Gulf of Mexico Report Card Initiative
The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, along with its partners Harwell Gentile & Associates, LC, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, proposes to develop a comprehensive framework for a Report Card on the health of the Gulf of Mexico. Our vision is to develop a graphical representation of the environmental condition of the Gulf that will be scientifically based, widely accessible, and readily understandable by policy-makers, stakeholders, scientists, and, most importantly, the general public. This report details a five-step process model for developing an environmental report card, using the Chesapeake Bay Report Card as an example.
Megacities in the coastal zone paper
"Megacities in the coastal zone: Using a driver-pressure-state-impact-response framework to address complex environmental problems", currently in press with Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, elaborates on the role of coastal megacities in environmental degradation and their contribution to global climate change. This study was carried out by implementing a Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) framework. In many of the studied coastal megacities, deteriorated quality of air and water was perceived, which can, in combination with global warming, lead to health problems and economic and social disturbance among residents. The extent of problems varied between developing and developed countries, showing higher rates of population growth and certain harmful emissions in megacities of developing countries, as well as more problems regarding food and water shortages, sanitation, and health care support. Although certain projections predict slowdown of growth in most coastal megacities, their future impact on the environment is still unclear due to the uncertainties regarding future climate change and trajectories of consumption patterns.
Assateague Island National Seashore educator-scientist collaboration
Sponsored by a grant from the National Park Service's Assateague Island National Seashore, an educator-scientist team was assembled this summer for six weeks to help produce a web-based education module for middle school classrooms. The effects of sea-level rise on barrier islands, and Assateague Island in particular, was the subject of this module. Two science teachers from California and Utah were selected, along with two climate change scientists from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Supervised by and in collaboration with IAN, the group explored the park and worked closely this summer with the national park staff to develop the content and graphics. The web module is still a work in progress with an estimated release in the spring of 2012.
IAN welcomes Simon Costanzo and Alexandra Fries
Dr. Simon Costanzo has recently joined IAN as a Science Integrator. Simon has moved with his family from Brisbane, Australia where he was working as an environmental consultant for Sinclair Knight Merz, following on from both government and academic jobs. He looks forward to developing new opportunities in science and communication through social media techniques and extend the meaning of Application in IAN, to something you can download to your phone. Simon and his family love the outdoors and exploring new places. Alexandra Fries has been a Science Communication Assistant with UMCES and IAN since May 2011. Alex has been working on the UMCES website, the EMECS conference, MERC Mobile Ballast Water Dedication Ceremony, Assateague education module, and Tropical Connections, a book on south Florida. She has just accepted a new position as a Science Communicator with IAN and Ecocheck. Alex received her Master's in Environmental Management at Duke University in Ecosystem Science and Conservation. Before IAN, Alex worked at Conservation International on a Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Workshop and Guidebook. In her free time she enjoys cooking, photography, exploring new places, and going to the beach.