From the Florida swamps to the halls of Washington, D.C.: FIU convenes Everglades restoration scientists and environmental policymakers

The sprawling swamps of the Florida Everglades are worlds apart from the marble halls and bustling corridors of Washington, D.C. Yet both serve as critical arenas for addressing some of the nation's most complex challenges.

While Florida’s wetlands battle rising sea levels and encroaching saltwater intrusion that threatens the drinking water supply for over 13 million people, Washington, D.C., remains a pivotal stage for shaping the policies and innovations critical to the Sunshine State's survival.

This connection came to life recently at a special expert panel hosted by FIU, at its center on Capitol Hill, on emerging coastal conservation and restoration technologies. Coinciding with the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force meeting held at the U.S. Department of the Interior, the FIU event highlighted the synergy between science, policy and innovation in advancing Everglades restoration efforts.

The task force meeting convenes tribal, federal, state and local agencies and public universities to coordinate restoration projects from the Kissimmee River Basin north of Lake Okeechobee to the Florida Bay at the state's southern tip.

The FIU panel, hosted in partnership with the Everglades Foundation, brought together scientists, environmental advocates, policymakers, nonprofit organizations and other universities to explore how artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming the restoration of the Everglades, a project that can serve as a model for coastal communities around the world.

Led by Todd Crowl, director of FIU's Institute of Environment, the panel highlighted cutting-edge technological approaches to protecting the Everglades. Experts from institutions such as the U.S. Geological Survey, Everglades Foundation and Texas A&M University shared insights on how AI and robotic tools identify invasive species, monitor water quality and inform adaptive management practices.

FIU's own innovations in AI and robotics for environmental restoration are revolutionizing invasive species management practices by analyzing patterns to pinpoint where populations of destructive organisms like Burmese pythons and invasive plants are most concentrated. Similarly, FIU's research buoys, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency, use automation to track water movement and quality across South Florida. The real-time data is is used by water managers in efforts to safeguard drinking water.

Attendees of the FIU program included representatives from the Florida Congressional delegation, leaders from the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Jacksonville District, all of whom are vital in advancing restoration efforts in partnership with FIU.

Eric Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation, underscored the crucial role of partnerships, advocacy and science-driven solutions in advancing Everglades restoration, emphasizing how cross-sector collaboration fosters innovation.

“Partnership is the cornerstone of Everglades restoration,” Eikenberg said. “The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was approved through the work of diverse partnerships that secured bipartisan support at both the state and federal levels. The Everglades Foundation collaborates with realtors, chambers of commerce, fishing guides, municipalities and other NGOs to ensure the world’s largest ecosystem restoration project is completed to benefit this global treasure.”

A hub for research and policy engagement, FIU in DC continues to bridge the gap between science and decision-making. By facilitating events like this Everglades panel, FIU ensures that Florida's iconic wetlands remain a sustainable resource and a global model for ecological resilience for generations to come.