Enewsletter articles by Lili Badri

The Potomac River workshop was a success

The COAST Card project made great progress in June with a small workshop held at Hood College in Frederick, MD. The project will focus on assessing the Potomac River Watershed through the lens of the COAST Card framework, which combines environmental report cards, social network analysis, and system dynamics modeling. The trip also consisted of meetings with scientists at the Appalachian Laboratory and field visits across different areas of the Potomac River Watershed. In hopes of engaging more stakeholders, there will be an open house workshop on July 21st from 12–8 pm at the Whitaker Community Commons building at Hood College. If you are interested in attending, you can register here.

The Potomac Open House was a success

The COAST Card team held their first open house event for the Potomac River Watershed on July 21st at Hood College in Frederick, MD. Over 40 stakeholders dropped in throughout the day to engage with the key features of the COAST Card project. Stakeholders identified recreation as their top value of the watershed and populated maps of the Potomac Watershed and Frederick County with stickers indicating all the places they “play.” Participants also identified important indicators and potential future stakeholders they would like to work with. Additionally, stakeholders thought about cause and effect relationships within the watershed and built their vision of a sustainable Potomac.

Farewell, Global Sustainability Scholars!

Our four Global Sustainability Scholars (GSS) completed their summer program at UMCES IAN at July end. During their time with us, they had the opportunity to travel throughout Maryland and helped with the COAST Card project in an impactful way. They played a large part in the Potomac Open House and completed their respective projects in specific sustainability topics. It has been such a pleasure to work with these bright individuals and we are grateful for all that they have done. We hope they go on to do amazing things.

Welcome, Nani!

Veronica (Nani) is a new Graduate Research Assistant with IAN in Annapolis, Maryland where she will be working on visually representing indicators for the 2023 Chesapeake Bay Report Card. She got her B.A. in Marine Affairs, Geology, and Anthropology with a minor in Art from the University of Miami. A Plus One recipient, she was funded for a year to study Journalism and Film. From 2019-2022, Veronica worked as a NOAA contractor for both the Northeast and Southeast Fisheries Science Centers. During this time, her work focused on science communication. She pioneered projects such as video creation and outreach projects for underserved communities. Currently, she is a first year PhD student studying Environment and Society at the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science.

Upcoming travel

This month, both the PacPath and COAST Card Projects will be traveling abroad!

For PacPath, Annie Carew and Heath Kelsey will be traveling to Suva, Fiji to hold a 3-day workshop at the University of the South Pacific. This workshop will include discussions about the effects of climate change on key environmental resources with important stakeholders. This will be the second PacPath workshop, with the first taking place in Noumea, New Caledonia in October 2022.

The US COAST Card team (Sidney Anderson, Veronica Lucchese, Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen, and Bill Dennison) will be traveling to Manila, Philippines to hold their first in-person meeting with other global members of the COAST Card project and with key stakeholders to focus on sustainability issues of Manila Bay.

Farewell, Sky!

Last month, we said goodbye to our assistant science communicator, Sky Swanson. Sky has worked with IAN for the past 4 years on many projects, including the USGS Chesapeake Bay Science Strategy, the Chesapeake Bay SAV Watchers program, the NPS Assateague Island videos, and report cards for the Chesapeake Bay and Mississippi River Watershed. Sky was a great, very talented colleague to work with. We will miss him greatly and wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Welcome, Stacy!

Stacy Schaefer is the new executive director of the Resilience Authority of Charles County, which has partnered with UMCES and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake and Coastal Service. Stacy Schaefer holds a bachelor's degree in business, and a Juris Doctorate degree from the George Washington University National Law Center. After ten years of practicing law in Washington, D.C., Ms. Schaefer transitioned to a career as the Associate Director for Land Conservation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources from 2009 to 2021. Most recently, Ms. Schaefer served as the Maryland Land Conservation Liaison for Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), an ecological restoration firm that works across the country. She is also a current Board member of the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Resilience Authority and a lead team member of The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Resiliency Framework project.

IAN Team Wins Green Space Data Challenge

Georgetown University’s Massive Data Institute held a Green Space Data Challenge for the month of February. Veronica Malabanan Lucchese, Joe Edgerton, and Lili Badri entered into the Physical Environment category of the challenge and worked to develop a green space indicator for Baltimore, MD. Their submission won first place in the category, and they will be presenting their work at a webinar by the Association of Public Data Users (APDU) on Monday, April 17th in addition to being highlighted on Georgetown’s blog.

Welcome, Lili!

