The Coastal Ecosystem Dynamics (CESD) program brings together students and faculty with interests in coastal hydrodynamics, geo-mechanics, and ecology. The goal is to advance fundamental science, provide solutions for resilient coastal communities, and train the next generation of scientists and engineers to succeed in academic and non-academic careers.
With nearly 40% of the world’s population living within 100 kilometers of the coast, understanding the dynamics of coastal ecosystems is critical to ensure the resilience of human and natural coastal communities. As coastal ecosystems sit at the interface between marine and terrestrial environments, their structure and stability are driven by complex interactions among hydrodynamic forces, geotechnical properties of natural and man-made substrates, and organisms that biogenically build coastal reefs and wetlands. Thus, advancing knowledge of these systems and developing solutions for sustaining natural and built coastal environments requires multi-disciplinary research.
Students trained in this specialization will be prepared to pursue academic and industry careers in the fields of coastal, environmental, and geotechnical engineering, as well as complementary engineering disciplines, such as mechanics, structures, ecology, environmental science, geology, natural resource management and coastal resilience, depending on their individual interests.