Coastal Event at University of Delaware

More than 60 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career professionals shared their research at the Young Coastal Scientists and Engineers Conference-North America on the University of Delaware campus from July 27-29.

Governor Jack Markell, who welcomed the participants, said that the First State was the perfect place for the event.

“Delaware’s coastline is short, only about 26 miles, but it’s very important to our quality of life and our economy,” he said. “People come from all over to enjoy our beaches, and we have some of the cleanest water in the nation. We’ve also seen some of the challenges of managing the impact of storms on our coastal areas.”

Presentation and poster topics ranged from sediment transport, coral reef degradation and tsunami propagation to dune systems, rip currents and beach nourishment programs.

Aimed at stimulating collegial scientific discussion on coastal projects and providing a forum for encouraging feedback, the conference drew participants from as far away as Mexico and Canada.

Conference keynote speakers included Tony Dalrymple of Johns Hopkins University, Jane McKee Smith of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bill Hanson of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company.