as a kid growing up in Canada one of my dreams was always to move to Florida I
dreams was always to move to Florida I
dreams was always to move to Florida I thought that would be the coolest thing
thought that would be the coolest thing
thought that would be the coolest thing in the world so as an adult I’ve
in the world so as an adult I’ve
in the world so as an adult I’ve actually managed to do that but in the
actually managed to do that but in the
actually managed to do that but in the way along the way I also learned that
way along the way I also learned that
way along the way I also learned that apparently a lot of other people have
apparently a lot of other people have
apparently a lot of other people have that same idea and apparently about
that same idea and apparently about
that same idea and apparently about 1,000 people moved to Florida every day
1,000 people moved to Florida every day
1,000 people moved to Florida every day we now have almost 22 million residents
we now have almost 22 million residents
we now have almost 22 million residents and we are the third largest state in
and we are the third largest state in
and we are the third largest state in the country it’s double the population
the country it’s double the population
the country it’s double the population we had in 1980 as you can see from this
we had in 1980 as you can see from this
we had in 1980 as you can see from this we tend to have a predilection to living
we tend to have a predilection to living
we tend to have a predilection to living in certain parts of the state
in certain parts of the state
in certain parts of the state most Floridians would consider
most Floridians would consider
most Floridians would consider themselves to be coastal residents and
themselves to be coastal residents and
themselves to be coastal residents and in fact 16 million of us live in coastal
in fact 16 million of us live in coastal
in fact 16 million of us live in coastal counties that are only a few feet above
counties that are only a few feet above
counties that are only a few feet above sea level now having said that given
sea level now having said that given
sea level now having said that given where we are I would also argue that
where we are I would also argue that
where we are I would also argue that folks who live in the interior of the
folks who live in the interior of the
folks who live in the interior of the state are also coastal citizens coastal
state are also coastal citizens coastal
state are also coastal citizens coastal doesn’t just mean the outline of the
doesn’t just mean the outline of the
doesn’t just mean the outline of the state if you think of when a
state if you think of when a
state if you think of when a meteorologist is giving the tract of an
meteorologist is giving the tract of an
meteorologist is giving the tract of an incoming hurricane that line in no way
incoming hurricane that line in no way
incoming hurricane that line in no way covers the area of impact of that storm
covers the area of impact of that storm
covers the area of impact of that storm coastal includes everything as far
coastal includes everything as far
coastal includes everything as far inland as the marine environment
inland as the marine environment
inland as the marine environment influences and offshore as far as the
influences and offshore as far as the
influences and offshore as far as the terrestrial environment influences and
terrestrial environment influences and
terrestrial environment influences and this equates to about a hundred miles
this equates to about a hundred miles
this equates to about a hundred miles inland would include our random think of
inland would include our random think of
inland would include our random think of our afternoon sea breeze collision
our afternoon sea breeze collision
our afternoon sea breeze collision thunderstorms that’s of marine origin so
thunderstorms that’s of marine origin so
thunderstorms that’s of marine origin so if all of Florida is coastal and all
if all of Florida is coastal and all
if all of Florida is coastal and all Floridians are coastal citizens we
Floridians are coastal citizens we
Floridians are coastal citizens we should all be concerned about coastal
should all be concerned about coastal
should all be concerned about coastal issues because in some way or another
issues because in some way or another
issues because in some way or another we’re contributing to those problems in
we’re contributing to those problems in
we’re contributing to those problems in the summer of 2016 there was a major
the summer of 2016 there was a major
the summer of 2016 there was a major toxic algal bloom in South Florida there
toxic algal bloom in South Florida there
toxic algal bloom in South Florida there was a lot of political debate there was
was a lot of political debate there was
was a lot of political debate there was finger-pointing numerous headlines
finger-pointing numerous headlines
finger-pointing numerous headlines people were concerned about their health
people were concerned about their health
people were concerned about their health tourism was decimated people’s lives
tourism was decimated people’s lives
tourism was decimated people’s lives were turned upside down
were turned upside down
were turned upside down we’re scared now as a biologist I might
we’re scared now as a biologist I might
we’re scared now as a biologist I might describe this a little differently so
describe this a little differently so
describe this a little differently so bear with me from him while I try and
bear with me from him while I try and
bear with me from him while I try and illustrate a point because a biologist
illustrate a point because a biologist
illustrate a point because a biologist might define this whole scenario
might define this whole scenario
