Hampton Roads has become renowned for sea level rise and coastal flooding. The efforts of academic, non-profits, and governmental organizations to raise awareness and work collaboratively on solutions are also finding regional and national recognition. Towards this collaborative engagement, three citizen science programs working to raise awareness of coastal climate challenges are joining forces in October 2022: Catch-the-King, the Blue Line Project, and Measure-the-Muck. These programs feature distinctive events that have developed citizen science apps, participatory mapping and measurements, and student activities and research that engage the public not only about present coastal hazards of tidal flooding and environmental quality but also the potential future conditions with sea level rise and climate change. This seminar highlights the prior achievements and current plans for the projects, including opportunities to participate in October 2022. The audience is welcome to join one or more of the events and to engage with the organizers to promote and advance coastal and climate awareness in local communities.

Dr. Tom Allen is Professor of Geography at Old Dominion University (ODU). His research and teaching specialize in Geographic Information Science and its applications to coastal hazards and environmental resource management. Allen is an ODU alum (1991) with a Bachelor of Science in Geography and earned his Ph.D. in Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also serves as a faculty leader of the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (ICAR). Allen first developed the Blue Line Project in 2019 and is reviving it with connections to other campaigns and courses in marine and coastal geography and GIS.

Dr. J. Derek Loftis is Research Assistant Professor based in the Center for Coastal Resources Management at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). He specializes in hydrodynamic modeling, coastal storms and flooding, and multi-platform mobile computing and citizen science. He has a Ph.D. in Marine Science (VIMS) and M.S. in Environmental Science and B.S. in Biology degrees from Christopher Newport University. Loftis has been a core member of Catch-the-King, as well as flood forecasting systems and observing networks, such as Storm Sense.

Dr. Margie Mulholland is Professor of Ocean and Earth Sciences at Old Dominion University. Her research and teaching focus on biological oceanography, including nitrogen and carbon cycling, harmful and other algal blooms, and biogeochemical cycles in marine and estuarine environments. Mulholland holds a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography (Maryland), M.M. in Marine Affairs and M.S. in Biological Oceanography (U. Washington), and B.S. in Geology/Biology from Notre Dame. She has developed the annual Measure-the-Muck citizen science program in Hampton Roads, which focuses on nutrient and contaminant flows and water quality in the lower Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries that experience recurrent coastal flooding.

In addition to these speakers, the presentation Q+A period may include panelists from Wetlands Watch, WHRO, VA Master Gardeners, and other organizations.

CCPO Innovation Research Park Building I 4111 Monarch Way, 3rd Floor Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA 23508 757-683-4940