Category: News

Technology uncovers the science of sand
December 5, 2023Sand may appear simple but small differences in composition, particle shape, wetness and packing play a critical role when predicting how beaches evolve and change, just as such properties control whether a sandcastle will stand strong or collapse. Nina Stark, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering at the University […]
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CCS celebrates grand opening of Malachowsky Hall
December 4, 2023At a rainy opening of the Malachowsky Hall for Data Science and Information Technology on November 3, staff from the UF Center for Coastal Solutions (CCS) shared some of the ways they are capitalizing on artificial intelligence (AI) to help keep Florida’s coasts healthy and livable for future generations. The ultra-modern, $150-million, 263,440 square […]
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CCS represents environmental health at One Health Day
December 4, 2023One Health Day is celebrated every year on November 3 to highlight the need for a transdisciplinary approach towards addressing health challenges for people, animals and the environment globally. The UF One Health Center of Excellence brought together research labs and student organizations across the University via fun trivia and networking opportunities, emphasizing the diversity […]
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Researchers monitor mangroves on the move
December 4, 2023As temperatures climb due to climate change, the boundaries of plants and animals are shifting, with many species on the move in search of suitable habitat on a global scale. Mangroves are one such species, and their northward expansion in Florida is fundamentally transforming coastal ecosystems by replacing existing saltmarsh plants and producing new zones […]
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Charli Pezoldt finds purpose in field work
December 4, 2023As 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, 2023After 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, 2023During 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, 2023Nearly 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, 2023In 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, 2023The 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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