might define this whole scenario somewhat differently than you saw in the
somewhat differently than you saw in the
somewhat differently than you saw in the media now as a biologist I would say
media now as a biologist I would say
media now as a biologist I would say that South Florida had a massive bloom
that South Florida had a massive bloom
that South Florida had a massive bloom of microscopic cyanobacteria also known
of microscopic cyanobacteria also known
of microscopic cyanobacteria also known as blue-green algae which is actually a
as blue-green algae which is actually a
as blue-green algae which is actually a member of a phylum of bacteria which has
member of a phylum of bacteria which has
member of a phylum of bacteria which has a 3.5 billion year old fossil record
a 3.5 billion year old fossil record
a 3.5 billion year old fossil record these microorganisms are also known to
these microorganisms are also known to
these microorganisms are also known to produce a variety of toxins including
produce a variety of toxins including
produce a variety of toxins including neurotoxins and hepatotoxic the
neurotoxins and hepatotoxic the
neurotoxins and hepatotoxic the ingestion or inhalation of even small
ingestion or inhalation of even small
ingestion or inhalation of even small quantities of this can result in
quantities of this can result in
quantities of this can result in asthmatic reactions allergic reactions
asthmatic reactions allergic reactions
asthmatic reactions allergic reactions intestinal distress it can result in
intestinal distress it can result in
intestinal distress it can result in larger volumes in neurological problems
larger volumes in neurological problems
larger volumes in neurological problems or complete a patek failure if the
or complete a patek failure if the
or complete a patek failure if the balloon goes on for very long it can
balloon goes on for very long it can
balloon goes on for very long it can result in massive fish die-offs further
result in massive fish die-offs further
result in massive fish die-offs further damaging the ecosystem and exacerbating
damaging the ecosystem and exacerbating
damaging the ecosystem and exacerbating the social and economic impacts on that
the social and economic impacts on that
the social and economic impacts on that community enough biology professors
community enough biology professors
community enough biology professors speak we get back to English for a while
speak we get back to English for a while
speak we get back to English for a while the point is that it’s very important
the point is that it’s very important
the point is that it’s very important for us to speak clearly and correctly
for us to speak clearly and correctly
for us to speak clearly and correctly but it’s also important to be understood
but it’s also important to be understood
but it’s also important to be understood everything I just told you is
everything I just told you is
everything I just told you is biologically correct but it may not have
biologically correct but it may not have
biologically correct but it may not have been understandable or maybe not even
been understandable or maybe not even
been understandable or maybe not even relevant academics tend to use a lot of
relevant academics tend to use a lot of
relevant academics tend to use a lot of jargon if we’re gonna deal with coastal
jargon if we’re gonna deal with coastal
jargon if we’re gonna deal with coastal issues we have to speak understandably
issues we have to speak understandably
issues we have to speak understandably so one of the sorts of issues were
so one of the sorts of issues were
so one of the sorts of issues were dealing with we hear about new and
dealing with we hear about new and
dealing with we hear about new and emerging threats to our environment and
emerging threats to our environment and
emerging threats to our environment and our way of life every day we hear about
our way of life every day we hear about
our way of life every day we hear about coastal storm surge coastal erosion we
coastal storm surge coastal erosion we
coastal storm surge coastal erosion we hear about toxic algal blooms which are
hear about toxic algal blooms which are
hear about toxic algal blooms which are different from cyanobacteria blooms we
different from cyanobacteria blooms we
different from cyanobacteria blooms we hear about invasive invasive animals we
hear about invasive invasive animals we
hear about invasive invasive animals we we hear about emerging disease issues
we hear about emerging disease issues
we hear about emerging disease issues like Zika and on and on and on
like Zika and on and on and on
like Zika and on and on and on South Florida routinely experiences
South Florida routinely experiences
South Florida routinely experiences nuisance flooding every afternoon this
nuisance flooding every afternoon this
nuisance flooding every afternoon this disrupts people’s lives through road
disrupts people’s lives through road
disrupts people’s lives through road closures through overwhelm storm drains
closures through overwhelm storm drains
closures through overwhelm storm drains and compromised infrastructure these
and compromised infrastructure these
and compromised infrastructure these floods aren’t even related to true
floods aren’t even related to true
floods aren’t even related to true storms these happen on the high tide
storms these happen on the high tide
storms these happen on the high tide simply as a result of land subsidence
simply as a result of land subsidence
simply as a result of land subsidence sea level rise and perhaps a removal of
sea level rise and perhaps a removal of
sea level rise and perhaps a removal of natural barriers not so long ago
natural barriers not so long ago
natural barriers not so long ago Florida’s coastline looked quite
Florida’s coastline looked quite
