{"id":1218,"date":"2023-04-06T17:36:17","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T21:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/?post_type=imstory&#038;p=1218"},"modified":"2025-06-10T16:42:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T20:42:54","slug":"exploring-the-environment-to-protect-our-coasts","status":"publish","type":"imstory","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/exploring-the-environment-to-protect-our-coasts\/","title":{"rendered":"Urban Coast Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-mu-hero is-style-smaller-top-text has-narrative\" style=\"\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2800\" height=\"1325\" src=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6.jpg 2800w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-300x142.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-1024x485.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-768x363.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-1536x727.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-2048x969.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-1120x530.jpg 1120w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-560x265.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-280x133.jpg 280w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-320x151.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-640x303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-1400x663.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/20-except-site-image-6-360x170.jpg 360w\" class=\"wp-image-119\" alt=\"Superstorm Sandy wreckage\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"hero-title title page-title\">Urban Coast Institute<\/h1>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-text \"><h2 class=\"top-text hero\">Exploring the Environment to Protect Our Coasts<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-buttons\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-narrative\"><p class=\"bottom-text\"><em>Making a plan to rebuild a resilient New Jersey coast in the wake of Superstorm Sandy by safeguarding our natural resources.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"brackets\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"brackets-upper\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"brackets-lower\"><\/div>\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \n\n<nav class=\"breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/\" class=\"home\"  >Home<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/\" class=\"\"  aria-current=\"page\"  >Exceptional Hawks<\/a><\/nav>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-and-navigator is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group navigator is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><nav class=\"supernav root\"  aria-label=\"Primary Menu - Home\"><div class=\"supernav-current\" data-menuguid=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/mu\/v1\/menu\/menu-1\"><h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/\" data-menuid=\"0\"  class=\"home parent\"   ><span>Home<\/span><\/a><\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/\" data-menuid=\"1224\"  class=\"child\"   ><span>Exceptional Hawks<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group content-top is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-urban-coast-institute-charts-a-course-forward\">The Urban Coast Institute Charts a Course Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>On the morning of October 30, 2012, residents of the Jersey Shore woke to sand-laden streets, downed power lines and bridges, scattered boats, and persistent floodwaters. The lucky ones were only left without power\u2014many for more than a week\u2014but with their homes dry and intact. The less fortunate scrambled to find a safe haven after suffering total property loss, while others desperate for basic medical care sought refuge in local emergency shelters\u2014including the one at the OceanFirst Bank Center on the Monmouth University campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Superstorm Sandy accelerated toward the Eastern seaboard with winds stretching for more than a thousand miles before making landfall just south of Atlantic City, it left more than 130 dead and damage estimates topping $70 billion in its wake. The coastline was ravaged, and the ecosystem was turned upside down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Less than two months later, Monmouth University hosted the conference, \u201cRebuilding a Resilient New Jersey Shore.\u201d Sponsored by New Jersey Future, the Monmouth University Kislak Real Estate Institute, and the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI), the event marshaled the opinions of professors, planners, scientists, architects, government officials, and others to learn how communities can cope with the decade-long recovery effort, and how to better prepare for the inevitable next storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile is-style-bracket\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"559\" height=\"280\" src=\"http:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_students-prepare-for-sandy-debris-removal.jpg\" alt=\"Man using a laptop to control a Remote Operated Underwater Vehicle\" class=\"wp-image-150 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_students-prepare-for-sandy-debris-removal.jpg 559w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_students-prepare-for-sandy-debris-removal-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_students-prepare-for-sandy-debris-removal-280x140.jpg 280w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_students-prepare-for-sandy-debris-removal-320x160.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_students-prepare-for-sandy-debris-removal-360x180.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>UCI students practiced using Remote Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs) in the pool for a few months, and then took them to Sandy Hook and the Raritan Bay to help clean debris left by Superstorm Sandy, including marine debris like lost lobster pots and crab traps.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are events where we vividly recall in our lives where we were and what we were doing. This was one of those times,\u201d said Peter Reinhart, director of the Kislak Real Estate Institute and chairman of the Board of New Jersey Future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UCI Director Tony MacDonald emphasized the urgent need for a stronger community that day. \u201cIt\u2019s about building better, not just rebuilding,\u201d MacDonald said, adding that the push for a multi-agency response from both the private and public sectors is imperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His passion as a protector of the environment and his proactive approach to accomplishing his goals have not waned since then.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile is-style-bracket\" style=\"grid-template-columns:33% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"279\" height=\"279\" style=\"object-position: 48.58% 36.95%\" src=\"http:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_chris-wojcik.