Category: Featured

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. As a graduate […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Watching oysters “power clean” a tank of muddy water in 30 minutes. Exploring materials used to make oyster gardens that help clean water and boost oyster reef restoration efforts. Building miniature living shorelines to test how they protect coastal areas from storms. These were some of the hands-on activities led by CCS scientists and volunteers to celebrate our blue planet and explore how […]

Nearly 900 million people live in low-lying coastal zones around the world and bear the brunt of impacts from more frequent and severe hurricanes, flooding and rising sea levels. Early warning systems play a critical role in saving lives and preventing loss and damage to property from coastal hazards such as hurricanes, flooding and rising sea levels.  Zhe Jiang, Ph.D., CCS affiliate and associate professor in the University of Florida’s Computer and Information […]

Growing up along Florida’s coast, Jack Parker experienced several hurricanes that affected his family’s life. Two of these storms, Dennis in 2005 and Michael in 2018, caused a great amount of damage to his home, and led to several days without power followed by weeks of cleaning up. These experiences made Parker want to contribute to […]

In a groundbreaking study published today in Nature, scientists reveal that the return of sea otters to their former habitat in a Central California estuary has slowed erosion of the area’s creekbanks and marsh edges on average by 69%. The resurgence of these charismatic marine mammals — also some of the habitat’s top predators — […]