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Rising Above Our Flooding Streets: Art & Science Extravaganza

May 20, 2017 at BoomTown, Charleston, SC.


Presented by:

Cultivate SciArt, Enough Pie, and 65+ scientists, artists, civic and community leaders


With support from:

S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control, Coastal Conservation League, and BoomTown!



Charleston is at a crossroads. Flooded streets and rising waters affect us more and more. By 2045, Charleston will experience sunny day tidal flooding 180 days out of the year — averaging every other day (2015 Charleston Sea Level Rise Strategy, City of Charleston). The decisions and actions we take NOW as residents of the Lowcountry are critical to our future. This event -- part of Enough Pie's AWAKENING V: King Tide -- brought the community together for an afternoon of lightning talks, hands-on science and art experiences, live performances, science demonstrations, and community conversations. If you missed it, now is your chance to watch & learn!

Click on the photos below to link directly to 5 minute "lightning talk" videos.

 

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Kierria & Tonisha, Charleston Development Academy

These 8th grade students explain how they became flood-resilient citizen scientists through a participatory action research project with Dr. Merrie Koester and the USC Center for Science Education, and how you can to!

 

Zach Prouz, College of Charleston Marine Biology Graduate Student

Ever wonder what King Tide means? To enact change it is important to first understand what causes the problem. Zach breaks down the physics for all ages.

 

Doug Marcy, NOAA Office for Coastal Management

As a coastal hazards specialist, Doug's job is to assess risks. Here he looks to the future and explains projections for sea level rise in the next 30 - 100 years.


 

Dr. Bobbie Lyon of CULTIVATE & College of Charleston Marine Biology Graduate Program 

Bobbie gives a global overview of climate change, Earth's warming patterns and reminds us that we are all in this together!


 

Victoria Smalls, Director of History, Arts & Culture at the Penn Center

Victoria explains how the Gullah-Geechee community of St. Helena and sea-islands throughout the Southeast have lived in communion with the environment for hundreds of years, and shares how these communities are now being impacted by sea level rise.

 

GLOBAL AND LOCAL RESPONSES

Dan Burger, S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control, Ocean & Coastal Resource Management

The future of flooding in Charleston is explained by DHEC's Dan Burger, who offers a global perspective and potential solutions to our local issues.


 

Mark Wilbert, Chief Resilience Officer and Emergency Management Director, City of Charleston

Charleston's steps for current and future sea level rise abatement are explained by our newly appointed Chief Resiliency Officer.


 

Jared Smith, BoomTown & @CHSWX

Charleston weather enthusiast and BoomTown employee Jared Smith offers very concrete ground rules for severe weather and flooding.




 

Albert George, South Carolina Aquarium Director of Conservation

Resilience Initiative for Coastal Education (RICE) Using South Carolina's heritage of land-water hydrology engineering like rice farming can help us understand solutions for our future.



 

SOLUTIONS FOR OUR FUTURE


Omar Muhammad, Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities

Rising tides are an environmental justice concern. Cumulative impacts on low income communities are explained. 



 

Mike Seekings, Charleston City Councilman

A change in transportation infrastructure can enact larger changes in global warming. 





 

Germaine Jenkins, CEO of Fresh Future Farms

Local food activist & farmer Germaine Jenkins draws connections between food justice, environmental justice, and flooding in Charleston. 




 

Jennifer Saunders, College of Charleston, Environmental Studies Adjunct & In Place Impact Coordinator

Utilizing collective action is an untapped resource in the fight against climate change. Jennifer explains our power in numbers to make large impacts.

 

Carolee Williams, City of Charleston Office of Planning, Preservation, & Sustainability

Take a journey to the future of our flooded planet with a guided meditation that envisions buildings, cars, and human's place on the planet.



 

Participants also explored sea, marsh & city ecosystems

through hands-on science, art, community resources & small-group discussions

SEA

Live Plankton: Diversity & Biological Carbon Cycle - Grice Marine Lab & friends

From a Drop of Seawater - Cultivate & Bowdoin College Marine Science Students

Live Marine Critters - Grice Marine Lab & friends

What is a Greenhouse Gas? - Grice Marine Lab & friends

Carrying Our Carbon Weight - College of Charleston & DNR 

Wade In the Water - Antarctic Photographic Experience by John Duckworth

MARSH

Earth, Moon, Sun & Tides w/ hula hoops - Grice Marine Lab & friends

Estuary Pollution & Solutions - Charleston Waterkeepers

Oyster Bed Restoration - S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources, SCORE

Spartina: Nature’s Sponge & Brita - Ashley Hall 4th grade

Save Our Creek Photo Montage:  Charleston Development Academy & USC Center for Science Education

How to Advocate for Change - Coastal Conservation League

Stewards of Shorebirds & Swamps - SC Audubon Society

CITY

GHG and "friends" of GHG's: A Local Story of Zoning Effects - Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities

Grassroot Seed Bombs - Fresh Future Farms

Charleston Past & Present - Historic Charleston Foundation, Jared Bramblett & Friends

City Sea-Level Rise Viewer - City of Charleston & Charleston Resilience Network

Where Does the Water Go When it Rains in the City - City of Charleston

Stormwater Management & Low-Impact Development - Davis & Floyd

RICE, Sea-Level Apps & Clay Models  - SC Aquarium, Resilience Initiative for Coastal Education

Citizens Building Smart Transit - Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit

Two-wheeled Transportation - Charleston Moves & Gotcha

Water Wise Gardening - Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium & Clemson Extension

Native Plants - Dr. Richard Porcher, Celie DaileyRoots & Shoots Nursery

Rain Garden Tours - JR Kramer

From Cement to Photosynthesis - Josh Robinson Design

Power of Wind - Clemson Wind Turbine Testing Facility

Powering via the Sun - Solarize SC

 

Live Performances


·  Featuring the 8th grade at Charleston Development Academy, the USC Center for Science Education and Lamar Hunter

·  Featuring Simmons Pinckney Middle School 8th grade & Mary Adamson Adeogun

Water Dance 

·   Featuring DanceFX

 


 

AWAKENING V: King Tide - Key Data



 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Infographic designed by CULTIVATE co-founder Lisa Shimko


 

 

"Rising Above Our Flooding Streets Art & Science Extravaganza" was a partnership between CULTIVATE & Enough Pie, with support from Coastal Conservation League & DHEC. The videos were graciously created by The Cut Company.


A huge thank you to ALL the volunteers and organizations who participated and helped create this exceptional community event, including:

College of Charleston Grice Marine Lab Bowdoin College Marine Science Semester Charleston Waterkeepers South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Ashley Hall 4th grade Charleston Development Academy

University of South Carolina Center for Science Education Coastal Conservation League Audubon South Carolina Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities Fresh Future Farms Historic Charleston Foundation City of Charleston Charleston Resilience Network Davis & Floyd South Carolina Aquarium Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit Charleston Moves Gotcha Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium Clemson Cooperative Extension Dr. Richard Porcher Celie Dailey of Roots & Shoots Nursery Remark Studio Landscape Architects Robinson Design Engineers Clemson Wind Turbine Testing Facility Solarize SC Charleston GOOD

And thank you for taking time to become a flood resilient citizen scientist!


Blog Contributors: Bobbie Lyon, Cathryn Zommer, Bennett Jones

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