View
172
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
URBAN COASTALSUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
at Northeastern University
CHALLENGES OF URBAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
Cities by the SeaMore than half of the world’s population lives by the coast, with a growing fraction in cities.More than two-thirds of the world’s megacities are on the coast.
90 percent of all marine species live along the coast.
BOSTON
HONG KONG
SHANGHAI
STOCKHOLM
CHALLENGES OF URBAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of large bodies of water on Earth
Homeland Security95% of international cargo coming to the US arrives via ships.Ballast water in cargo ships carry invasive species that disrupt native ecosystems.
CHALLENGES OF URBAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
The EconomyCoastal areas contribute $1 trillion
to annual US GDP & support 60 million jobs
Nation’s ports: $700 billion/year
Economically, Boston is the 8th mostvulnerable coastal city in the world
CHALLENGES OF URBAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
OverfishingOne out of five people on the planet rely on fish as a primary source of protein.70% of the world’s fish species are either fully exploited or depleted.
Major economic impact from depleted
fisheries
CHALLENGES OF URBAN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
Lack of understanding complex ecology impedes policy.
COASTAL SYSTEMS ARE AT GROUND ZERO FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
Coastal ecosystems are the interface between the ocean and landAmong the most poorly understoodecosystems due to their complexity
Coupled Human-Natural Ecosystems
• Humans are the source of most problems- can we be part of the solution?
• Human societies are intimately coupled to our natural environment (whether we recognize it or not)
• We need to understand not just the few pristine systems left, but coupled human-natural ecosystems
New Marine Biology Major
CHRISTINE PRINCE“The Three Seas Program and the co-ops
available give unique and exciting opportunities to anyone who chooses this major.”
We Have Outstanding and Unique Coastal Sustainability Academic ProgramsThree Seas Marine Biology Program
Unparalleled Experiential Education
WHY NORTHEASTERN?
Hiring Faculty in Urban Coastal Sustainability Across the University
• Climate Change & Ecological Forecasting
• Genomics (Ocean Genome Legacy)
• Ocean Engineering & Remote Sensing
• Biodiversity & Ecosystem Function
• Fisheries Biology• Community & Evolutionary
Ecology• Biogeochemistry• Conservation Management &
Policy
Law & Policy Engineering
Science
Urban CoastalSustainability
WHY NORTHEASTERN?
A Few of Our Outstanding Faculty
RANDALL HUGHESBiodiversity, Conservation Biology
JONATHAN GRABOWSKIFisheries Biology, Ecology
Robotics, Coral Reef Ecology
JUSTIN RIESBiogeochemistry,
Ocean Acidification
NEW FACULTY HIRES
MARKPATTERSON
The ultimate example of living as part of the natural environmentFabien Cousteau’s Mission 31
Ability to study impacts of climate change continuously for an entire month (more from Mark)
WHY FABIEN COUSTEAU’S MISSION 31?
The ultimate example of living as part of the natural environment
WHY FABIEN COUSTEAU’S MISSION 31?
An unprecedented opportunity to communicate with the worldWHY FABIEN COUSTEAU’S MISSION 31?
MARINE SCIENCE CENTER AT NAHANT
Renovated Edwards Laboratory…
New state-of-the-art seawater delivery system
New Experimental Greenhouse and Tank Farm
The Marine Science Center
MSC IS AMONG THE ONLY MAJOR MARINE LABS IN THE WORLD CLOSE TO A MAJOR URBAN CENTER
Recommended