URI researcher, EPSCoR leader will assist with developing solutions to address impacts

Carol Thornber, Ph.D., lead principal investigator for Rhode Island NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), is bringing her expertise in climate change and marine life science to a new state initiative that aims to better prepare Rhode Island for the uncertainties of the future.

Thornber, a University of Rhode Island associate professor in the College of Environment and Life Sciences (CELS), was one of nine nominated earlier this summer by RI Gov. Gina M. Raimondo to the Executive Climate Change Science and Technology Advisory Board.

“I am honored to be chosen as part of this advisory board,” Thornber said. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members to advance our understanding of climate change and resiliency and communicating this to a broader audience.”

The board was created as part of the Resilient Rhode Island Act to provide guidance to the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council on such issues as aligning academic research around climate resiliency, communicating scientific and technical information to the public, and taking inventory on public- and private-sector work to achieve greater coordination and efficiency.

In nominating the panel members, Gov. Raimondo said in a prepared statement:

“This advisory board will help Rhode Island develop practical solutions to addressing the impacts climate change will have across our state – from our coast to our urban and rural neighborhoods. I want to thank these new members for their pledge to dedicate their time and knowledge to help protect our most important resources for generations to come.”

URI Vice President for Research and Economic Development Gerald Sonnenfeld lauded the announcement and said Thornber would provide an important perspective.

“The appointment of Dr. Carol Thornber to the Governor’s Climate Change Board will allow an expert to help Rhode Island understand and deal with any possible climate change,” said Sonnenfeld. “The University of Rhode Island is proud of Dr. Thornber’s accomplishments and of her service on this important board.”

The other panel members are: Peter August, Todd Bianco, James Boyd, Kelly Knee, Jason Osenkowski, Ronald Pitt, J. Timmons Roberts, and Henry Walker.

Thornber is uniquely qualified to be serve, both through her research work and her leadership of RI NSF EPSCoR, a collaborative initiative that brings together nine of the state’s public and private institutions of higher education in pursuit of a strong and sustainable marine ecosystem.

“Climate change will affect us on a global scale, and states such as Rhode Island with substantial coastlines will suffer a disproportionate impact.”

Given her background, Thornber can provide assistance on interpreting the results of climate change research in coastal systems for a broader audience.

“My professional research career has focused on marine life science, including climate change,” she said. “My current position as lead PI of Rhode Island’s NSF EPSCoR program, which focuses on the impacts of climate change on marine life sciences, is directly relevant to these issues as well.”

RI NSF EPSCoR, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), conducts groundbreaking research and develops academic talent in the science and technology fields to: increase competitiveness in research and development, build a more capable workforce and fuel economic growth in the Ocean State.

Thornber’s research has investigated the impacts of temperature and ocean acidification on marine species and food webs. She works on marine communities, including harmful macroalgal blooms, invasive species, and food webs — all of which have important impacts for the marine-focused Ocean State.

Said Thornber: “Climate change will affect us on a global scale, and states such as Rhode Island with substantial coastlines will suffer a disproportionate impact.”

Story by Amy Dunkle | Photo by Beau Jones