IAN presents at the Baltimore Ecosystem Study’s Annual Meeting
Katie May Laumann, Ann Foo, and Conor Keitzer attended the annual meeting of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) from October 12-13. Since 1997, the BES has been at the forefront of understanding socio-ecological systems in urban environments. A key theme of this year’s meeting was understanding the causes and consequences of systematic racism on people and the environment. Katie May and Conor shared work that IAN is doing to assess climate adaptation preparedness to help coastal communities prepare for climate change. The BES is a truly remarkable group of researchers and educators working to advance our understanding of urban socio-ecological systems.
Regional Stormwater Summit, Southeast Michigan
On October 20th, Conor Keitzer provided an update on the Southeast Michigan Report Card Project at the Regional Stormwater Summit in Detroit, MI. The Regional Stormwater Summit is organized by the Oakland County Water Resource Commission, Lawrence Technological University, and Pure Oakland Water. The summit was attended by over 200 people from government, industry, and community organizations interested in solving stormwater issues across the region. Southeast Michigan faces substantial challenges around stormwater, but it was exciting to learn about efforts from groups working to tackle this important issue.
Science Serving Communities: Advancing Climate Resilience in Maryland
On January 5th, Katie May and Conor attended the Science Serving Communities Workshop at the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center at College Park. This event was an opportunity to learn about a new effort from a UMD research team. This effort will meaningfully engage local communities to get them the data they need to better prepare for climate change. This is an exciting and much needed project. The project is being led by Tim Canty, Director of Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences, whose work compliments ongoing resiliency projects at IAN. The productive conversations held during the workshop have already led to follow up meetings on ways that IAN can support and collaborate on these efforts.
Symposium on Alternative SubStrate for Oysters
On February 26-28th, UMCES hosted a virtual symposium about alternative substrates for oysters. A lack of fresh shell substrate threatens the thriving oyster industry in Maryland, as well as restoration efforts. This symposium brought together academic and non-academic experts from across the United States to discuss the use of alternative substrates (e.g., limestone, concrete, etc.) to support Maryland’s oyster population. Over 300 people from across the world registered for the event, which included a mix of invited talks, contributed talks, plenary discussions, and informal “Chat n’ Chews” for lunchtime networking. The symposium was well attended and provided excellent information that will be used to guide efforts in Maryland as part of a Maryland General Assembly mandated program (SB830 2023). This effort is being led by Drs. Elizabeth North and Matt Gray at the Horn Point Laboratory. The symposium team also includes David Nemazie, Conor Keitzer, Roshni Nair, Monica Fabra, and Kurt Florez. IAN is providing logistical support, graphic design, and assistance with communication materials.
Spotlight on National Parks
IAN travelled to the National Conservation Training Center on April 3–4 to participate in the Spotlight on National Park Resources in the National Capital Region (NCR). This biennial conference brings together researchers, students, and managers to share their research on natural and cultural resources within NCR parks. IAN has a long-standing relationship with the National Park Service. Most recently, we have been helping develop succinct assessments of park conditions that can be easily understood and used by park staff to improve management of parks throughout the National Capital Region. Katie May and Conor shared the latest developments in these Resource Assessments for Management Strategies (RAMS), as well as efforts to work across park boundaries and identify opportunities for collaboration that can improve resource conditions within and outside of parks. This was a wonderful opportunity to connect with old colleagues, learn about new research, and visit Antietam National Battlefield!
SaltCast Workshop: Shaping a Salinity Forecasting Tool for Water Management
On August 5th, we facilitated a stakeholder workshop for SaltCast, an interdisciplinary project being led by Dr. Ming Li and funded by the NSF Convergence Accelerator Program. SaltCast will be a web-based salinity forecasting tool that will help ensure drinking water safety, sustainable freshwater uses, and infrastructure integrity under climate change. Stakeholders learned about progress in the development of this tool and provided feedback on a prototype. This project is taking a human-centered design approach, so feedback from stakeholders is crucial to creating a tool that will support their decision-making about water use and management. This was a wonderful opportunity for the project team to learn from stakeholders and for many of the project team to meet in-person for the first time!
Continuing Natural Resource Assessments with NPS
IAN travelled to Maine the week of October 14th to facilitate a scoping meeting for the Katahdin Woods and Waters (KAWW) project. IAN is working with the National Park Service (NPS) to assess the condition of natural resources in KAWW to help guide management of the Monument. Thirty-five stakeholders representing various state and federal agencies and the Penobscot Nation shared their time and expertise to identify priority resources and stressors that will guide the Natural Resource Condition Assessment. The IAN team was also able to get out into the Monument and see some of its incredible natural resources during a site visit with their NPS collaborators. Maine was as amazing as advertised and it was inspiring that so many people generously donated their time to support this project. The IAN team is looking forward to visiting again and working with such a dedicated group of people to protect this wild and beautiful place.