Lili Badri has recently transitioned into her new position as science communicator from her previous role as a science communication intern with IAN since May 2022. In her time with IAN, she has assisted with projects such as COAST Card, Translating USGS Science into Management Products, edX, and STAC Rising Water Temperatures. We are excited to have her on the team and look forward to her continued achievements at IAN!

Attending the National Monitoring Conference

The 13th National Monitoring Conference was held from April 24-28 in Virginia Beach, Virginia and attended by Alex Fries and Lili Badri. They had the opportunity to network, attend talks, and connect with long-time IAN partners in person. On the second day, Alex gave a talk detailing the role IAN plays in synthesizing monitoring data for management decisions. The conference was a great chance to learn about applications and advancements of water monitoring, data management practices, and the important role of community scientists. We look forward to incorporating some of what we learned into our future work.

Congratulations, Bill!

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Bill Dennison for being chosen as the Interim President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Dr. Dennison, who has been an integral part of UMCES for many years, will commence his new position on September 25th. With decades of valuable experience at UMCES, his expertise will prove to be an asset during this transitional phase. Dr. Dennison is passionate about advocating for the vision of a UMCES Collaboratory and we are excited to see the great progress he will make in his new role.

Coming Soon: 2022 Chesapeake Bay Report Card

We are getting ready to release our yearly Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card on Tuesday, June 6th at the Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria, VA. Please join us in person or through Facebook Live. We are eager to share new indicators, update the community on the current condition of the Bay and watershed, and hold a listening session with stakeholders following the release. In addition, we will be holding three more stakeholder listening sessions in June: on June 8th at the Leonardtown Wharf Park, St. Mary’s County, MD, on June 14th at the Potomac Science Center in Woodbridge, VA, and on June 21st at the Canal Place Heritage Park, Cumberland, MD.

Welcome, Global Sustainability Scholars!

We are thrilled to welcome another remarkable group of Global Sustainability Scholars this summer from May 26-July 21. Please give a warm welcome to Anna Calderón (returning scholar, Wellesley College), Taylor Mitchell (University of Michigan), Kameryn Overton (Tuskegee University), Emma Gee (UC Santa Cruz), Darion Fredericks (Fort Lewis College), and Tre’Nard Morgan (University of Michigan). Comprised of diverse backgrounds and expertise, these scholars are passionate about environmental justice challenges, and with their understanding of sustainable practices, they bring a wealth of knowledge to our team. During their time, they will collaborate on the Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation Project (COAST Card) to develop a stakeholder engagement toolbox and the Potomac River Report Card utilizing listening sessions throughout the Potomac Watershed. The collective wisdom and enthusiasm of these scholars promises an exciting and impactful summer ahead.

2022 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card Released

The highly anticipated release of our 2022 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card brought forth crucial insights into the health of this iconic ecosystem. The 16th annual release occurred on June 6th at the Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria, Virginia. It was attended by representatives from Maryland, DC, and Virginia, along with environmental groups working within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Our comprehensive assessment, based on rigorous scientific data and analysis, offers a holistic view of the Bay's ecological condition and the watershed’s ecological, economic, and societal conditions. In 2022, the Chesapeake Bay scored 51% (C) with a significantly improving trend, and the Chesapeake Bay watershed scored 52% (C). This was also the first year we evaluated the Environmental Justice Index; however, it was not included in the overall health score. To learn more about the scores, please visit ecoreportcard.org. This report card serves as a reminder of the ongoing work needed to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding watershed, encouraging collective action for a sustainable future.

Advancing the New Potomac Report Card through Listening Sessions

The 2022 Potomac River and Watershed Report Card was released on June 6th and incorporated data from the 2022 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card. The Potomac River and its watershed are a focus of the Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation Project (COAST Card), and the report card will be further developed through stakeholder input received at listening sessions throughout the Potomac watershed.

The COAST Card team has held two stakeholder listening sessions so far during June, with two more happening before the end of the month. The first session occurred on June 6th at the Washington Sailing Marina, right after the 2022 Chesapeake Bay Report Card release, and the second one occurred on June 8th at the Leonardtown Wharf Park. We had a great turnout of participants at both events and were able to showcase the new Potomac River Report Card. The next two will be on June 14th at the Potomac Science Center (Woodbridge, VA) and on June 22nd at Canal Place Heritage Park (Cumberland, MD).

These listening sessions are aimed at bringing together diverse community stakeholders in the Potomac Watershed. Engaging with individuals representing various backgrounds, perspectives, and interests allows for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and aspirations of the watershed's communities. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership, promotes environmental justice, and ensures that the voices of marginalized groups are heard and considered in the decision-making processes. The ultimate goal of these listening sessions is to help inform the next iteration of the Potomac River and Watershed Report Card.

