Training the new generation of coastal workforce is an important part of the CCS mission. With increasing population and economic growth in coastal zones worldwide and particularly in Florida, maintaining and growing the number of scientists and engineers with expertise relevant to coastal resilience and health has become a high and urgent priority to the CCS.
The CCS workforce development programs build on UF’s historic and existing strengths in undergraduate and graduate education in civil and coastal engineering, environmental sciences and engineering, geosciences, geomatics, biology, fisheries and agriculture, to name just a few. UF students in any discipline relevant to coastal sciences and engineering participate in thoughtfully designed modern curricula covering everything needed for a successful career, from fundamental concepts to artificial intelligence.
The CCS is further supporting students in reaching their full potential by offering opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration, networking across career stages, connecting with stakeholders and future employers, and providing mentoring and leadership training. Our goal is to prepare the new leaders of the coastal workforce.
Graduate students have always been a significant part of the CCS. I am sure you have heard about the many successes and exciting research projects our students have participated in (see this newsletter’s stories about CCS graduate Adrian Sakr and about the ModPen and how students are using it for their research). Additionally, I am excited to share that we are kicking off some new programs that will allow students to take an even bigger role in the CCS.
The CCS student club had a rolling start this Spring and Summer, and their achievements are already impressive. They participated in multiple outreach events and led different activities engaging kids to think about coastal processes and ecosystems. They also took the lead in organizing CCS social events, bringing CCS members and students together to network and learn more about each other’s work and goals. The CCS student club has also had a major influence on shaping the upcoming student travel award program that will support students to present their research at conferences or participate in meetings with strategic partners and collaborators. Additional upcoming goals include collaborative events as well as new pathways for undergraduate students to become more involved with the CCS. (Make sure to check out the article about the student club in this newsletter!)
We are also thinking about post-graduate training and education. We have just rolled out a survey for our friends and colleagues in private industry to find out how the CCS can help keep our coastal workforce updated on the best and newest methods and technologies. We are actively exploring short-course training opportunities, as well as lunch-and-learns, among other training and engagement opportunities.
I am so excited about expanding our opportunities for our students and to contribute more to technology transfer and the continuing education of our coastal workforce. We want to make sure that they always have the best knowledge, methods and technologies at their fingertips.
With best wishes,
Nina