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| BATON ROUGE – With images of last year’s devastating hurricanes in mind, LSU officials announced today the launch of the Coastal Systems and Society Initiative, a unique effort to further address the challenges facing populations living and working along the coast and near coastal river systems. “There are many research programs around the country that focus on coastal issues, but they typically focus on levees and jetties – more science and engineering feats,” said Brooks Keel, vice chancellor for research and economic development at LSU. “LSU’s Coastal Systems and Society Initiative will include those aspects, but have an all-encompassing focus to include a closer look at coastal communities, their social networks and their economies. We have an outstanding faculty with expansive expertise on a variety of issues facing residents in coastal communities.” In addition to the initiative’s more comprehensive approach, research will focus on issues facing coastal areas with major river delta systems, such as south Louisiana’s Mississippi River delta region. Many national coastal research programs do not examine the complexity of coastal deltaic systems, as opposed to the white sand beach systems of Florida, for instance. Sea level rise, climate change and hurricane frequency combined with the land subsidence typically faced by deltaic systems add to the already complicated fight to fortify and protect these fragile ecosystems. The initiative will ensure academic departments, as well as major research centers at LSU discover new ways to work on an evermore collaborative basis. The initiative will also better connect LSU researchers and scholars with government agencies and businesses that are charged with delivering services to the public and will focus on increasing investments in the university’s coastal research efforts, like the $3.5 million investment from Shell Oil Company announced last week. “LSU is committed to new and innovative ways for our faculty and staff to partner with business and industry – particularly for coastal protection and emergency preparedness,” said LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe. “We will move the knowledge and technologies our talented faculty create on this campus to industry and government to protect residents whose lives and livelihoods are tied to our coastal environment.” To lead the new Coastal Systems and Society Initiative, the university has appointed Robert Twilley, professor of oceanography and coastal sciences, as associate vice chancellor for research & economic development. Twilley is director of the Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute at LSU and conducts research focused on the processes of coastal ecosystems. He is providing input to a national panel chaired by O’Keefe that will evaluate and prioritize projects conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “Hurricane Katrina was a wake-up call for our state and nation. The storm showed us that years of neglect to our coastal landscape increased our vulnerability and reduced our security,” said Twilley. “Our plan will allow us to perform better before, during and after emergencies and proactively protect coastal communities on an ongoing basis. We will generate new ideas and knowledge that we can pass along to managers in government and industry.” “I’ve worked with Robert for many years on coastal issues. He has worked tirelessly to forge true partnerships between government and the academic community. This is a major step toward achieving the kind of real partnership that will make a difference as the state moves forward in its rebuilding process and tackles the future of coastal protection and restoration,” said Sidney Coffee, senior advisor on coastal issues to Gov. Kathleen Blanco and chair of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Twilley will also seek new ways to partner with researchers at other universities in the state. The impact of deltaic coastal systems research will be felt not only in Louisiana, but in places like Africa and Asia – two continents with large coastal populations near river outlets. India has the highest population density per mile of coast than any other country in the world. All the more of a reason for there to be a more connected effort to restore coastal areas and protect the communities living in them. “Since society’s problems are becoming so complex, we are reaching beyond our disciplines and campus to connect and work more effectively together,” said Twilley. “We are looking to build a smarter, more economically and environmentally sustainable Louisiana. We can then take the knowledge and experience we have gained and bring it to other communities across the globe.” For more information on LSU’s research efforts, visit www.research.lsu.edu. -30- |
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