2023 IAN Retreat at Horn Point Laboratory

On June 12, IAN held its annual retreat at Horn Point Laboratory, attended by IAN staff and the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) web and technical teams. The day started with a fun icebreaker, followed by IAN and CBP detailing their respective roles in an effort to increase collaboration across both teams. The first breakout session continued this topic by discussing collaboration between IAN, the CBP Technical Team, and the CBP Web Team in the context of the Chesapeake Bay Report Card. We discussed strategic planning, DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice), and IAN’s future in the Chesapeake Global Collaboratory. We also welcomed Essala Lowe (UMCES VP for Administration and Finance), Lois Colaprete (UMCES VP for Advancement), and Dave Nemazie (UMCES Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Government Affairs) for further comments on those topics. The day was then concluded with a brainstorming activity highlighting the various areas that IAN contributes to with its work. Thank you to all who could attend, and we look forward to implementing some of the suggestions we discussed.

Gaining Valuable Perspectives of the Potomac River and Watershed

The Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation project (COAST Card) had a productive June month that entailed traveling to various areas of the Potomac Watershed and conducting four different listening sessions. The listening sessions were held in:

  • Alexandria, VA at the Washington Sailing Marina
  • Leonardtown, MD at the Leonardtown Wharf
  • Woodbridge, VA at the Potomac Science Center
  • Cumberland, MD at the Canal Place Heritage Park

Over 100 participants took the time to share their perspectives about the Potomac, including their values and threats to the Potomac and their vision for a sustainable Potomac. The responses will help inform the best indicators to use for assessing the ecosystem health in the area, with the goal of creating a more comprehensive Potomac River and Watershed report card.

Attending the Association for Public Data Users Conference

On July 25 and 26, Joe Edgerton and Lili Badri attended the Association for Public Data Users (APDU) Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia at the Amazon Skills Center. They were invited to attend as winners of Georgetown’s Greenspace Data Challenge and had the opportunity to present their work. This year’s theme was Expanding the Universe of Public Data, and the first day was filled with informative talks related to different data-driven projects. The second day was kicked off with an open discussion from federal agency leaders at the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), followed by a panel of presentations from the Greenspace winners and Data Storytelling finalists. It was an excellent opportunity to learn about the variety of datasets available and the methods by which they can be used to solve pressing questions.

Another successful summer with the GSS Scholars

Our second cohort of Global Sustainability Scholars and Fellows (GSS) concluded their program on July 21st. They presented their findings from the Potomac Listening Sessions and gave valuable insights that will help us improve our outreach and engagement. We really appreciate their contributions and wish them the best of luck with their future endeavors.

Broadening Ecosystem Report Card Horizons

Last month, Bill Dennison and Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen held a webinar through the Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) where they discussed the expansion of the Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card (CBRC) to include a greater suite of indicators of socio-environmental conditions. They discussed the addition of the environmental justice index in the latest report card, which had the furthest reach of any previous CBRC, with over 500 million total media impressions. They also talked about the COAST Card project and insights from recent listening sessions. The webinar can be watched here.

Welcome, Jon!

Please welcome Dr. Jon Lefcheck, IAN's new Research Scientist! Jon is a community ecologist, biodiversity scientist, and statistician with an enduring affinity for seagrasses. He has worked in systems as diverse as coral reefs, mangroves, salt marshes, oyster reefs, and deep-sea hydrothermal vents. He regularly engages scientists, managers, and volunteers around the world to understand, monitor, conserve, and restore coastal ecosystems for the benefit of nature and people. Jon has published over 75 peer-reviewed articles, including in top-ranking journals like Science and Nature, and his work has been covered by popular media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine and National Public Radio. He received his Ph.D. in Marine Science from the College of William & Mary in 2015 and was a post-doctoral researcher at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science until 2017 and at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences until 2018. Before his current posting, he served as the Coordinating Scientist for the MarineGEO program at the Smithsonian Institution until 2023. In his spare time, he enjoys running and playing with his cat, Berlioz (who you can find in the acknowledgments of many of his articles). You can learn more about him at his website or on Twitter.

Setting the stage for the UMCES Chesapeake Global Collaboratory

The UMCES Chesapeake Global Collaboratory (CGC) is a new initiative to generate accelerated solutions to big problems by engaging diverse voices, novel approaches, and innovative tools. IAN is helping UMCES to design and facilitate the meetings and events to continue to advance this initiative with faculty and external partners. On August 3rd, a lunchtime webinar was held for all of UMCES to learn about the progress of the CGC and to participate in its ongoing development. An overview of the CGC was given followed by a presentation of specific research projects from UMCES faculty that would fall within the Collaboratory structure. The next milestone for this project will be the Chesapeake Global Collaboratory Summit, which will take place on September 28–29 at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center in Baltimore, MD. It will feature plenary speakers Fred Tutman, ShaShi Shekhar, and Dr. Erica Key.

