North Carolina Sea Grant has launched its second Coastal Resilience Team Competition. The program will provide up to $20,000 for one or more student teams to conduct two-year projects that will lead to more resilient habitats and communities on the North Carolina coastal plain.
Each team will include two to four members, including at least one graduate student who will serve as the project lead, and at least one undergraduate. North Carolina Sea Grant embodies equality and accessibility for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
Deadline: Nov. 22, 2024
Each team will conduct research that addresses resilience in one or more of these areas:
Ecosystem Resilience
- What are the impacts of higher and/or saltier groundwater levels on forest, agriculture, and/or coastal ecosystems?
- How will changing precipitation patterns impact stormwater management in the coastal zone?
- How will submerged aquatic vegetation communities respond to climate change?
- What impacts do upstream conditions and management decisions have on downstream ecosystems and functioning?
Community Resilience
- How can coastal communities prioritize equity and engage underserved populations in planning for and implementing resilience and adaptation efforts?
- How can local decision-making and policy integrate resilience planning?
- What coastal infrastructure is most vulnerable and what can be done to mitigate the risk?
- How can natural and nature-based infrastructure be used strategically for community resilience, and what are the barriers to implementation?
Economic Resilience
- What aquaculture practices can buffer the industry against disasters and climate change impacts?
- What are the costs to our coastal communities, comparing a) climate change planning and investment to proactively prepare for a disaster, and b) opting instead for post disaster restoration and rebuilding?
- How will the economic costs of climate change impact our state’s coastal communities, and, in particular, and how will it affect different sectors and populations??
Additional research topics that relate to these three focus areas will be considered.
Project teams should be based around at a minimum a two-member team made up of a Graduate Student lead, and an Undergraduate participant. This opportunity is only open to US citizens. Teams may contain additional students, up to a maximum of 4 students. The additional team members may be either graduate or undergraduate students. Only graduate students in good academic standing, attending an accredited North Carolina university or college are eligible to apply. Team members do not have to be located at the same institution. The role of each team member must be clearly outlined as part of the application (see below). NC Sea Grant expects team leads will be later-career graduate students to ensure they have the experience needed to oversee the project team and ensure the project is completed .