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-149 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_chris-wojcik.jpg 279w, https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/795\/2020\/04\/07_chris-wojcik-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 279px) 100vw, 279px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chris-wojcik\">Chris Wojcik<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><strong>B.S. in Biology, \u201991<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>President\/Creative Director of Animal Exhibits and Design<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I look back at my time at Monmouth, I fondly remember it for all of the lifelong friends that I made, the perspectives that I gained, and, of course, for the outstanding science education that was imparted to me by my professors. I feel as though I left Monmouth on a rock solid footing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2005, the UCI has been a staunch supporter of the public interest, serving as a forum for research, education, and collaboration in the development and implementation of science-based policies and programs. The UCI supports the stewardship of healthy, productive, and resilient coastal ecosystems and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UCI, a Center of Distinction, builds on the University\u2019s growing strengths in environmental science, business, economics, and public policy, and collaborates with the faculty and students of all disciplines on projects that relate to its mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On an already densely populated coastline, development continues to grow in New Jersey. Although this development is beneficial to the economy, it also places significant strains on already stressed coastal ecosystems and places an increasing number of people at risk from coastal hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UCI seeks to balance these demands by educating the public about how better to initiate and steward policy change to ensure natural resources are protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAll the communities are facing big questions and challenges about how we retain everything we love about the Jersey Shore, but also make sure that we\u2019re planning for the future,\u201d said MacDonald.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe can take some of the studies concerning the health of the Barnegat Bay, or the New York Harbor Estuary Program, and we can sit down with the communities, and say, \u2018What can they do differently at the local level that can have a positive influence on their environment?\u2019\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an effort to broaden its scope and carve out significant change in environmental policy and sustainability, the UCI exceeded a $5 million challenge grant in 2014 to support a new marine science and policy initiative. The challenge grant, which was the first of its kind for the UCI and one of the largest for the University, has since funded infrastructure improvements that positioned Monmouth\u2019s marine programs and the UCI to flourish in the future. The grant has also funded new faculty positions, several scholarships and innovative student research projects each year, and a research partnership with The Rockefeller University on topics including ocean exploration, marine environmental DNA and the impacts of noise in the ocean<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have to invest in the coast,\u201d said MacDonald, who added that the UCI\u2019s top priority is coastal and ocean policy and management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UCI also received over $2 million in grant funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to continue its work over two years to engage ocean stakeholders in the region in the development of the <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.midatlanticocean.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Portal provides state-of-the-art mapping and visualization tools to better understand the ocean, reduce potential conflicts, and support regional ocean planning in collaboration with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) and the Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The UCI continues to stay on the cutting edge with three research vessels, including the 49-foot <em>R\/V Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe, <\/em>and sophisticated sonar and hydrographic mapping equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With these tools available, MacDonald stresses the importance of education: \u201cSince we\u2019re a mile from the shore, it is a great place to study marine science and to study the real environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jim Nickels, marine scientist for the UCI, teaches courses in maritime archaeology and marine science field methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe students are not only learning about marine biology, but they\u2019re actually learning how to study in the field, which is fantastic,\u201d said MacDonald.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead at the next 10 years, MacDonald said, \u201cFlooding is a huge issue, has always been in New Jersey. That gets worse as you increase impervious surface, and increase development upland in the watershed. How much development can we sustain, and also sustain the environment? We have some big challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI do think you see a change in the next generation to think about how to live sustainably on an individual basis, how to live sustainably in their community, and at Monmouth we increasingly are asking students to have a global perspective. How are we going to have a sustainable world in the future?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Video: Vintage Submerged Locomotives off Long Branch, NJ\" loading=\"lazy\"  style='width: 500px; height: 281px;' src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NGkLARAvv8U?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0&#038;rel=0\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">UCI and Department of History and Anthropology professors and students use Monmouth research vessels and a remotely operated vehicle to examine shipwrecks along the shore and work with local collections of shipwreck artifacts. Students also read about and discuss famous shipwrecks and what they can tell us about history and culture.<br><br>This video contains footage the students took of the wreck of two 1800s locomotives discovered off the coast of Long Branch \u2013 just six miles from our campus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Video: Jersey Matters Urban Coast Institute\" loading=\"lazy\"  style='width: 500px; height: 281px;' src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h7MWvoI7GJA?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0&#038;rel=0\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Urban Coast Institute works hard to engage communities to protect the coastal habitats while creating a sustainable economy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recognized as a regional leader in the areas of marine research, coastal policy and community resilience, the UCI <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/tag-team\/\">provides students and faculty researchers<\/a> access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/magazine\/meet-the-fleet\/\">a fleet of three research vessels<\/a> and a collection of cutting-edge marine science technologies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":387,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":[],"tags":[],"story-type":[7],"class_list":["post-1218","imstory","type-imstory","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","story-type-opportunity"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/imstory\/1218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/imstory"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/imstory"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1218"},{"taxonomy":"story-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/exceptional-hawks\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story-type?post=1218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}