Coastal & Marine Conservation

Natalya Gallo, 29, PhD candidate, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

As coastal Floridians face rising seas, they may repeat the past — 2,000 years past. The current forecasts are for the Atlantic and Gulf to wash over Florida’s shores more rapidly, and with far more people enjoying ocean views from their homes, than during earlier periods of sea level rise. Still, ancient Floridians had to change their lives because of sea level rise — they moved inland, but not much. Predictions on the modern displacement forced by sea level rise vary from a trickle to a full-on exodus. Other experts say it’s far too early to tell.

Sarah Myhre, Ph.D., studies the way ancient oceans coped with changing climates. But in the past year, the paleoceanographer became a sign-carrying marcher, an unusual move in the typically buttoned-up science world. She has marched for social justice and for science nationally as a leader in the nonprofit 500 Women Scientists group, a key organization participating in the March for Science–Seattle.

On the eve of international climate talks taking place in Bonn, Germany, a new study led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego evaluates the extent to which parties to the historic Paris Agreement on climate have considered the oceans in their plans to address climate change. The study shows that while many countries include the oceans, a striking number do not.

Ayana Johnson has launched Ocean Collectiv, a new consulting firm that includes scientists, political strategists, and designers who have come together to tackle complex ocean problems for clients from corporations, to governments, to philanthropies, to non-profits.

Abstract

Increasing environmental uncertainty coupled with rapidly changing market conditions in the Gulf of Maine raise important questions about the ability of Maine’s commercial fishermen to adapt. How resilient is the industry to these shifting waters? Who is best positioned to adapt and who is most vulnerable?

Fellow Ayana Johnson says after a natural disaster (strengthened by our warmer planet) is exactly the time to talk about environmental conservation. It protects lives and property, and makes places like Puerto Rico far more self-reliant when disaster strikes.

As global lead scientist for oceans, Linwood works across the WWF network and with external partners to direct research that can strengthen conservation strategies and to integrate science into oceans initiatives and programs. Linwood will also continue to pursue high level academic research, both as the international chair of excellence at the European Institute for Marine Studies, part of the Laboratory of Excellence in Brest, France where he is based and a senior fellow at Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions (NIEPS).