Blog posts categorized by Applying Science
The present-day coastline of South Florida (USA) has changed little since 1859, but a 5-foot rise in sea level, which is expected around the beginning of the next century, will result in dramatic changes. Credit: Top: US Coast Survey and Bottom: National Geographic

4 ways sea level rise and climate change are reshaping the coast

Bill Nuttle ·
22 February 2016
Science Communication | Applying Science | 

The experience of the last several generations has been that, while we cannot master the processes that shape the coast, we have been able to anticipate and mitigate their impact. The position of the coastline reflects the interplay of dynamic processes. Until recently, these processes have maintained a rough equilibrium. Most places in the US, the coastline has changed little in the 150 years since it was first mapped by the Coast Survey.

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Bill Dennison and Caroline Donovan in front of Mamaroneck Harbor.

Developing a strategy for Long Island Sound embayment report cards

Bill Dennison ·
15 February 2016
Environmental Report Cards | Science Communication | Applying Science | 

Caroline Donovan and I traveled to Mamaroneck, NY and Stamford, CT on 3 Feb 2016 to work with Save The Sound in developing a strategy for Long Island Sound report cards. The Integration and Application Network produced a Long Island Sound report card in 2015, working with the Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative.

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Indian River Lagoon

Engaged participants made the Indian River Lagoon Report Card workshop a pleasure to facilitate!

Caroline Donovan ·
8 February 2016
Environmental Report Cards | Science Communication | Applying Science | 

On Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22, 2016, IAN staff facilitated the kickoff workshop for an Indian River Lagoon report card. The Lagoon is located on the east coast of Florida, stretching from above Cape Canaveral south all the way to Stuart, where the St. Lucie River meets the Lagoon and flows out into the Atlantic Ocean. Indian River Lagoon … Our workshop was held at the Marine Resource Council’s Lagoon House in Palm Bay, FL.

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Brainstorming strategies to overcome report card success.

Using Conceptionary to initiate discussion on barriers for implementing report cards

Bill Dennison ·
26 January 2016
Environmental Report Cards | Science Communication | Applying Science | 

This blog is part of the Basin Report Card Initiative: a partnership between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) As part of our Integration and Application Network (IAN), University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), we held a one day workshop on 7 May 2015 in Annapolis.

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Roadtrip!

There’s a track winding back to Stung Treng, Cambodia

Simon Costanzo ·
12 January 2016
Environmental Report Cards | Applying Science | 

This blog is part of the Basin Report Card Initiative: a partnership between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) In October 2015, I made the great journey back to Cambodia for my second time that year. I love the trip there as you get to fly right over the North Pole and see icebergs! I think I mentioned that already in my previous blog about Cambodia.

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Narratives are effective in communicating science to non-experts. Credit: Narrative Lab

The importance of narrative in science communication

Bill Dennison ·
8 January 2016
Science Communication | Applying Science | Learning Science | 

I recently posted a blog about Randy Olson's new book, "Houston, we have a narrative: Why science needs story". I contacted Randy about his book and learned that he is experiencing push back from some quarters, including some scientists. I would like to point out that Randy is not the only person to promote the importance of narrative in science communication.

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Participants at the North Central Climate Science Center ecological drought workshop.

From the mountains to the prairies—discussing ecological drought in the North Central United States

Brianne Walsh ·
22 December 2015
Science Communication | Applying Science | 

In December, Simon Costanzo, Bill Dennison, and I traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado for a workshop on ecological drought - part of an ongoing project with the USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center. This was the second in a series of eight workshops to be held at each of the nation’s eight Climate Science Centers, aimed at collating our existing knowledge of the ecological impacts, resistance, and recovery from drought.

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