Three new extension educators have joined Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension this summer, charged with different facets of outreach and partnership with communities and residents to enhance resilience, stewardship and appreciation of Long Island Sound and its watershed.
Coastal Resources
Discovering the joys of fishing & shaping a waterfront park
On a sunny Saturday morning the Bridgeport community gathered at Knowlton Park for a “Let’s Go Fishing!” event on Aug. 19. Residents of all ages angled into the art of fishing as part of a unique initiative to activate the waterfront and gather insights for the future “Sliver by the River” community waterfront park.
Webinar focuses on CT beach dune system, upcoming book
Just in time for beach season, a free webinar titled, “The Ecology and Importance of CT’s Beach Dune Systems,” will be offered by UConn CLEAR at 1 p.m. June 14.
Connecticut Sea Grant seeking applicants for 3 positions
CT Sea Grant is excited to share openings for three extension positions. Applicants are being sought for: extension educator-nature-based approaches to resilience; sustainable and resilient communities assistant extension educator; and Long Island Sound outreach coordinator.
9 projects focus on LIS marshes, water quality, public beaches
Long Island Sound water quality, salt marsh and public beach characteristics will be examined by marine and social scientists in nine research projects awarded funding by the Connecticut and New York Sea Grant programs and the EPA’s Long Island Sound Study.
CTSG fellow to study how behavior shaped in response to climate impacts
Like it or not, climate change is impacting everyone, with effects ranging from subtle to profound. As the CTSG Marine and Coastal Economics fellow, Samjhana Koirala will research key questions about how income, education and other factors influence how people respond.
New aquaculture staff member brings real-life perspective
After a dozen years running Indian River Shellfish, Michael Gilman knows well the yin and yang of oyster farming. “It’s really hard to know what this job entails unless you’ve really lived it,” he said.
CT NERR celebrated as place ‘where the magic happens’
Tidal marshes, sea grass meadows, barrier beaches and coastal forests are just some of the habitats in the federally designated reserve of Southeastern Connecticut lands and waterways that will open a wealth of opportunities for public access, hands-on environmental education, research and stewardship.
Webinar: Defining a role for Sea Grant engagement in CECs
Slides from the May 19 national webinar on the Sea Grant Emerging Contaminants Project: Initial National Framework are available here.
Projects to explore offshore energy, community coexistence
The Northeast Sea Grant Consortium—with the Dept. of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies and Water Power Technologies offices, and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center—announced six projects to advance social science and technology research on offshore renewable energy.