Florida’s coastline looked quite different than it does today and it
different than it does today and it
different than it does today and it could look different again in the future
could look different again in the future
could look different again in the future so how are we going to deal with these
so how are we going to deal with these
so how are we going to deal with these threats some people would suggest that
threats some people would suggest that
threats some people would suggest that even these complex problems have
even these complex problems have
even these complex problems have relatively simple solutions
relatively simple solutions
relatively simple solutions unfortunately I doubt if that’s going to
unfortunately I doubt if that’s going to
unfortunately I doubt if that’s going to be true our challenge is going to be to
be true our challenge is going to be to
be true our challenge is going to be to be able to develop approaches that don’t
be able to develop approaches that don’t
be able to develop approaches that don’t strain our ability to implement them
strain our ability to implement them
strain our ability to implement them that engage stakeholders and ultimately
that engage stakeholders and ultimately
that engage stakeholders and ultimately result in safe coastal systems some
result in safe coastal systems some
result in safe coastal systems some would suggest technology will find the
would suggest technology will find the
would suggest technology will find the solutions that may well be true but it’s
solutions that may well be true but it’s
solutions that may well be true but it’s not going to be the whole solution this
not going to be the whole solution this
not going to be the whole solution this is going to require a team approach
is going to require a team approach
is going to require a team approach interdisciplinary teams are pretty
interdisciplinary teams are pretty
interdisciplinary teams are pretty common in the business world but sadly
common in the business world but sadly
common in the business world but sadly they’re they’re actually quite rare in
they’re they’re actually quite rare in
they’re they’re actually quite rare in academia universities are a tremendous
academia universities are a tremendous
academia universities are a tremendous source of intellectual power
source of intellectual power
source of intellectual power historically faculty and students are
historically faculty and students are
historically faculty and students are organized into departments academic
organized into departments academic
organized into departments academic silos this silo mentality really doesn’t
silos this silo mentality really doesn’t
silos this silo mentality really doesn’t encourage cross discipline interactions
encourage cross discipline interactions
encourage cross discipline interactions it’s not going to be very effective so
it’s not going to be very effective so
it’s not going to be very effective so we need to tear down the silos and have
we need to tear down the silos and have
we need to tear down the silos and have people of different disciplines working
people of different disciplines working
people of different disciplines working in close proximity to one another
in close proximity to one another
in close proximity to one another interdisciplinary also needs to mean
interdisciplinary also needs to mean
interdisciplinary also needs to mean more than just stem we can’t solve these
more than just stem we can’t solve these
more than just stem we can’t solve these problems with just biologists and
problems with just biologists and
problems with just biologists and chemists and engineers we need to
chemists and engineers we need to
chemists and engineers we need to include the social sciences as well
include the social sciences as well
include the social sciences as well that’s been lacking in the past so how
that’s been lacking in the past so how
that’s been lacking in the past so how do we move forward first and this may
do we move forward first and this may
do we move forward first and this may seem like a pretty simple one we have to
seem like a pretty simple one we have to
seem like a pretty simple one we have to have people working in a common work
have people working in a common work
have people working in a common work environment bumping into a colleague as
environment bumping into a colleague as
environment bumping into a colleague as you walk across campus it’s not adequate
you walk across campus it’s not adequate
you walk across campus it’s not adequate second we have to share a common
second we have to share a common
second we have to share a common language I said earlier academics tend
language I said earlier academics tend
language I said earlier academics tend to use jargon the unfortunate thing is
to use jargon the unfortunate thing is
to use jargon the unfortunate thing is sometimes a word has a different meaning
sometimes a word has a different meaning
sometimes a word has a different meaning in different disciplines so here’s our
in different disciplines so here’s our
in different disciplines so here’s our there’s a little X action you can try
there’s a little X action you can try
there’s a little X action you can try define the term health most people here
define the term health most people here
define the term health most people here would probably use a definition like the
would probably use a definition like the
would probably use a definition like the World Health Organization does where
World Health Organization does where
World Health Organization does where it’s a state of complete physical mental
it’s a state of complete physical mental
it’s a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely a
and social well-being and not merely a
and social well-being and not merely a lack of disease
lack of disease
lack of disease or of infirmity so this means it could
