Conference: SAI: Strengthening Coastal Infrastructure through the Improvement of Science Communication

在该项目中，在一个高度多样化的地区为以基础设施为导向的研究人员提供科学交流方面的培训，以促进研究人员、当地社区和决策实体之间的有效双向交流。这一沿海地区处于独特脆弱性的交界处，包括一条重要的边界，以及几个处理大量化学品和化石燃料的港口。海平面上升和相关地面下沉(下沉)以及飓风等极端天气都是对基础设施的进一步挑战，无论是硬的(建造的)还是软的(自然的，如牡蛎礁或沼泽)。最近的冬季暴风雨导致电网瘫痪，饮用水供应中断，突显了区域基础设施的脆弱性。这个项目的重点是一个会议，让面向基础设施的研究人员接触到来自社会、行为和经济(SBE)领域的专注于基础设施的同行。更广泛的影响包括为与会者开发科学交流工具包。利用循证沟通框架，会议使与会者具备技能，更好地向社区中的非专家受众传达他们关于决策的专门知识，如了解下沉和海平面上升对建筑分区决策的影响。该项目为专注于基础设施的科学家和工程师更好地与社区利益攸关方接触并了解他们为决策过程带来了哪些知识和价值奠定了基础。通过将SBE科学家与自然和物理科学家和工程师一起参加，该会议促进了沿海地区已建和软基础设施领域的融合。共同的焦点(如洪水和地下水质量，或飓风和极端天气)通过从SBE的角度关注关键问题、理论和方法，将以人和社会为中心的方法整合到基础设施中。将会议设在当地的西班牙裔服务机构(HSI)，并从地区HSI招募参与者，加强了科学家和工程师与沿海社区之间关于关键基础设施问题的沟通。增强的科学交流技能加强了向该地区的行业、政府和机构传播循证政策的能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this project, training in science communication is enabled for infrastructure-oriented researchers in a highly diverse region to promote effective two-way communication between researchers, local communities, and decision-making entities. This coastal region is at the junction of unique vulnerabilities, including an important border and the presence of several ports where large quantities of chemicals and fossil fuels are handled. Sea level rise and the associated ground's surface settling downward (subsidence) and extreme weather such as hurricanes are further challenges to infrastructure, whether hard (built) or soft (natural, like oyster reefs or marshes). The vulnerability of the regional infrastructure has been highlighted dramatically by recent winter storms that brought down the power grid and access to potable drinking water. This project’s focus is a conference that exposes infrastructure-oriented researchers to their infrastructure-focused counterparts from the social, behavioral and economic (SBE) fields. Broader impacts include the development of a science communication kit for participants.Using evidence-informed communicative frameworks, the conference arms participants with skills to better convey their specific knowledge to non-expert audiences in their communities on decisions like understanding the impact of subsidence and sea level rise on building zoning decisions. The project lays the groundwork for infrastructure-focused scientists and engineers to better engage with community stakeholders and understand what knowledge and values they bring to the decision-making process. The conference fosters convergence in areas of the built and soft infrastructure of coastal regions by bringing SBE scientists alongside natural and physical scientists and engineers. The common foci (such as flooding and groundwater quality, or hurricanes and extreme weather) integrate human- and-social-centered approaches to the infrastructure by concentrating on key issues, theories, and methodologies from SBE perspectives. Situating the conference at a local Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and recruiting participants from regional HSIs enhance communications on critical infrastructure issues between scientists and engineers and the coastal communities. The enhanced science communication skills fortify the dissemination of evidence-based policy to the region's industries, governments, and agencies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.