FIU sea level rise experts visit White House


From left to right: Evelyn Gaiser, John Holdren, and Xavier Cortada.

From left to right: Evelyn Gaiser, John Holdren, and Xavier Cortada.

The Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom this week in Washington, D.C. as FIU’s researchers briefed the White House and Congress on the emerging threat of Sea Level Rise  and administration alumni welcomed Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Jean Monestime to the city.

Sea Level Rise Briefings at White House 

In advance of President Barack Obama’s visit to the Everglades this week, FIU’s leading environmental researchers met with White House officials to advocate for greater interagency coordination with South Florida research and adaptation partners on the emerging threat of rising tides.

Todd Crowl, FIU’s Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) director, and Evelyn Gaiser, School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) interim executive director, were joined by Henry Artigues of the Division of Research as they met with Presidential advisers, including from the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Science Technology Policy.

“South Florida is ‘ground zero,’ and we’re in it for the long-haul,” Gaiser said. We stand ready to leverage our research strengths and existing federal partnerships to collaborate with local adaptation partners as we face the linked challenges of sea level rise, and water flow in the Everglades.”

Predictions for sea level rise FIU at 150 from the “Eyes on the Rise” Program

Sea Level Rise Modeling using Eyes on the Rise Program: FIU at 150.

FIU, through our newly formed cross-disciplinary Sea Level Solutions Center is advancing the science that underlies sea level rise, water resources and resiliency, while partnering with Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Beach on adaptation planning. One tool, recently launched by the School of Journalism’s award winning program, Eyes on the Rise,  allows users to model various sea levels for any point on a map.

Other meetings included visits with senior staff from the Departments of Interior, Energy, Defense and the National Academy of Sciences. Members of the South Florida Congressional delegation were also briefed.

Cortada presenting his research to White House personnel.

Cortada presenting his research to White House personnel.

Art and Science collide

Gaiser and FIU’s College of Architecture + The Arts  artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada also met with The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy and its director, John Holdren on the importance of art as a means to communicate science. Cortada is collaborating with Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research and FIU scientists in using the diatoms (from algae) they study to engage Miami Beach residents and elected officials in addressing sea level rise and showcased his this collaboration to White House staff.

 

Advancing agriculture education and workforce

Artigues, FIU’s Office of Research and Economic Development Operations and External Partnerships director, and Rita Teutonico, FIU SEAS executive associate director, met with Foreign Agricultural Service’s Ryan Bedford, an FIU alumnus.

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Teutonico, Bedford, Artigues, and Foreign Agricultural Service staff.

 

Ryan was briefed on the agriculture research ongoing at FIU and the Florida-Caribbean Consortium for Agriculture Education and Hispanic Workforce Development (FCCAgE) at FIU, a multi-institutional consortium in Florida and Puerto Rico for training Hispanic students in agricultural, biological and natural resources sciences for career placement in USDA and other federal agencies.

 

 

Chairman Monestime speaks on challenges and opportunities for Miami-Dade at the Department of Commerce.

Chairman Monestime speaks on challenges and opportunities for Miami-Dade at the Department of Commerce.

Miami-Dade County Chair Jean Monestime meets with key alumni 

A small group of administration appointees welcomed Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Jean Monestime’s meeting with a group of FIU alumni working in various federal agencies on April 15 to discuss priorities and opportunities with the federal government. An FIU alumnus himself, Monestime emphasized the importance of education access, and other themes such as international trade and the agriculture sector for the County were also highlighted.

 

 

From left to right: Phillip Drujak, Miami-Dade County Federal Affairs Coordinator; Pamela Pamelá, FIU Federal Relations Intern; Thamar Harrigan, Haitian Embassy Special Adviser to the Office of the Ambassador; Karen Andre, Department of Housing and Development White House Liaison; Commissioner Monestime; Willy Ramos, Department of Commerce Director of Intergovernmental Affairs; Frederick Pfaeffle, Department of Agriculture Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; Tyrik McKeiver, Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary;  Joe Rasco, Miami-Dade County Intergovernmental Affairs Director; Carlos Becerra; FIU Federal Relations Director.

From left to right: Phillip Drujak, Miami-Dade County Federal Affairs Coordinator; Pamela Pamelá, FIU Federal Relations Intern; Thamar Harrigan, Haitian Embassy Special Adviser to the Office of the Ambassador; Karen Andre, Department of Housing and Development White House Liaison; Commissioner Monestime; Willy Ramos, Department of Commerce Director of Intergovernmental Affairs; Frederick Pfaeffle, Department of Agriculture Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; Tyrik McKeiver, Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary;  Joe Rasco, Miami-Dade County Intergovernmental Affairs Director; Carlos Becerra; FIU Federal Relations Director.

South Florida Congressman appointed to Budget Conference

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL 25th District) – member of the House Committee on the Budget and chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations – was appointed as a conferee to the bicameral budget conference.

Made up of eight appointed members from the House Budget Committee and all Senate Budget Committee members, the bicameral budget conference aims to negotiate the differences between the Republican budget resolutions passed by the House and Senate last month. If negotiators can agree on a conference report, it will be sent back to both chambers for passage. The Conference Committee is expected to get to work this week.

POTUS to celebrate Earth Day at Everglades

President Barack Obama has announced a visit to the Florida Everglades on Earth Day, taking place Wednesday, April 22. On a radio address April 18, Obama said the visit will highlight how global warming threatens the U.S. economy and how rising sea levels are putting the “economic engine for the South Florida tourism industry” at risk. FIU’s Evelyn Gaiser, School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) Interim Executive Director, will join the President on his visit.

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