In May, the CEAR Hub organized a Partner Update and Roundtable at the Georgia Tech Savannah campus. This interactive session allowed our esteemed partners and collaborators to convene, discuss the most recent project progress, brainstorm ideas, and explore potential new collaboration avenues. The event brought together 50 representatives of community organizations, local governments, and educational institutions with the aim of enhancing the knowledge, tools, and strategies that contribute to the resilience of our communities.
Updates on environmental sensors and decision support tools were presented by Dr. Russ Clark from Georgia Tech, Dr. Emanuele DiLorenzo from Brown University, and Kait Morano from Georgia Tech. The CEAR Hub has initiated the deployment of advanced environmental sensors along the Georgia coast, incorporating sensor data into hydrodynamic models for flood prediction. Additionally, they are creating digital dashboards, web tools, and providing technical support to aid in resilience planning and decision-making.
Updates on community engagement and planning were shared by our partners Dawud Shabaka and Ofun Maja Egunjobi from The Harambee House/Citizens for Environmental Justice, along with Hanif Haynes from the Pin Point Betterment Association. Goals include implementing equitable and just climate resilience strategies, facilitating knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning, and building the capacity of community organizations and local government.
Lesa Hagins, Education Coordinator for the CEAR Hub, and Rachael Keaton Buskirk, Outreach Coordinator at the Savannah State University Department of Marine & Environmental Sciences, delivered updates on K-12 Education and Workforce Development. The objectives for the CEAR Hub's K-12 education and workforce development efforts involve preparing future climate leaders in coastal Georgia, creating creative K-12 educational programs and practical learning experiences, and offering workforce development in fields such as information technology, green industries, and other sectors linked to environmental justice and hazards.