Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

SECASC Global Fellow Lightning Talk 🗣️ This week, I participated in the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Global Fellow Lightning Talk! I presented my research plan and some initial preliminary work on inundation mapping in NC. As a first-year PhD student, I'm still at the beginning stages, but it was a great opportunity to share my progress and gain feedback. Unfortunately, I missed the last half of the talks, so I'm excited to watch the recordings and learn about the amazing research other fellows are pursuing! You can find the recording of our talks here: https://lnkd.in/gDRMuMgb (Mine is the first talk) #PhDlife #LighteningTalk #climateaction

This week, North Carolina State University's Lincoln Larson is our featured #ResearchAffiliate! Larson's conservation work and teaching aims to foster healthy relationships between people and nature. 🌏 Learn more about SE CASC Research Affiliates & find your next collaborator: https://loom.ly/rzmiQuc

✨ Did you miss the last science seminar featuring #3MinThesis presentations from our 2024-25 Global Change Research Fellows? Don't fret! You can catch the replay on all the great talks on topics ranging from flood maps, to fish tail morphology, to forever chemicals and so much more on our YouTube channel! Watch here: https://loom.ly/B6glfmc

Are you registered for our next science seminar? 🐟 Xingli Giam will be joining us to share his research on climate change impacts on stream ecosystems in the Southeast! Happening Oct 23 at 1PM ET, register here: https://loom.ly/mAN2Z3c Abstract: #Climate change and land use change are key threats to stream ecosystems in the southeastern US. Mean summer air temperature has accelerated since the 1990s and mean annual temperature is expected to further increase by ~1.9-2.4°C by 2050 in this region. Further, there have been extensive land use change over the past few decades, and this trend will likely persist due to continued urban growth. Due to these changes, warming temperatures and changing #flow regimes in streams might cause new habitats to become hospitable for #invasive fish. Mitigation of fish invasions and their impacts are management priorities for state and federal agencies; however, it is unclear how geographic ranges and abundances of non-native fish have changed in the #southeastern US. Here, we bridge these knowledge gaps by working with partners from state and federal agencies and nonprofits to leverage monitoring data from fish community surveys conducted by their organizations as well as fish occurrence data from #ichthyological collections and public databases to quantify and map distributional range shifts and abundance changes of non-native fish over the past ~30 years in the biologically important #Tennessee and #Cumberland river basins. We also used species distribution modeling to identify stream segments projected to be at risk from continued invasions under future climates. This work can be used by policymakers and managers to identify locations for monitoring potential fish invasions and to inform conservation efforts to mitigate fish species invasions and their impacts on stream #ecosystems.

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay, and friends at the National Audubon Society have published a wonderful article on Research Affiliate Nils Peterson's research on how birding can lead to more relaxation and boost happiness. "Researchers found that when college students, faculty, and staff went on weekly 30-minute nature walks, they reported better well-being and lower distress compared to those who went about their usual routines. When they specifically watched for birds on those walks, they saw even bigger benefits." Read it here: https://loom.ly/Rlvz-jo

ICYMI our September newsletter is out! Read about our new blog on #coproduction, learn about #fellowship opportunities across CASCs, and check out our summaries of four recent publications on topics ranging from #LivingShorelines to #LoggerheadTurtles 🐢 Get future newsletters in your inbox by subscribing here: https://lnkd.in/dGvUTEJV

We have two remote internship opportunities available: One will support climate assessment efforts, working on #data, #metadata, and communication. The other position will support data-driven research into climate impacts on population health. Details at https://buff.ly/3XBwnYD

Current Global Change Research Fellow, Bigyapti Nepal, is our first researcher spotlight of the semester! 🧪 Nepal tells us about her work on harmful algal blooms and the important implications of this research for policy and health. Read more about her work and experience in the fellows program: https://loom.ly/8ZLveKQ

To advance #climate adaptation #science and increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in #STEM fields, the Climate Adaptation Scientists of Tomorrow (#CAST)Undergraduate Research Experience brings undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty together with CASC partners to cultivate the next generation of climate scientists. Applications for the 2026/2027 CAST cohort will open in fall 2025. In 2021, the Climate Adaptation Science Centers established the Climate Adaptation Scientists of Tomorrow Program to advance climate science and cultivate the next generation of climate scientists. Program Overview Undergraduate Research Experience, Features and Benefits:  Build your climate science skills, training, and development for two years   Join a cohort of 20 undergraduate students with common interests across the U.S.  Lead an undergraduate research project in your area of interest at a leading university. Build strong professional partnerships with a scientist-mentor, graduate students, and faculty scholars. Engage in university programs to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. Participate in trainings to prepare for a career in climate adaptation science.   Eligibility:  Participants must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited academic institution (community college, college, or university) in the United States. Participants must be rising sophomores or juniors (i.e., anticipated graduation in 2026 or 2027). Participants must be in good academic standing (GPA 3.0 or higher). Students from populations historically underrepresented in the sciences are especially encouraged to apply. Financial Considerations:  Program provides 10 weeks of room and board for two summers  Program provides a stipend for two summers (depends on location, minimum of $5,000 per summer). Program provides funds for round-trip travel to site. Participant Expectations:  Commit to build research and professional skills for two, 10-week summer research experiences (Summer 2024 and Summer 2025).  Maintain regular and meaningful interaction with their mentor. Actively participate in development and training events: multiple each Summer and two per academic year (Fall/Winter/Spring). Produce a final report and deliver an oral presentation of their research and program experience.  Participate in program evaluations during and after program completion.  Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for the duration of the program. Foster a culture of respect, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion. 

A new study authored by SE CASC research ecologist, Mitch Eaton, details how a common approach to investing may help identify on-the-ground conservation strategies for an endangered 🐸 coquí population in Puerto Rico! “Ideally, modern portfolio theory acts as a handy tool for managers that gives them a new way of thinking about how to approach the implementation of management actions over space, in other words, how to pool their investments to manage risk and achieve maximal benefits,” says Eaton. Our summary is below and you can read the full recap online here: https://loom.ly/2R3WnhA #CASCFunded #PuertoRico #coqui