2023 ASBPA National Coastal Conference

The 2023 National Coastal Conference Fact Sheet is now available by clicking here.

The current 2023 National Coastal Conference Schedule is available in PDF format at the link below and on the Whova App. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.  Current 2023 ASBPA 2023 National Coastal Conference Program. (PDF).

You can also view the online interactive version of the agenda by clicking this link.

Sponsorships are AVAILABLE.  Thank you for interest in sponsoring the 2023 National Coastal Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. We have a number of opportunities available as shown in the ASBPA National Conference Sponsorship Matrix.

The online sponsorship form can be accessed by the link below. Please contact us at managing@asbpa.org with any questions.  We look forward to being with you in October!

Click here to access the online sponsorship and exhibit form.

The conference venue and hotel is the Omni Providence Hotel.  The room block is closed but you can book directly with the hotel at the link below or via 888-444-6664

https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/providence

Interested in learning how other communities capitalize on everyday management activities to attract visitors interested in taking better care of their beaches? Spend Tuesday Morning October 10th with Blue Flag USA and the Galveston Park Board of Trustees before the National Coastal Conference in Providence discovering how to incorporate sustainable marketing strategies for your community. Registration is $50 and we invite you to click here to register.

On Tuesday, October 10th from 1-5pm, the Coastal Zone Foundation will be hosting a Short Course titled “Coastal Ecology and Biology.”  The course requires a separate registration and fee and PDH credits are available.  It is also part of CZF’s Certified Coastal Practitioner curriculum.  A synopsis of the course is below and more information about CZF is available by clicking here.

Synopsis

Coastal Ecology/Biology training module will provide science-based and skill building opportunities to professionals whose work is affected by coastal resources.  Basic concepts will encompass major biological constituents that make up the dynamic and diverse set of ecosystems and species including open ocean, barrier islands, coastal marsh, estuarine resources and threatened and endangered species.  All parts of the coastal and nearshore environment are connected, affecting each other in myriad ways.  The spatial zone of interest is a relatively narrow portion of the continental shelf/coastal plain where land and sea meet.

This module will present an interdisciplinary framework, distinguishing among types of habitats, water and climate, ecology and natural resources and the application of those principles to the analysis of coastal biological and ecological processes. An emphasis is on sedimentary coasts in which landforms consist primarily of unconsolidated sediments.  Such coasts make up the vast majority of shorelines in the United States and include such familiar features as barrier islands, strand beaches, estuaries, river deltas, tidal inlets, lagoons and tidal wetlands.

The abstract submissions are now closed for the 2023 National Coastal Conference.  Technical, policy-oriented, and coastal floodplain resource and flood risk management presentations or posters were invited for a broad range of coastal and estuarine ecology, science, engineering, economics, and policy. We will also have sessions on the Blue Flag Award criteria such as environmental management; water quality; beach accessibility; beach safety and operations; and community engagement.

Specific topics include, but are not limited to:
● Beach Parking and Access
● Beach restoration and management
● Coastal design concepts and projects
● Green/Grey infrastructure and living shorelines
● Improving shoreline and coastal resiliency
● Regional comprehensive coastal studies
● Lessons learned from storms and extreme events
● Coastal & estuarine modeling
● Coastal hazard mapping & analysis tools
● Sea level rise guidance, planning, and policy
● Lagoon, wetland, marsh, and estuary restoration
● Regional sediment management
● Economics of coastal resources
● Federal, state, and local coastal policy, regulatory and legal issues
● Coastal infrastructure management
● Policies for improving resiliency and adaptation
● “Nuisance flooding” and urban flooding challenges
● Lessons and issues in coastal communication and outreach
● Coastal Resilience and National Security Implications
● Managed Retreat/Strategic Relocation
● The role of social justice in restoration and storm recovery

Nominations for 2023 ASBPA Professional and Project Awards are closed. Recipients will be announced at the National Coastal Conference.

The Morrough P. O’Brien Award is presented annually to an individual or organizational member of ASBPA on the basis of 1) an outstanding record in achieving the objectives and ideals of ASBPA; or 2) for major direct contributions to ASBPA. Any ASBPA member can submit a nomination that outlines the accomplishments of the nominee and the basis upon which the nomination is being put forth. The winner will be invited to attend the National Coastal Conference from October 10-13, 2023.

The Robert L. Wiegel Coastal Project Award is presented in recognition to a coastal project that has stood the test of time and has shown a positive environmental, social, or recreational benefit. Nominations must include a statement of objectives of the project and the major design features; evidence that the project achieved the desired objectives with a minimum of five years since completion; the environmental, social, recreational and other effects of the project should be described; a statement identifying the agencies and individuals responsible for planning, designing and constructing the work and the individuals that will receive the award; and the cost of the project. The award will be presented at the 2023 ASBPA National Coastal Conference held on October 10-13.

The Robert G. Dean Coastal Academic Award is presented in recognition of an academic who has made significant contributions furthering the community’s understanding of coastal science or engineering and in fostering young coastal scientists or engineers. The award will be presented at the ASBPA 2023 annual meeting.

The ASBPA Member of the Year Award is an award to be presented annually to an individual on the basis of their giving of time, talent, and treasury to furthering the goals and objectives of the ASBPA during the previous year. The winner will be presented the award at the 2023 annual meeting.

