Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Corless Auditorium, Watkins Building
Graduate School of Oceanography
URI Narragansett Bay Campus
9:30a.m. Registration & Networking
10:30a.m. Introductions: Peter J. Snyder, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Rhode Island
Welcome: David M. Dooley, Ph.D., President, University of Rhode Island
Opening Remarks: James Langevin, U.S. House of Representatives
Remarks: Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senate
10:45a.m. Keynote Speaker: Rear Admiral Jonathan W. White (Ret.)
President & CEO, Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (2009)
Director, Task Force Climate Change, and Navy deputy to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2012)
Keynote Q & A
11:00a.m. Coastal Resiliency Discussion Panel
Introductions and facilitator: Pamela Rubinoff, M.S., Coastal Management and Climate Extension Specialist, University of Rhode Island/GSO – Coastal Resources Center (CRC) and RI Sea Grant
John King, Ph.D., Professor, Geological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Climate Model Predictions and Trends in Observational Data for Coastal Environments.
How are they estimated? How accurate are they? How should we verify and use them? Model predictions will be reviewed and critiqued and RI efforts to monitor, and use monitoring data to modify environmental monitoring policy will be discussed.
Austin Becker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Coastal Planning, Policy, and Design, University of Rhode Island
Stimulating Transformational Thinking for Long-Term Climate Resilience.
Long term resilience planning and investment requires decision makers to recognize and overcome numerous barriers, such as misaligned incentives and lack of leadership. This talk sets the context for this challenge and introduces tools being developed to help stakeholders to engage with these complex issues.
Christopher D.P. Baxter, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Ocean/Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Rhode Island
Engineering’s Role in Resiliency and Educating the Next Generation.
How can engineering inform stakeholders and policy makers on ways of improving the resiliency of coastal communities? How are we developing STEM professionals to work on these problems today and into the future?
Pamela Rubinoff, M.S., Coastal Management and Climate Extension Specialist, University of Rhode Island/GSO – Coastal Resources Center (CRC) and RI Sea Grant
Engaging Decision Makers in Resilience.
Using the best available science and interdisciplinary experience, Rubinoff will discuss tools, guidance and outreach efforts developed to support municipal and business leaders in their efforts to build resilience of coastal communities in Rhode Island and beyond.
Panel Q & A
12:15p.m. Closing Remarks – Congressman James Langevin
The event is free and open to the public.