Scripps Coastal Forum
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| Scripps Coastal Forum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Scripps Coastal Forum |
| Established | 2015 |
| Location | La Jolla, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 32.867,-117.255 |
| Type | public lecture series and outreach center |
| Parent institution | Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
Scripps Coastal Forum The Scripps Coastal Forum is a public-facing program focused on coastal resilience, oceanography, and science communication linked to Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, and regional stakeholder communities. It convenes researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and civic organizations to address coastal hazards through interdisciplinary panels, workshops, and demonstration projects tied to San Diego County, California Coastal Commission, and national science agendas. The Forum situates local coastal challenges within broader contexts such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and international agreements like the Paris Agreement.
Overview
The Forum functions as a hub connecting Scripps Institution of Oceanography researchers with practitioners from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California Natural Resources Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State University system, and municipal bodies such as the City of San Diego. Programming emphasizes peer-reviewed science from outlets like Journal of Geophysical Research, Nature Climate Change, Science Advances, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences while engaging stakeholders including The Nature Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund, and regional utilities like San Diego Gas & Electric. The Forum's activities tie into broader initiatives such as Coastal Zone Management Act implementation, National Coastal Resilience Fund, and international efforts exemplified by UNESCO coastal programs.
History and Development
Conceived as an extension of outreach at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of California, San Diego, the Forum was established amid rising concern over sea level rise documented by researchers at IPCC, NOAA tide gauge records, and studies from U.S. Geological Survey. Early collaborations involved planners from the California Coastal Commission, scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and policy experts from Pew Charitable Trusts and Resources Legacy Fund. The Forum's timeline intersects with events such as the regional impacts of Hurricane Sandy discussions, federal policy debates in the United States Congress over coastal adaptation funding, and academic symposia modeled after gatherings at Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Programs and Events
Core activities include public lectures, technical workshops, scenario planning sessions, and interdisciplinary symposia featuring speakers from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and London School of Economics. Recurring topics address sea level rise projections from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, coastal erosion case studies from Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and adaptation strategies highlighted by California Coastal Resilience Network. Event partners have included San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, Port of San Diego, County of San Diego, and philanthropic funders like Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and Gates Foundation.
Research and Outreach
The Forum translates peer-reviewed findings by researchers affiliated with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, and NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory into actionable guidance for entities such as Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local tribal governments including Kumeyaay. Outreach extends to educators in the San Diego Unified School District, journalists at outlets like The San Diego Union-Tribune, National Geographic, and BBC News, and coastal engineers from firms partnered with American Society of Civil Engineers. Research themes link to modeling advances from Princeton University, University of Washington, University of Miami, and synthesis reports from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.
Facilities and Location
Based near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus in La Jolla, the Forum uses lecture halls and meeting spaces associated with institutions like University of California, San Diego and houses exhibits drawing on collections at the nearby Birch Aquarium. Its coastal setting provides field access to sites monitored by California Coastal Commission programs, Scripps Pier observatories, and regional monitoring networks run by Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Proximity to research vessels such as those from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and regional ports including the Port of San Diego facilitates demonstrations and sampling campaigns.
Partnerships and Funding
Partnerships span federal agencies (NOAA, U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation), state entities (California Ocean Science Trust, California Energy Commission), local governments (City of San Diego, County of San Diego), non-governmental organizations (The Nature Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Coastkeeper), academic partners (Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Southern California), and philanthropic supporters (Packard Foundation, Moore Foundation). Funding has come through competitive grants from National Science Foundation programs, cooperative agreements with NOAA Office for Coastal Management, and private philanthropy tied to foundations like James Irvine Foundation and corporate partners engaged in resilience planning. Collaborative projects align with initiatives such as Resilient by Design and grant competitions coordinated by Federal Emergency Management Agency.