Charli Pezoldt finds purpose in field work

December 4, 2023

As a research technician at the Center for Coastal Solutions, Charli Pezoldt gets to live out their childhood dream job of working on the water. Pezoldt is part of a field operations team that helps scientists at the University of Florida collect data and coordinate logistics for numerous experiments and projects.    “The innate desire […]

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Emory Wellman: Safeguarding the coast’s small treasures

November 7, 2023

After graduating with a degree in political science and working for two and a half years in nonprofits, Emory Wellman was unsure whether a career shift to the natural sciences would pay off, but she knew she would regret it if she didn’t try. These days, Emory is a full-time graduate student studying ecology, and enjoys […]

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AI and water quality at UF AI Days

November 7, 2023

During UF AI Days from October 16-20, CCS researchers shared success stories in using artificial intelligence to enhance the speed and accuracy of water quality monitoring and coastal modeling. Associate Research Scientist Ron Fick, Ph.D. who co-led a panel on AI-driven advances in diverse fields, described the development of a new algorithm that fuses satellite […]

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Coral reef restoration is a “moving target,” says CCS scientist

November 7, 2023

Nearly 90 percent of live coral has been lost in the Keys in the last 40 years, a stark reality that requires making informed decisions about how to invest restoration effort, according to Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Environmental Engineering Sciences Department, whose team investigates the impact of water quality and predation on coral […]

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Making coastal connections North to South

November 7, 2023

In October, researchers from the UF Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (USACE – ERDC) shared their efforts to improve coastal dune restoration and resilience in northeast Florida with researchers from around the country at the 2023 American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) […]

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Joining forces to map and monitor the ocean pulse

November 6, 2023

The UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to leverage their collective scientific expertise and technology platforms to map and monitor the world’s oceans, lakes and waterways. In addition to world-class coastal research and engineering expertise, each institution offers distinct […]

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Coastal edges director’s note October 2023

November 6, 2023

Giving thanks with a grateful heart At CCS, our goal is simple: We want to empower decision-makers, through big ideas and workable solutions, so that coastal systems and communities can thrive into the future.   The challenges facing our coasts are too big for any one group to address alone, so we are grateful for the […]

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Coastal Edges director’s note September 2023

October 5, 2023

Junior faculty research heats up as temps cool down Fall is finally in the air in Florida! In the expansive salt marshes that define the northern coastal margins of our state, this is the season when smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterninflora) shoots up an additional 10 to 15 inches as it flowers and produces billions of […]

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A public-private collaboration is improving predictions of hurricane impacts on coastal communities

September 29, 2023

The United States has experienced 23 extreme weather events so far this year, including hurricanes, that each carry losses exceeding $1 billion, according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. In response, experts from industry, government and academia are collaborating to produce forecasts of hurricane damage before they make landfall.   “In Florida, hurricanes are one […]

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Scientists adapt ocean models to monitor and predict estuary health

September 29, 2023

Estuaries are a defining feature of Florida’s coasts. These bodies of water are found where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with salt water from the ocean. Often called the “nurseries of the sea,” they provide habitat and clean water for humans and wildlife. To understand how these coastal zones are responding to sea […]

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