Summit builds momentum for the future Chesapeake Global Collaboratory

On September 28-29, the Chesapeake Global Collaboratory (CGC) Summit was held at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center in Baltimore, MD. The summit aimed to engage diverse voices, with speakers and representatives from the public, private, nonprofit, and education sectors in attendance. The event kicked off with a series of compelling plenary speeches that set the stage for the profound conversations to come.

Following the plenary were two consecutive panelist sessions with distinguished groups of experts who shared their thoughts on innovative tools through cyberinfrastructure and broadening participation in cyberinfrastructure. Afterward, participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into those specific topics during breakout sessions. These breakout groups fostered meaningful exchanges of ideas, enabling attendees to network, share experiences, and collaborate on potential solutions.

The second day began with some opening remarks and was followed by another panelist session and breakout group, this time with a focus on actionable science and applying the theories discussed from the previous day. We thank everyone who participated in this event and who helped make it possible.

Advancing plastics research in the Chesapeake Bay

From October 21-31, the first leg of the Chesapeake Bay Plastic Survey went underway. This project is led by the Ocean Research Project, an Annapolis-based nonprofit specializing in research expeditions aboard their sailboat, Marie Tharp, to improve understanding of marine ecosystems. The survey crew included seven sailors and academics, with IAN science communicator, Lili Badri, on board to help with sample collection and promotion of the project across social media platforms. This survey was the first comprehensive assessment of plastics in the Chesapeake Bay and will serve to provide a baseline condition of plastic pollution in the Bay. Additionally, the project aims to create a method for plastic sampling that can be adopted by monitoring agencies so that there is long-term data available for its analysis as a Bay health indicator.

Celebrating coastal science at the 27th Biennial CERF Conference

From November 12–16, several IAN staff attended the 2023 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) conference in Portland, Oregon. We presented on various IAN projects, providing holistic insights into applied coastal and estuarine research. Many enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and colleagues. UMCES always has a presence at this conference, and for many of the IAN staff, this was their first time experiencing CERF. Overall, the conference was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the latest coastal and estuarine research, including perspectives from indigenous peoples on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).

2023: A year in review

IAN is reflecting on a successful year in 2023. In the past year, we maintained many valuable collaborations with partners across the globe. We engaged stakeholders through listening sessions and workshops, supporting the creation of robust ecosystem health assessments. We attended numerous conferences and meetings, connecting with experts across multiple fields, and learning new methods to improve our engagement and assessment efforts. We appreciate everyone who has made this year a success, and we look forward to what 2024 has in store!

Teaching Science Communication in 2023

COAST Card Project Highlights

The Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation (COAST Card) project had an eventful year consisting of both local and international travel.

  • Conference and workshop in Manila, Philippines
  • Conference and workshop in Tokyo, Japan; site visits to Ishigaki Island and Sekisei Lagoon, Japan
  • Stakeholder listening sessions in the Potomac Watershed, USA:
    • Alexandria, VA
    • Leonardtown, MD
    • Woodbridge, VA
    • Cumberland, MD
    • Silver Spring, MD

The international conferences and workshops allowed project partners to meet in person, make progress on goals, and gain a deeper understanding of the different study sites. The five stakeholder listening sessions held across the Potomac Watershed in the summer, facilitated by our second cohort of Global Sustainability Scholars, provided important insights on values, threats, and visions related to the watershed.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Charles County leads the way for local coastal adaptation

On December 13th, we held our first workshop at the Velocity Center in Indian Head, MD to kick off the Charles County Coastal Adaptation project. This project is a partnership between the Resilience Authority of Charles County, the Charles County Government, and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and aims to produce a climate adaptation report card for Charles County, which will inform the county’s Climate Action Plan. More workshops will be planned in the coming months, and we look forward to better understanding Charles County’s preparedness for climate change.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

We published 10 peer-reviewed papers spanning a variety of environmental topics. Here are a few highlights:

Advancing climate resilience and mitigation in the U.S. water sector

IAN’s ongoing work on adaptation and resilience was highlighted by the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) in the third issue of their Hydrolink Magazine. The article, titled Net-Zero and Water: Highlighting U.S. Innovation and action in Mitigation, Adaptation and Resiliency, provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving efforts in the United States to address the intersection of net-zero goals and water management. It emphasizes the need for collaborative, multi-level strategies to mitigate GHG emissions, enhance resilience, and achieve climate goals in the water sector.