or of infirmity so this means it could
or of infirmity so this means it could be mental health or physical health it
be mental health or physical health it
be mental health or physical health it could also be social health now a
could also be social health now a
could also be social health now a sociologist may say that social health
sociologist may say that social health
sociologist may say that social health is the ability to form lasting
is the ability to form lasting
is the ability to form lasting interpersonal relationships an economist
interpersonal relationships an economist
interpersonal relationships an economist could walk in the room and say well you
could walk in the room and say well you
could walk in the room and say well you know a healthy economy is one with
know a healthy economy is one with
know a healthy economy is one with growth high employment stable prices I’m
growth high employment stable prices I’m
growth high employment stable prices I’m a biologist I’m going to look at a
a biologist I’m going to look at a
a biologist I’m going to look at a population and say look at basically use
population and say look at basically use
population and say look at basically use these kinds of definitions to apply to
these kinds of definitions to apply to
these kinds of definitions to apply to individual animals or perhaps a
individual animals or perhaps a
individual animals or perhaps a population or I might extend it further
population or I might extend it further
population or I might extend it further and look at an ecosystem and see how
and look at an ecosystem and see how
and look at an ecosystem and see how different species are interacting so
different species are interacting so
different species are interacting so which is it ultimately it’s got to be
which is it ultimately it’s got to be
which is it ultimately it’s got to be all those things because they all
all those things because they all
all those things because they all interrelate let me show you a little
interrelate let me show you a little
interrelate let me show you a little story I’m going to scale this down from
story I’m going to scale this down from
story I’m going to scale this down from a whole state issue or coastal issue
a whole state issue or coastal issue
a whole state issue or coastal issue globally down to a smaller scale before
globally down to a smaller scale before
globally down to a smaller scale before I came to UCF that was a professor at
I came to UCF that was a professor at
I came to UCF that was a professor at Texas A&M University and it was also the
Texas A&M University and it was also the
Texas A&M University and it was also the volunteer director of the marine mammal
volunteer director of the marine mammal
volunteer director of the marine mammal stranding Network these volunteer
stranding Network these volunteer
stranding Network these volunteer networks are found in every coastal
networks are found in every coastal
networks are found in every coastal state and their role is to try and
state and their role is to try and
state and their role is to try and assess the cause of death in an animal
assess the cause of death in an animal
assess the cause of death in an animal that comes ashore dead or to aid in the
that comes ashore dead or to aid in the
that comes ashore dead or to aid in the care of an animal that comes ashore
care of an animal that comes ashore
care of an animal that comes ashore alive
alive
alive the Texas network is one of the busiest
the Texas network is one of the busiest
the Texas network is one of the busiest in the country they can respond to over
in the country they can respond to over
in the country they can respond to over 300 dolphins a year most of them dead
300 dolphins a year most of them dead
300 dolphins a year most of them dead but not all some of them are alive and
but not all some of them are alive and
but not all some of them are alive and in the process of doing this what I
in the process of doing this what I
in the process of doing this what I suddenly realized if I didn’t think
suddenly realized if I didn’t think
suddenly realized if I didn’t think about it at the time as much is that
about it at the time as much is that
about it at the time as much is that this is an incredibly interdisciplinary
this is an incredibly interdisciplinary
this is an incredibly interdisciplinary faction you’re dealing with lots of
faction you’re dealing with lots of
faction you’re dealing with lots of people of varying disciplines and
people of varying disciplines and
people of varying disciplines and backgrounds from the engaged citizens on
backgrounds from the engaged citizens on
backgrounds from the engaged citizens on the beach who report the stranding and
the beach who report the stranding and
the beach who report the stranding and may give initial first aid they help in
may give initial first aid they help in
may give initial first aid they help in transport through the initial treatment
transport through the initial treatment
transport through the initial treatment and assessment of the animal through the
and assessment of the animal through the
and assessment of the animal through the long term rehabilitation process and
long term rehabilitation process and
long term rehabilitation process and hopefully eventually the release of the
hopefully eventually the release of the
hopefully eventually the release of the animal back to the wild you have people
animal back to the wild you have people
animal back to the wild you have people who are laypeople who have never even
who are laypeople who have never even
who are laypeople who have never even seen a dolphin – University faculty and
seen a dolphin – University faculty and
seen a dolphin – University faculty and students federal and state agencies
students federal and state agencies
