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Wednesday, June 20 -PRE-SUMMIT KICKOFF EVENTS

3:00 - 5:00 pm

Networking Media and Poster Reception

This event allowed participants to interact with local and national professionals and researchers and featured over 40 posters and displays that highlighted collaborative efforts, research and new and innovative projects surrounding sea level rise, its impacts on urban and natural areas, and methods for education and outreach.

DAY 1 - Thursday, June 21

9:00 am
Welcoming Remarks
  • Gary W. Perry, Dean, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University
  • Len Berry, Director, Florida Center for Environmental Studies, Director, FAU Climate Change Initiative, Florida Atlantic University
  • Ambassador Richard Benedick, Emeritus, President of the National Council for Science and the Environment
9:15 am
Keynote Speaker
Margaret Davidson, Director, NOAA Coastal Services Center (confirmed) Vulnerability, Impacts, and Adaptation in Florida
9:45 am

Session One: Sea Level Rise and Florida: A Complex and Unique Relationship

This session will look at the issues that make Florida vulnerable as well as review the current and future sea level rise science.
Moderator: Ambassador Richard Benedick, Emeritus, President of the National Council for Science and the Environment
  • Jayantha Obeysekera, Hydrologic & Environmental Systems Modeling, South Florida Water Management District (confirmed)
  • Ben Strauss, COO and Director of the Program on Sea Level Rise, Climate Central(confirmed)
  • Gary Mitchum, Ph.D., Physical Oceanography, University of South Florida (confirmed)
  • Abby Sallenger, Oceanographer, US Geological Survey (confirmed)
10:45 am
Break
11:00 am

Session Two: Managing Risk: Organizing for an Uncertain Future

This session will highlight Florida's mitigation and adaptation measures in preparing and planning for the future. How do organizations appropriately manage risk when the scope and timing of the hazard remain as unclear as with sea level rise? This session presents views on how organizations from the federal, state, and local levels seek to address the risks posed despite the lack of certainty with which we can predict the amount and timing of future sea level rise.
Moderator: Camille Coley, Assistant Vice President Research, Florida Atlantic University
  • Julie Dennis, Division of Community Development, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (confirmed)
  • Rachel Sears, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security (confirmed)
  • Sheridan (Butch) Truesdale Senior Mitigation Planner Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management (confirmed)
  • James Beever, Principal Planner, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (confirmed)
12:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm

Session Three: Economic Implications: From Insurance to Economic Well-Being

How do sea level rise impacts affect insurance rates, real estate, land use and Florida's coastlines? This session will focus on the issues of insurance, real estate, economic development, and tourism through the lens of risk management. Panelists from government and the private sector will share their insight and experience, and highlight steps being taken to address economic challenges posed by climate change.
Moderator: Mantha Mehallis, Management-International Business Entrepreneurship, Florida Atlantic University
  • Christine Ashburn, Director of Legislative & External Affairs, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (confirmed)
  • Jeff Williams, Director, Climate Consulting, Entergy (confirmed)
  • Leslie Chapman Henderson, CEO, Federal Alliance of Safe Homes (FLASH) (confirmed)
  • Keith McCue, Vice President, Underwriting and Assistant General Counsel, Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd (confirmed)
3:00 pm
Break
3:15 pm

Session Four: Impacts on Built Environments: Urban Planning

How is urban infrastructure and housing both existing and new developments adapting to increases in sea level rise?
Moderator:Anthony Abbate, AIA, NCARB , Associate Provost for the Broward Campuses and Professor, School of Architecture, Florida Atlantic University.
  • Ricardo Alvarez, Vulnerability Assessment & Mitigation, mitigat.com (confirmed)
  • Daniel Williams FAIA, Post Disaster Planning, Seattle WA (confirmed)
  • Rhonda Haag, Sustainable Program Manager, Monroe County (confirmed)
  • Margo Moehring, Director of Policy, Northeast Florida Regional Council(confirmed)
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Tropical Green Reception - Do not miss this exciting event! Food, drinks, and music all in a Luau inspired setting!

DAY 2 - Friday, June 22

8:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am

Session Five: Impacts on Built Environments: Water Utilities, Energy, and Transportation

How does sea level rise affect water utilities, water management and transportation? How are agencies adapting for an uncertain future? Organizations have, for the most part, identified Sea Level Rise as an issue and are now focused on adaptation. Often the key barrier to implementation of adaptation measures is a lack of support from stakeholders. There needs to be education at various levels to help move efforts forwards.
Moderator: Fred Bloetscher, Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, Florida Atlantic University
  • David Major,Senior Research Scientist, Earth Institute's Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia University (confirmed)
  • Glenn Landers, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (confirmed)
  • Ray Butts, Environmental Services Manager, Florida Power & Light (confirmed)
  • Ted Devens, Project Manager, North Carolina Department of Transportation (confirmed)
10:30 am
Break
10:45 am

Session Six: Collaboration: Organizational Structures

How can effective adaptation and mitigation programs develop at the regional and local level? How can we ensure that regional partnerships, university programs and local governments work together in the most effective and meaningful way?
Moderator: Daniel Kreeger, Executive Director, Association of Climate Change Officers
  • Will Travis, Senior Advisor, Bay Area Joint Policy Committee (confirmed)
  • Susanne Torriente, Assistant City Manager, City of Ft. Lauderdale (confirmed)
  • Nancy Gassman, Natural Resources Administrator, Energy & Sustainability Program, Broward County (confirmed)
  • Nichole Hefty, Manager of the Office of Sustainability, Miami-Dade Dept. of Regulation and Economic Resources (confirmed)
  • Jim Murley, Executive Director, South Florida Regional Planning Council (confirmed)
  • Len Berry, Director, Florida Center for Environmental Studies, Director, FAU Climate Change Initiative, Florida Atlantic University (confirmed)
12:15 pm
Lunch
1:15 pm

Session Seven: Public Engagement: Communication, Outreach and Education

Find out what universities, K-12 and agencies are doing to educate students and teachers about the risks of sea level rise. How do we effectively bridge the gap from climate science education to effective communication about sea level rise risk to the general public, under-served communities, journalists and decision makers?
Moderator: James Jones, Director, University of Florida, Department of Agriculture & Biological Engineering
  • Allan Feldman, University of South Florida, CACCE projects (confirmed)
  • Alana Edwards, Florida Center for Environmental Studies, Florida Atlantic University, NASA Project (confirmed)
  • Larry Plank, School District of Hillsborough County, Florida (confirmed)
  • Kevin Van Dien, Public Programs Supervisor, The Florida Aquarium (confirmed)
  • Sebastian Galindo, University of Florida, State University System, Educational White Paper Summary (confirmed )
  • Tamara Shapiro Ledley, Senior Scientist, Technical Education Research Centers (TERC) (confirmed)
2:45 pm
Michael E. Mann, Author, Professor of Meteorology, Director, Earth System Science Center, Penn State
Facilitated discussions
4:30 pm
Adjourn

For more information contact:
MaryBeth Hartman Kerber, Conference & Outreach Coordinator
Center for Environmental Studies at Florida Atlantic University
mhartman@fau.edu

 
 
 Last Modified 4/3/23