ConversatIANS with Ed Sheldon

In January, we started an informal seminar series called ConversatIANS and hosted our first guest speaker, Ed Sheldon, on January 11th. Ed is a citizen scientist and leader of the nonprofit Fenit Coast Conservation (FCC) in Ireland. Ed spoke about his efforts to collect seagrass data along Ireland’s coast and led an interactive discussion about mapping the seagrasses and how these efforts could be enhanced. Ed is also a colleague of Jon Lefcheck and Katie May Laumann and hosted them last year for presentations in Ireland.

Environmental justice stories through cinema

We collaborated with IMET and the Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative (EJJI) for a film screening and panel discussion as part of IMET’s Winter Series on January 24th. The screening featured two films: Eroding History by André Chung, focusing on two Black communities in Deal Island, MD, grappling with sea level rise and cultural preservation amid climate change, and Disruption: Baltimore’s Highway to Nowhere by Sean Yoes, detailing the impact of Highway 40 on Baltimore's Black community. The panel, moderated by Amanda Phillips de Lucas, director of the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance, provided a great opportunity for the audience to engage with the filmmakers.

COAST Card goes to India

The COAST Card project is gearing up for its third international meeting, set to take place in Goa, India, from February 5th to 8th. This collaborative project brings together experts from the United States, the Philippines, India, Japan, and Norway. Following the successful hosting of project partners by the Philippines and Japan last year, this meeting promises to provide another invaluable opportunity for participants to connect with project collaborators, visit key study sites, and advance toward achieving the project's goals.

Chesapeake Bay Plastic Survey: Part 2

From March 16-25, the Ocean Research Project conducted the second part of their Chesapeake Bay Plastic Survey, following up on their October 2023 survey. In addition to measuring microplastic pollution levels across the Bay's mainstem and major tributaries, this research aims to develop a protocol for efficient, long-term monitoring of plastics across the Bay. There is a critical need to understand microplastic pollution's impact on water quality, and the implementation of a monitoring program can pave the way for the future development of a new indicator for the Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card. Insights from both surveys are invaluable for understanding microplastic abundance, types, and distribution. The second survey also featured a virtual crew, including IAN science communicator Lili Badri, facilitating real-time data analysis and science communication.

Coming soon: Southeast Michigan Report Cards

Mark your calendars for April 16th as we eagerly anticipate the debut of our Southeast Michigan Report Card series. This initiative encompasses six informative documents, each dedicated to assessing the socio-environmental health of key rivers in the region: the Clinton, Detroit, Huron, River Raisin, and Rouge Rivers, alongside a comprehensive summary of the Southeast Michigan region. The development of these report cards was a result of significant collaborative efforts with local stakeholders, and will provide important insights into river health while fostering community engagement and informed decision-making for the region. Please RSVP here to attend virtually or in person.

New Future Earth Coasts survey on coastal sustainability

The Tour de Coasts survey by Future Earth Coasts has just launched and is looking for you to share your thoughts and help shape the future of coastal sustainability! This survey explores global priorities, challenges, and opportunities in coastal sustainability. Your input is pivotal for the Future Earth Coasts network. To take the survey, please click here.

This month in publications

Please see some of our recent peer-reviewed publications:

  • Contributing to sustainable development pathways in the South Pacific through transdisciplinary research: Conference report (Marine Policy, Annie Carew and Heath Kelsey)- This conference report synthesizes the discussions and lessons learned from a workshop with international and local experts and practitioners held in Nouméa, New Caledonia in October 2022. The workshop focused on addressing several climate change concerns in Fiji and New Caledonia, and the report highlights the need for diverse viewpoints in sustainable adaptation strategies.

  • Interplay of management and environmental drivers shifts size structure of reef fish communities (Global Change Biology, Jonathan Lefcheck)- This study investigates the impact of environmental factors and management strategies on fish biomass in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region, with key findings related to shifts in fish community structure. These changes were linked to varying responses of juvenile and adult fish to both environment and management, highlighting the importance of considering such dynamics in the design of marine protected areas to promote fish biomass across different life stages.

  • Overcome imposter syndrome: Contribute to working groups and build strong networks (Biological Conservation, Jonathan Lefcheck)- This paper provides strategies for early career researchers to contribute effectively to scientific working groups, including generating ideas, offering insights, consolidating literature, analyzing data, and producing visuals. It also emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, setting clear expectations, and communicating effectively to achieve innovative solutions in conservation and sustainability.