The ASBPA Rising Star Award is an award to be presented annual to a student or new professional who has taken on leadership role to further the goals and objectives of the ASBPA during the previous year.  The winner will be presented with the award at the ASBPA 2023 annual meeting.

The Gooderham Media Award will be given to an individual journalist or media outlet for exceptional coverage of coastal news.

Entries for all awards closed on August 15.

Applications for 2023 ASBPA Student Awards are now closed.

The ASBPA Student Educational Award is presented annually to an undergraduate or graduate student who, through their research, is furthering the science of coastal or riverine systems as it relates to the goals and mission of the ASBPA.

The award includes a $500 cash stipend and it is expected that the Educational Award winner will give a presentation on their paper topic for the 2023 ASBPA National Coastal Conference (for which the registration fee will be waived) to present his or her findings to the coastal community. Additionally, the winner is strongly encouraged to submit their award nomination paper for peer review by the editorial staff of Shore & Beach, the ASBPA’s technical journal, and possible inclusion in a future issue.

Entries must consist of a curriculum vita and paper suitable for presentation and publication (for non-electronic submissions, please provide five hard copies of the entire nomination package). Any subject pertaining to coastal or riverine science is eligible for consideration. Representative subject areas include natural processes (waves, currents sediment transport), ecology (habitat, ecosystem function), water quality (pollution sources, remedies), economics (cost/benefits of beach projects) and human impact on the coast (coastal structures, dams, restoration projects). The paper may include figures, tables, and photographs and should not exceed 10 pages in length, single-spaced, including references.

The James Houston Coastal Economics Scholar Award is given annually to an undergraduate or graduate student who, through their research, is furthering the state of beach coastal or riverine economics as it relates to the goals and mission of the ASBPA.   The subject matter is encouraged to be as wide reaching as possible, including economic benefits of beach restoration, benefit cost analysis of beach restoration projects and any other research that includes benefits derived from beach, dune, riverine, and coastal restoration projects.  This award includes a $500.00 cash stipend and will be awarded to the student at the ASBPA annual meeting.

The Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar Award is presented annually to a graduate student who aspires to advance their  knowledge and experience of coastal or riverine science through an internship with ASBPA. The winner will become the dedicated staff member for the ASBPA’s Science and Technology Committee. The Coastal Scholar will work hand-in-hand with practicing coastal experts to develop technical position papers with the Committee; and serve as the liaison for ASBPA with other graduate students in coastal and riverine sciences. The Coastal Scholar will work from their home institution and will participate with the ASBPA via conference calls and email. In addition to the experience of working with coastal experts, the award includes a $600 cash stipend paid in quarterly payments of $150.

Award winner will be announced during the 2023 ASBPA National Conference. Entries must include a curriculum vita and paper addressing why the candidate is interested in becoming the ASBPA’s Coastal Scholar. The paper should include previous experience, education, future goals, as well as expectations of the Coastal Scholar Award position. The paper should not exceed five pages in length, single-spaced.

The Student Coastal Advocate Award is presented to a graduate or undergraduate student who aspires to advance their knowledge of and experience in federal coastal policy and advocacy through an internship with ASBPA. The winner will become the dedicated staff member for the ASBPA’s Government Affairs Committee. The Student Advocate will work hand-in-hand with practicing coastal experts to develop policy position papers with the Committee and participate in advocacy efforts seeking to influence federal policy via agencies or Congress. The Coastal Advocate will work from their home institution and will participate with the ASBPA via conference calls and email. In addition to the experience of working with coastal experts, the award includes a $600 cash stipend paid in quarterly payments of $150.

Award winner must attend the 2024 ASBPA Coastal Summit, in Washington, DC (for which the registration fee will be waived) to receive the award.  Entries must include a resume or curriculum vita, a paper addressing why the candidate is interested in becoming the ASBPA’s Student Coastal Advocate, and contact information for two professional references (either academic or work related). The paper should include previous experience, education, future goals, as well as expectations of the Student Coastal Advocate position. The paper should not exceed two pages in length, single-spaced.

The Students and New Professionals Travel Scholarship is given annually to an undergraduate or graduate student who wishes to further their involvement in ASBPA through the Students and New Professionals Group (SNP). This scholarship will include a direct payment to assist a student with traveling fees to the annual ASBPA National Coastal Conference. The scholarship awardee will be invited to serve as a student volunteer to gain experience with ASBPA and network with coastal professionals. As a student volunteer, the registration fee will also be waived. The student is expected to become a regular attendee of SNP monthly meetings and help build on the group’s overall goals to provide networking, professional development, and career guidance opportunities. The student should have an interest in coastal science, engineering, or a related field that aligns with the goals and mission of the ASBPA. The scholarship opportunity will close on September 15th.

Applications must include a curriculum vita (or resume) and a paper addressing why the student is interested in joining ASBPA’s SNP group. The paper should include previous or current experience, education, research, and future goals, as well as ways in which the individual plans to help advance the group’s overall goals. The paper should not exceed one page in length, single-spaced.

The deadline for ASBPA Student Educational Award, the James Houston Coastal Economics Scholar Award, the Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar Award, the Student Coastal Advocate and the Students and New Professionals Travel Scholarship closed on August 15, 2023.