Among the most important issues of our time, sea level rise is a priority focus at FIU.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0By 2030, we expect mean sea level rise will result in an increase of up to 6 more inches of sea level rise in the Miami area alone.<\/p>\n
2. With no intervention (flood mitigation) and at this rate of increase, we might expect up to 20 percent of Miami-Dade county land area to be submerged by 2030, with about 1% of urban areas affected.<\/p>\n
3. This rise would result in more frequent spring and fall high tide \u201csunny day\u201d flooding, with up to 30% of land area flooded during these events. The impact will be felt significantly in more populated areas, affecting property and local transportation for residents, tourists and goods.<\/p>\n
4. Without intervention, seawater intrusion may affect 25-30% of our fresh water supply in South Florida.<\/p>\n
This July, the Sea Level Solutions Center<\/strong><\/a> (SLSC) celebrates its first anniversary. FIU accepted the challenge to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty and community partners to advance understanding of sea level rise. We are creating the knowledge systems necessary to inform decision-making and enable action.<\/p>\n Even before SLSC, FIU has been on the forefront in sea level rise research, education and community partnerships.<\/p>\n From November 2014 to March 2015<\/strong>, architecture faculty exhibited 3 years of graduate student and faculty work in \u201cMiami 2100: Envisioning a Resilient Second Century<\/a><\/strong>.\u201d We are now\u00a0searching for a permanent home for this groundbreaking collection.<\/p>\n In 2014 and early 2015<\/strong>, our communications faculty and students developed and released two award-winning documentaries: South Florida\u2019s Rising Seas<\/strong><\/a> and South Florida’s Rising Seas Impact<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n To build climate change resiliency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency<\/strong> (FEMA) National Exercise Division partnered with FIU\u2019s Sea Level Solutions Center and Southeast Environmental Research Center<\/a><\/strong> on September 21 and 22<\/strong>. Decision makers piloted the \u201cClimate Adaptation, Preparedness and Resilience\u201d seminar to provide local community leaders with knowledge and tools to assess and improve their capabilities to prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from climate impacts, including sea level rise.<\/p>\n From September 28th to 30th<\/strong>, Former US Vice President Al Gore<\/strong><\/a> and his Climate Reality Leadership Corps<\/strong><\/a> offered training in climate science, communications and grassroots organizing to inspire communities to take action. SLSC Director Dr. Tiffany Troxler<\/strong><\/a> shared insight on the causes and effects of global greenhouse gases, as well as alternative sources of energy and solutions to sea level rise. The training corresponded with the 2015 king tide and Gore joined Mayor Levine<\/strong><\/a> in a tour of Miami Beach to explore the frontlines of sea level rise. Meanwhile, FIU students and faculty took to the streets with video recorders and water quality instruments to document \u201csunny day\u201d flooding. Results<\/a> were shared through news articles and panel discussions<\/a>.<\/p>\n Coinciding with the Paris Climate Change Conference last winter, Artist-in-Residence Xavier Cortada presented CLIMA<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 a solo art exhibit addressing sea level rise and global climate change \u2013 and the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact <\/a><\/strong>released a 2015 Unified Sea Level Rise Projection for Southeast Florida<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n In partnership with the City of Miami Beach<\/strong> and funded by the National Science Foundation<\/strong>, FIU and SLSC\u00a0have joined\u00a0the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network<\/a><\/strong>. The Network is comprised of multiple institutions and agencies across the US and Latin America, and links academics and practitioners to co-produce the framework and transition toward urban resilience.<\/p>\n Spring 2016<\/strong> saw a wealth of events, training opportunities for FIU students, and extensive press on sea level rise in South Florida.<\/p>\n TEDxFIU<\/a><\/strong> featured Todd Crowl<\/strong><\/a>, co-founder of the SLSC and inaugural Director of the Institute for Water and Environment<\/a><\/strong>. SLSC partnered with the City of Coral Gables<\/strong> on a Sea Level Rise Discussion Series<\/a> and Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> on a Sea Level Rise Solutions Conference.<\/p>\n With partners at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park<\/strong>, SLSC and its faculty experts developed, designed and analyzed climate-responsive solutions using a multi-dimensional, integrated social, ecological and engineering approach that was featured as a semester-long SLSC interdisciplinary studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year, we experienced a profound loss in the community of pioneers on sea level rise in South Florida, Pete Harlem<\/strong><\/a>. Pete used digital visualization of sea level rise to help communicate these issues and his maps were highly circulated. He is greatly missed.<\/p>\n This summer, SLSC\u2019s faculty and sea level rise research was featured in FIU Magazine<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n On June 1st<\/strong>, the SLSC moved into its new home at the Miami Beach Urban Studios<\/strong> <\/a>(MBUS) on Lincoln Road. This unique partnership will enable continued interdisciplinary activities and data-driven work on sea level solutions and further our partnerships in the Miami Beach community.<\/p>\n On June 16<\/strong>, FIU President Mark Rosenberg<\/strong><\/a> announced sea level rise and resilience among his top priorities as Chairman of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n The upcoming year promises exceptional opportunities for SLSC and for FIU alumni to engage. SLSC will continue to focus on interdisciplinary research, design and analyses to further its work on adaptation and mitigation solutions in South Florida. Please join us in fostering relationships within business and residential communities, academic institutions and government agencies to advance this goal.<\/p>\n On August 30<\/strong>, we will host a public SLR lecture to officially open SLSC doors at MBUS.<\/p>\n Join us on October 16<\/strong>\u00a0for SLSC’s inaugural Sea Level Solutions Day<\/strong>. Activities will include a sea level rise forum and opportunities to engage in citizen science.<\/p>\n Donate now<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to support the Sea Level Solutions Center.<\/p>\n
\nYear in Review<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nGet Involved!<\/strong><\/h3>\n