students federal and state agencies veterinarians food suppliers news media
veterinarians food suppliers news media
veterinarians food suppliers news media celebrities you have everybody involved
celebrities you have everybody involved
celebrities you have everybody involved in these things and the key thing is all
in these things and the key thing is all
in these things and the key thing is all of them have a common goal that’s very
of them have a common goal that’s very
of them have a common goal that’s very clear to rescue the animal but it’s very
clear to rescue the animal but it’s very
clear to rescue the animal but it’s very quick to you very quickly realize that
quick to you very quickly realize that
quick to you very quickly realize that also need a common language because a
also need a common language because a
also need a common language because a misunderstanding can literally be the
misunderstanding can literally be the
misunderstanding can literally be the difference between life or death get a
difference between life or death get a
difference between life or death get a scale it back up very few of the issues
scale it back up very few of the issues
scale it back up very few of the issues that we face in terms of coastal systems
that we face in terms of coastal systems
that we face in terms of coastal systems are going to have simple solutions sadly
are going to have simple solutions sadly
are going to have simple solutions sadly we are more than likely going to see
we are more than likely going to see
we are more than likely going to see repeats of the devastating events of
repeats of the devastating events of
repeats of the devastating events of this number of 2016 or something similar
this number of 2016 or something similar
this number of 2016 or something similar to it
to it
to it people are still going to push for the
people are still going to push for the
people are still going to push for the simple fix but ultimately if we’re going
simple fix but ultimately if we’re going
simple fix but ultimately if we’re going to move forward we need to fully
to move forward we need to fully
to move forward we need to fully integrate science and societal needs we
integrate science and societal needs we
integrate science and societal needs we need to break down the silos we need to
need to break down the silos we need to
need to break down the silos we need to have biologists chemists and engineers
have biologists chemists and engineers
have biologists chemists and engineers working side by side with
working side by side with
working side by side with anthropologists sociologists economists
anthropologists sociologists economists
anthropologists sociologists economists planners policy people we need to fully
planners policy people we need to fully
planners policy people we need to fully engage all the users all the
engage all the users all the
engage all the users all the stakeholders communities government and
stakeholders communities government and
stakeholders communities government and industry we need to recognize the
industry we need to recognize the
industry we need to recognize the linkage between the economic security of
linkage between the economic security of
linkage between the economic security of coastal communities and the ecological
coastal communities and the ecological
coastal communities and the ecological security of coastal ecosystems we have
security of coastal ecosystems we have
security of coastal ecosystems we have to rethink the whole coastal region and
to rethink the whole coastal region and
to rethink the whole coastal region and think of it as an integrated social
think of it as an integrated social
think of it as an integrated social economic and ecological system only then
economic and ecological system only then
economic and ecological system only then can we really start to assess policy
can we really start to assess policy
can we really start to assess policy development and planning an
development and planning an
development and planning an environmental stewardship I’ve put
environmental stewardship I’ve put
environmental stewardship I’ve put together that team I’ve got a team at
together that team I’ve got a team at
together that team I’ve got a team at UCF of faculty covering all those
UCF of faculty covering all those
UCF of faculty covering all those disciplines and more in fact from 12
disciplines and more in fact from 12
disciplines and more in fact from 12 different departments in seven colleges
different departments in seven colleges
different departments in seven colleges and we’re tackling the issues of coastal
and we’re tackling the issues of coastal
and we’re tackling the issues of coastal sustainability the health of coastal
sustainability the health of coastal
sustainability the health of coastal ecosystems and ultimately the survival
ecosystems and ultimately the survival
ecosystems and ultimately the survival of coastal communities how we deal with
of coastal communities how we deal with
of coastal communities how we deal with this in 50 years will be radically
this in 50 years will be radically
this in 50 years will be radically different than we do today no question
different than we do today no question
different than we do today no question technology’s going to play a role but in
technology’s going to play a role but in
technology’s going to play a role but in the end it’s going to boil down to teams
the end it’s going to boil down to teams
the end it’s going to boil down to teams of interdisciplinary focused people
of interdisciplinary focused people
of interdisciplinary focused people dealing with issues and speaking a
dealing with issues and speaking a
dealing with issues and speaking a common language thank you
common language thank you
common language thank you you
”
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