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Ridge to Reef (R2R): Processes and Interdependent Drivers of Small Island Resilience Award No. OIA-1946412 VI-EPSCoR Site Visit 2023 SITE VISIT SEPTEMBER 27 – 29, 2023 Overview United States Virgin Islands • St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island • *Population of 87,146 - 48.6% males and 51.4% females of which 71.4 % are Black University of the Virgin Islands • Founded in 1962, HBCU, and Land Grant Institution • 99 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, six colleges and schools • Two Campuses: Orville E. Kean Campus - St. Thomas & Albert A. Sheen Campus - St. Croix • Student population 1,665 – 26% males and 74% females of which 67% are Black and 12% are Hispanic Latino 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview *2020 US Census Data RII Three Award No.OIA-1355437 Mare Nostrum Caribbean: Stewardshipthrough Strategic Research and WorkforceDevelopment (2014-2019) $20M RII Two Award No. OIA-0814417 Integrated Caribbean Coastal Ecosystems (2008- 2013) $11M RII One Award No. OIA-0346483 Biocomplexity of Caribbean Coral Reefs (2004-2008) $4.5M Integrated Caribbean Coastal Ecosystems Biocomplexity of Caribbean Coral Reefs Mare Nostrum Caribbean USVI TRACK 1 AWARD HISTORY RII Four Award No. OIA-1946412 Ridge to Reef: Processes and InterdependentDrivers of Small Island Resilience (2020-2025)$20M 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Outline of Project Overview and Summary 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Project Overview • Overview of Territory and UVI • History of NSF-EPSCoRsupport to the VI • What is R2R? Hypotheses, Goals, Mission, and Vision • Introduction of the VI-EPSCoRTeam • Organization Chart • Budget & Cost Share • Overview of research themes and supporting elements • Challenges • Terms and Conditions • Collaborations and Partnerships • Infrastructure Investments • Research Interdependencies Project Summary • Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merit • Sustainability • R2R Highlights • Post Doc Mentoring • Broadening Participation & Diversity Efforts Rationale and Strategy for our R2R Project • Importance of the Caribbean Sea and its associated coastal ecosystems. • USVI is a small island territory under threat from climate change and other hazards. • The future of VI’s social-ecological systems is in large part dependent on the local community to manage these resources. • Improving scientific skills and educational levels of the USVI workforce via STEM education will be the key to sustainability for the Territory. 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Hypothesis I USVI Marine ecosystem resilience Hypothesis II Decreasing ecosystem resilience Hypothesis III Species diversity and ecological restoration Hypothesis IV Community exposure to local resilience-themed activities R2R is Guided by 4 Hypotheses 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Research Areas Watershed Monitoring and Land Use Mangroves Ecosystem Function & Recovery and Mangrove Restoration Emerging Areas of Research Fish Ecology Oceanography Marine Disease and Resilience Coral Reef Resilience Education and Workforce Development 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Overarching Goals ➢Determining the impact of environmental inputs on coral reef resilience. ➢Mitigating the impacts of terrestrial pollutants in coastal and marine ecosystems. ➢Advancing the science of restoration in coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass habitats. ➢Developing culturally and place-based STEM curriculum for VI students. 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Vision and Mission of R2R The Vision of the R2R project is to improve our understanding of the drivers, processes interdependencies and consequences of ecological change stemming from natural and anthropogenic disruptions in Caribbean coastal and marine ecosystems. Our Mission is to advance science-informed knowledge that guides managers, researchers and communities to more effectively manage the VI’s natural resources while we adapt to the impacts of Climate Change 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Marine and Environmental Sciences Lead Researchers DR. RICK NEMETH, CO-PI, FISH ECOLOGY LEAD DR. TYLER SMITH, CO-PI, CORAL REEF RESILIENCE & OCEANOGRAPHY LEAD DR. MARILYN BRANDT, MARINE DISEASE & RESTORATION LEAD DR. PAUL JOBSIS, EMERGING AREAS: MOVEMENT ECOLOGY LEAD DR. KRISTIN WILSON GRIMES, MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION, RECOVERY & RESTORATION LEAD DAVID HENSLEY, WATERSHED TERRESTRIAL MONITORING & LAND USE LEAD DR. EDWIN CRUZ RIVERA, EMERGING AREAS, SEAGRASS, ECOLOGY LEAD DR. GREGORY GUANNEL, EMERGING AREAS: SHORELINE RESPONSE LEAD 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Education & Workforce Development Lead Researchers DR. NADIA MONROSE MILLS, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DR. MICHELE GUANNEL, UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION RESEARCH LEAD JARVON STOUT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST, ST. THOMAS / ST. JOHN DISTRICT DR. VERLEEN MCSWEEN- MISSOLE, MENTORING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DR. MOLLY PERRY, SOCIAL SCIENCE 100 LEAD KAI NIELSEN, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST, ST. CROIX DISTRICT JOSEPH SQUILLACE, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ST. CROIX 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Teacher Professional Development and Mentoring & Infrastructure Undergraduate Education Research Informal Learning Ridge To Reef Project Administration KELLY HARRIGAN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/PA KAISA PRENTICE , DIRECTOR OF BUDGET & PROJECT ADMINISTRATION ELISA BRYAN, COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST RESA BERKELEY, DATA SPECIALIST II RHONDA TONGE, RESEARCH GRANTS COORDINATOR TRACELYN OTTO, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT II JULENE DORSETT ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST I TRAVIS HAMLIN, DATA MANAGER 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Project Budget • Marine Resilience Research: $9,842,043 • Administration: $5,437,522 • Education & Workforce Development: $2,855,919 • Cyberinfrastructure & Data Management: $1,402,016 • Informal Learning: $462,500 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Cost Sharing Leveraged through in-kind and cash contributions from these sources: • The University of the Virgin Islands -$1.5M o Information Services & Institutional Assessment o Institutional Advancement • The USVI Legislature -$322K • Private businesses and foundations -$145K 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Watershed Monitoring & Land Use 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Mangrove Ecosystem Function, Recovery & Restoration 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Emerging Research Areas MOVEMENT ECOLOGY: Animal movement in a changing marine environment 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Emerging Research Areas SEAGRASS AND SARGASSUM ECOLOGY 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Emerging Research Areas SHORELINE RESPONSE 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Fish Ecology 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Oceanography 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Marine Disease And Restoration 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Coral Reef Resilience 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Teacher Professional Development & Mentoring And Research Infrastructure 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Undergraduate Education Research 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Informal Learning, Communication And Dissemination 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Challenges: • Slow pace of getting our infrastructure/ facilities operational • Hiring and Retention 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Terms and Conditions • Hires • Preparing students for the job market/ advanced education • Management plan • Collaboration plan 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Collaborations and Partnerships 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Collaborations and Partnerships 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Infrastructure Investments McLean Marine Science Center is nearly ready for occupancy CMES Annex, home to EAL is open and occupied – critical source of office space Cyberinfrastructure has $3.68M in new funding 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview 2023 SITE VISIT Kim Waddell – Project Overview Thank you! Dr. Kim Waddell EMAIL: kim.waddell@uvi.edu PHONE: 340-693-1628 2023 SITE VISIT