By Megan Sam
For the University of Florida Center for Coastal Solutions, 2025 was a year of steady progress and measurable impact.
At the Optimizing Solutions for Resilient Coasts summit in December, Interim Director Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., captured the spirit of the year: urgency paired with optimism. Hosted at the Austin Cary Forest Campus, the gathering served as what Altieri called a “marathon aid station” — a moment to pause, refuel and reconnect before heading back into the demanding work of coastal resilience.
“We are transforming how we solve coastal challenges with the right people, the right tools and the right partnerships,” Altieri said. “By aligning talent, turning science into action, leveraging UF’s strengths in artificial intelligence and working across sectors, we’re moving toward practical solutions together.”
That progress was visible across the center’s research, partnerships and community engagement.
CCS strengthened its collaborative culture, with participation in the North Florida Marine Science Symposium rising 47% from the previous meeting. The event created new opportunities for students to present research, expand professional networks and build confidence. Monthly socials and science talks encouraged connections across disciplines, and a new faculty and student affiliate program will soon broaden engagement across campus.
In 2025, CCS researchers published 35 peer-reviewed papers, translating discovery into decision-ready insight. Alumnus Joe Morton, Ph.D., documented a 3,000% increase in dune vegetation growth and persistence under strong storm conditions — evidence of nature-based solutions delivering real resilience. Graduate student Amanda Chappel identified decades of eutrophication preserved in Tampa Bay sediments, contributing to a clearer understanding of long-term environmental change.
Other projects advanced technology and modeling. Alumnus Jose Maria Gonzalez Ondina, Ph.D., developed artificial intelligence–enhanced tools to improve flood prediction, while graduate student Adam Hymel mapped habitat change in St. Augustine. Associate Director David Kaplan, Ph.D., and alumnus Nick Chin contributed to research providing some of the clearest evidence to date of Florida red tide’s impacts on public health.
Partnerships helped extend this science into communities. CCS and industry collaborator WSP presented engineering solutions for a thin-layer placement project to St. Augustine stakeholders. A new memorandum of understanding with the Town of Orchid will expand collaboration to address beach and dune erosion. Continued work with Netherlands-based BESE, specializing in sustainable restoration products, support resilience efforts in salt marshes and coral reefs.
The impact reached well beyond campus — through conference talks, media coverage and community outreach from the Space Coast Gator Club to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, CCS also broadened awareness of its work.
The foundation for future growth also strengthened. Through a UF–U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Educational Partnership Agreement, CCS is expanding mentorship, training and certificate programs, and collaborative research opportunities. During Altieri’s tenure, the team secured over $17 million in grants to power the next wave of innovation.
“In 2025, CCS didn’t just study coastal challenges. It accelerated solutions — faster, smarter and together,” Altieri said.