Stockton Gets $500,000 Grant for Coastal Zone Management Research, Education

On Mar 29, 2022

Stockton University will receive $500,000 from the federal government to support its coastal resiliency and management programs and provide STEM educational and career opportunities for middle- and high-school students in South Jersey.

The Coastal Resiliency Equipment, Education and Outreach funds were approved as part of the FY22 federal budget and were among a list of New Jersey Community Projects supported by N.J. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker.

“These projects will…. make the critical investments so that New Jersey continues to be one of the greatest places to live and work,” Sen. Menendez said in a press release announcing the grants.

The grant will be administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Stockton will use the funds for several projects:

• Purchase scientific instruments for remote sensing of southern New Jersey’s coastal environment and mapping of the coastal islands, and provide high-level student training for Stockton’s Master of Science in Coastal Zone Management program.
• Provide STEM field experiences for middle- and high-school students in Atlantic City and surrounding underserved communities, offering a vital introduction to employment and higher education opportunities regarding the United States’ growing blue economy.
• Develop a pipeline to underserved K-12 youth to higher education and STEM careers by supporting training for blue economy professions linked to offshore wind development, climate change adaptation and ocean sustainability for tourism, fisheries, recreation, commerce and environmental protection.
• Support training and education in coastal resilience that will inform municipal planning and community outreach along New Jersey’s coasts that are threatened by global climate change and rising sea levels.

“Coastal zone management, tourism, and the developing blue economy are important issues in New Jersey,” said Peter Straub, Stockton Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “We are losing our coast. These funds will help Stockton do critical research, plus educate and train residents for careers in the industry.”

Stockton Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Leamor Kahanov said the university has been proactive in developing research and academic programs that address the climate issues facing New Jersey.

“This grant helps ensure we are providing students and the public with state-of-the-art equipment and information to do this important work,” she said.

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