USF is excited to announce its team of engineers and environmental scientists has just received a $20 million grant. The money will support a program dedicated to protect coral reefs and replenishing the coastline’s mangrove forests. Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Maya Trotz will be leading the project. The team also includes USF experts in environmental engineering, anthropology, and marine science, as well as collaborators from six academic institutions.
This specialized group of USF researchers aims to develop scalable and equitable engineering practices to enhance coastal sustainability. By supporting natural ecosystems with built infrastructure, such as seawalls and floodwater pumps, they hope to build these ecosystems’ resilience to waves, storm surges, and sea-level rise.
“Coral reefs and mangroves protect coastal communities, provide numerous ecosystem services and support local livelihoods,” Trotz said. “By working with communities to better understand and value these ecosystems, we will develop more equitable approaches to protecting and restoring them. Not only will this project address the environmental questions of our time, it will also provide advice on how ordinary people everywhere can participate in finding solutions to our coastal crisis.”
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The research aims to quantify the social, and ecological factors required to develop effective policy changes. As well as advance public and private investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction. Most research time will be spent in Biscayne Bay region in Miami. This is one of the most highly susceptible areas to climate and weather disasters. The team will also visit the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Complex in Belize and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Other organizations involved in the project
The USF project is part of a larger initiative funded by the National Science Foundation’s Coastlines and People Hubs for Research and Broadening Participation program. The research team includes experts from:
- Boston University
- Stanford University
- University of Miami
- University of California Santa Cruz
- University of Virgin Islands
- East Carolina University
Other organizations involved in the project include:
- World Wildlife Fund — an international organization that works to reduce human impact on natural environments
- Fragments of Hope Ltd — A pioneer in scalable coral reef restoration in Belize
- Black in Marine Science — An organization which seeks to broaden participation in the marine science field
