study is the relationship between the severity of red tide blooms and their economic impact on tourism.

Contrary to expectations, the study reveals that low concentrations of red tide can have disproportionate economic impacts compared to more intense blooms.

This finding underscores the importance of how red tide information is communicated and perceived, influencing its economic fallout.

鈥淭he magnitude of losses from red tide show how important it is for the Federal and State governments to allocate appropriate resources for response and recovery to harmful algae blooms in our coastal communities,鈥� says Sergio Alvarez, the study鈥檚 lead author and an assistant professor at Rosen College.

鈥淚n addition, coastal tourism businesses should consider harmful algae as a very real risk to the economic sustainability of their operations,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t is essential that we find appropriate risk management tools for individuals, businesses, and communities that may suffer the economic impacts of harmful algae blooms.鈥�

About the Economic Impact Study

The extensive research provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic consequences of marine HABs, particularly red tide, on coastal tourism.

With the 2018 Florida red tide bloom causing tourism losses of approximately $2.7 billion, it emphasizes the need to view HABs as potential billion-dollar disasters.

Substantial losses occurred in both Southwest and Southeast Florida, amounting to $1.27 billion and $1.35 billion, respectively.

This comprehensive study was based on a unique blend of data sources. It integrated detailed sales information from tourism-related businesses across Florida with state-of-the-art surveillance data on red tide occurrences.

The data was collected and analyzed from two key sources: the Florida Department of Revenue, which provided extensive sales tax collection records, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, through its red tide surveillance program.

The combination of these data sources has fortified the study’s findings, making it a valuable resource for understanding the economic dynamics at play, Alvarez says.

He says the study provides vital data for policymakers, environmentalists, and tourism stakeholders while serving as a wake-up call to the general public on the significant economic implications of environmental phenomena like red tide.

Researcher Credentials

Alvarez received his doctorate in food and resource economics from the University of Florida and joined 麻豆映画传媒 in 2018. He is a member of 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 National Center for Integrated Coastal Research and Sustainable Coastal Systems faculty research cluster. He has published articles on a range of topics, including the economics of marine resources, the costs and management of biological invasions, and the value of ecosystem services such as clean water and outdoor recreation. His current research includes estimating economic losses and impacts of Florida red tide. Between 2013 and 2018, Alvarez served as the chief economist at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Article title:

Non-linear impacts of harmful algae blooms on the coastal tourism economy

In a first-of-its-kind mission for the United States that spanned over seven years, the unmanned spacecraft mapped and studied the surface of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, then retrieved a sample for researchers to study the asteroid鈥檚 composition.

Topping the list was a story on the world鈥檚 first energy-saving paint inspired by butterflies. The plasmonic paint utilizes a nanoscale structural arrangement of colorless materials 鈥� aluminum and aluminum oxide 鈥� instead of pigments to create colors. The paint can contribute to energy-saving efforts and help reduce environmental impacts.

Other stories included a $12.6 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency grant looking to create self-repairing, biological and human-engineered reef-mimicking structures. 麻豆映画传媒 is helping design reef structures that will be used to mitigate coastal flooding, erosion and storm damage that threaten civilian and Department of Defense infrastructure and personnel. Another story featured new research on the earliest presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia, pushing back the presence of humans in that part of the world by at least 20,000 years and a human presence in the region for at least 56,000 years.

Here are the Top 10 麻豆映画传媒 Research News Stories of 2023:

1. 麻豆映画传媒 Researcher Creates World鈥檚 First Energy-saving Paint 鈥� Inspired by Butterflies

2. The Long Journey of NASA鈥橲 OSIRIS-REx

3. Human Migration Timeline Redrawn by Fresh Fossil Analysis

4. New 麻豆映画传媒-developed Battery Could Prevent Post-hurricane Electric Vehicle Fires

5. 麻豆映画传媒 Researchers Are Advancing AI-assisted Drug Discovery

6. 麻豆映画传媒 is Designing Self-repairing Oyster Reefs to Protect Florida鈥檚 Coastlines

7. New DOD-funded Project Will Develop Morphing Hypersonic Engine

8. 麻豆映画传媒 Researchers Create Bioabsorbable Implants for Better Bone Healing

9. 麻豆映画传媒 Team Awarded $2.3M Grant for Innovative Intervention to Prevent Falls

10. Deadly Frog Disease More Prevalent in Central Florida Than Expected, 麻豆映画传媒 Study Finds

The annual top 10 list is based on聽麻豆映画传媒 Today聽page views and coverage 麻豆映画传媒 research received by global, national, state, and local media. The stories were generated by news releases and pitches from 麻豆映画传媒 Communications and Marketing, 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 Office of Research and 麻豆映画传媒鈥檚 colleges.