Workshops
Freshwater sustainability
August 18, 2011
Workshop for AP Earth and Environment classes
June 14 - 16, 2011
In a first phase, a group of AP professors met with Gail Hollander and other ULTRA members to discuss way in which ULTRA could be a part of the high school Earh Science curriculum enhancement; Here are the first planning meeting notes: "Education Outreach Meeting"
The workshop was successfully conducted in three days, resulting in the creation of ULTRA inspired AP modules:
- Classic Urban Models and Sea Level Rise in Miami
- Human Dimensions of Cimate change, based on material from the Association of American Geographers.
- Climate Change, Sea Level Rise in Miami Neighborhoods
- Value of Trees in Urban Environments
To see the workshop agenda, Click Here
Developing a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Framework for South Florida: Indicators, Metrics and Models
June 2, 2010
This workshop was organized in conjunction with Florida Atlantic University and the U.S. Geological Survey. The workshop was co-organized by Hugh Gladwin, an ULTRA-Ex investigator and attended by other ULTRA-Ex investigators including Laura Ogden and René Price. Other attendees, included planners and government officials from Miami-Dade and Broward counties as well as scientists, modelers and researchers from FIU, FAU, and the USGS. The workshop focused on conceptualizing and evaluating the vulnerability of the South Florida populations as well as quality of life metrics in the context of sea level rise and changing land development patterns.
The workshop consisted of guest speakers, panel discussions, model demonstrations and breakout groups. Breakout groups were asked to respond to the following three questions: 1. What are the five most pressing issues with respect to planning and governance for sea level rise? 2. While considering three scenarios, what would be useful features and functionality of tools and models for planning and policy agencies at the local and regional level? 3. What vulnerability indicators of quality of life need to be incorporated into such tools and models?
The break out groups identified many issues that need to be considered for sea level rise planning, but the one issue that was discussed extensively was hydrology. Information about the rate, frequency, and extent of salt water intrusion, flooding, and storm surge associated with tropical systems were considered essential to planning for sea level rise. Most groups agreed that hydrological modeling was essential to understanding the size and scope of planning that will need to be done in the face of sea level rise. Other issues directly related to water included the availability, price, and quality of drinking water, sewer system maintenance, and public health. One suggestion was to quantify the “water footprint” of residences and business and to educate the public on their usage and cost of water in south Florida as well as the reality of sea level rise.
