Call this a summer of planting seeds for Stetson’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience. Groundwork is being laid on numerous projects funded by the institute’s first-ever Seed Grants.

The purpose of the new grant program is to support faculty-led pilot projects that align with the institute’s four focus areas: Florida springs, Indian River Lagoon, coastal resilience and sustainability management. In turn, the Seed grants are supported by the Florida’s charitable Jessie Ball duPont Fund.

“This really highlights the interdisciplinary nature of the work we do,” commented Clay Henderson, J.D., a Stetson professor and executive director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience. Henderson added that another round of grants will be awarded this fall for projects in 2019.

The funded projects for summer 2018:

“Estimating the Impact of Flood Risk on Housing Values in the Florida Keys” 

Chris de Bodisco, Ph.D. (Economics), Jason Evans, Ph.D. and Emily Stover (student)

An economic analysis of coastal resilience in the Florida Keys.

 

“Sharing Our Research with Everyone on the Indian River Lagoon.” 

Ben Tanner, Ph.D., and Kelli McGee, Ph.D.

Research and community outreach centered on the Indian River Lagoon.

 

“Circadian Rhythms in Fish Utilizing High Oxygen Algal Beds in Hypoxic Springs”

Melissa Gibbs, Ph.D. (biology) and Hunter Brown (student)

A study at Blue Spring State Park to investigate the behavior of fish that may be using algal beds as an oxygen source.

 

“Florida Springs Soundscape”

Nathan Wolek, Ph.D. (digital arts) and Chaz Underriner, Ph.D. (digital arts)

An exploration of the acoustic ecology of Blue Spring and DeLeon Springs state parks to study the role of sound in the natural and human experience of the springs.

 

“Walking the Wrack Line”

Matt Roberts, M.F.A. (digital arts) and Terri Witek, Ph.D. (English)

Documenting the experience of walking along the wrack line for the length of Canaveral National Seashore through visual media and text.