Discovering Coastal Resilience

What is the Fellowship?

The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship is a one-year grant for pur­pose­ful, inde­pen­dent explo­ration out­side the Unit­ed States, award­ed to grad­u­at­ing seniors nom­i­nat­ed by one of 41 part­ner insti­tu­tions. The flexible design of the year allows each fellow to put together the pieces of themselves on their own terms. I will be challenged to forge new relationships in the world and take risks I would have never thought possible.

Some key guidelines:

1. Fellows cannot return to the U.S. for the full 12 months and all fellows must depart from the U.S. by August 1st 

2. Fellows must live only on the provided stipend of $40,000 USD

3. Fellows get to choose when and where they want to go, and who they want to connect with

4. Fellows must attend the returning fellows conference at the end of the 12 months

Project Background

It’s a fact that climate change is driving sea levels upwards. Currently, sea level rise (SLR) is a result of increasing global temperatures, which causes thermal expansion of water and intensified melting rates of ice sheets, adding water to the oceans. Climate change is also increasing coastal storm frequency and the associated wave heights and wind speeds. Coastal vulnerability rates, determined by assessments quantifying coastal hazards and exposure levels, have rapidly increased. Islands, in particular, are facing the impacts of SLR in an exceptionally acute form. The decline in physical coastal resiliency parallels a loss of human resiliency in waterfront areas. 

With increased rates of flooding and storm events, important infrastructure will be damaged or lost. These natural hazards bring added harm, including saltwater intrusion, affecting drinking water and agricultural land, sometimes far into the uplands. Beyond the physical losses, societal losses can be attributed to climate change. When an area becomes uninhabitable, individuals and families are forced to move from what they know. The coastal area may have cultural significance that future generations will grow up not knowing, and practices may be left behind with the land. This forced abandonment can lead to a decline in psychological and physical health associated with increased levels of stress.

I have been granted the opportunity to explore the long-term consequences of climate change-induced SLR on geologic features, society, and the economy in affected communities through this fellowship.

Goals and Expectations

During the year abroad, I would like to address two main goals. 

The first is to learn about the geology of various coastal environments, from dune complexes to waterfront agricultural farms. Each environment has different conditions, vulnerability thresholds, and functions, so understanding their roles in the global ecosystem would provide a crucial background to the SLR conversation. I do not want to limit my experience to solely oceanside environments and plan to visit river deltas and estuaries, as these are also important coastal features for life. 

My second goal is to investigate how these natural changes have altered economics and society. Ideally, this investigation will extend beyond existing SLR impacts and will include learning about various adaptation strategies and how feasible they are within each country I visit. Establishing connections with those involved in mitigation planning conversations will be crucial to obtain a record of what the future holds for each country.

To reach these goals, I plan on communicating with researchers studying the coastline, climate change, or adaptation strategies from scientific, economic, and/or societal angles. These individuals range from professors at institutions to researchers at government facilities, and I will interact with them in the form of short internships, volunteer fieldwork, or comprehensive interviews. For a more social science perspective, I will engage with organizations and local communities through additional interviews and visits to coastal areas that have either been impacted or are establishing new adaptive measures.

Planned Destinations

Due to the global nature of climate change, I plan on traveling to several continents to get a wider grasp on what the future might look like for coastal communities. The proposed countries are all facing similar problems but across varying coastal environments and have integrated different strategies to mitigate such issues. 

The current plan includes:

1. The United Kingdom

2. Peru

3. Vietnam

4. Australia

5. Germany

6. The Netherlands

However, this list is subject to change as I gain more experience and connections.

If you know of anyone working or living in these countries, please send their contacts my way at discoveringcoastalresilience@gmail.com!