Going Coastal

Marissa and Jon are joined today by Ben Komita, a Coastal Engineer with HDR who also serves as Treasurer for both ASBPA SNP and the Coasts, Oceans, and Ports Institute (COPRI) of ASCE. Listen in to learn about these two prominent professional organizations in the coastal space and some of the opportunities and benefits to being involved in each.

Jon and Marissa are back to host three of the co-chairs of this year’s very special ASBPA conference, coming up in Atlantic City, NJ. Grace Hanlon, Tom Herrington, and Eric Rosina join them to talk about the celebrations for the 100th year of ASBPA. Along with their personal history with the organization, they discuss the incredible value of attending conferences for personal and career developmen...

In this episode, Jon and Dane sit down with New Jersey state climatologist, Dr. John Krasting, and Professor Emeritus of Loyola Marymount University in L.A., Dr. John Dorsey, to talk about the looming super El Niño. John K. helps us define this event and read the tea leaves of how its effects will impact the East coast. John D. brings awareness to the potential ecological impacts on the West coast...

Is sand dirt? What is the difference between outwash and overwash? Find out in this episode of Going Coastal ! Jon and Marissa host two recent PhD graduates from UNC Chapel Hill, Josh and Eve. They share some of their research on barrier islands and coastal geomorphology, as well as experience developing scientific outreach and communication plans for K-12 with the Scientific Research and Educatio...

Have you ever heard of e-concrete? Me neither! In this episode of Going Coastal , co-hosts Dane and Jon are back and joined by two current coastal policy students: Grace Towle, a Coastal Science and Policy (CSP) master’s student at UC Santa Cruz, and Jacquelyn Houle, UNC Wilmington’s ASBPA Student Chapter president and coastal engineering undergraduate. Together, they bring a refreshing and hopefu...

In this episode of Going Coastal , co-hosts Dane and Jon are joined by two recently retired heavy hitters in coastal policy: Phyllis Grifman, former Executive Director of USC Sea Grant, and Dr. Lesley Ewing, former Coastal Engineer for the CA State Coastal Commission. They have years of history working together on California’s coastal challenges and are sharing some of their stories with us! Tune...

In this episode of Going Coastal, Jon Miller and Dane Lazarus invited Dr. Stephanie Patch, an Associate Professor of coastal engineering at the University of South Alabama, Dr. Karim Karam, a Teaching Associate Professor at Stevens, and Dr. Matthew Janssen, a Research Assistant Professor at Stevens, to discuss academic positions and what they look like on a day-to-day basis for coastal engineers....

Welcome back to the Going Coastal Podcast. Jon Miller , Marissa Torres , and Deb Fernandes officially welcome Dane Lazarus as a new Going Coastal co-host. Expect West Coast energy, Sea Grant insights, Dane’s not-so-linear path into coastal work (you will want to hear that!), what he’s excited to bring on the show, and the kind of “usable science” he is so passionate about. Also, yes, we get distra...

The Student Research Spotlight Series is back for 2026, and we are welcoming a NEW HOST: Dane Lazarus! For this episode, Dane Lazarus and Deb Fernandes chat with Liam McDermott (Virginia Tech) and Ruben Vruggink (UC Santa Cruz) about undergraduate research in probabilistic coastal hazard assessment (PCHA) and about an A-to-Z master's project on regional sediment management, bringing science, s...

Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes sat down with Brad Pickel (SeaHaven Consulting; Managing Director, ASBPA) and Wendy Laurent (Taylor Engineering) to talk about conflict resolution: what to do when conversations get hard at work, especially for students and new professionals. They cover quick, practical tools like grounding in the moment, the SBI method (Situation–Behavior–Impact), and how to prep...

In this episode of Going Coastal, Jon Miller and Marissa Torres have a chat with master’s student Marcus Landers (Stevens Institute of Technology) and incoming Stevens PhD student Margo Dietrich (currently at Yale) for a new Student Research Spotlight. They tell us about their paths into coastal engineering and experiences abroad - all roads lead to the coast. Get the episode on your favorite plat...

What does it look like to break into coastal science as a student, and win national awards along the way? In this episode, Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes talk with Brenna Derby and Vicky Gao about REUs, harmful algal blooms, environmental economics, working with ASBPA’s Science & Technology Committee, and the honest advice they wish more students heard about finding funding, taking chances,...

This month on Going Coastal , Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes talk with Heather Korzun and Neal McMillin about their unique paths into coastal resilience and policy, and their experiences as NOAA fellows. From community engagement in New Jersey to shaping bipartisan ocean policy on Capitol Hill, they share insights, lessons learned, and advice for future fellows. Thank you to NJ Sea Grant for spo...

In this episode of Going Coastal, Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes have a chat with PhD student Ian Day (Stevens Institute of Technology) and master’s student Tashae Thompson (University of South Alabama) for a new Student Research Spotlight series. They talk about their paths into coastal engineering, from Jamaica to China to New Jersey. Hear how they’re tackling real-world challenges like dune erosi...

In this episode of Going Coastal, Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes talk with Erin Rooney (COPRI) and Halaina Hahn (ASBPA) about the role of student chapters in shaping the next generation of coastal professionals. They share how these chapters connect students with industry networks, provide leadership opportunities, and bridge the gap between academic learning and practical experience. We cover examp...

In this Student Research Spotlight, Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes hear from Alexander Boland (UGA) and Ryan Schanta (UDel) as they share their paths into coastal engineering, their thesis work, and their next steps in PhD research. From modeling storm surge impacts on Georgia roads to improving sediment transport predictions with FunWave and XBeach, this episode explores the power and challenge...

In our latest Going Coastal episode, Jon Miller and Marissa Torres sat down with two accomplished academics in the coastal field: Dr. Jens Figlus (Texas A&M University) and Dr. Peter Ruggiero (Oregon State University), who shared their career journeys, advice for students and early professionals, and a candid look into the realities of grant writing and research funding. From fieldwork to prop...

In this episode of Going Coastal , co-hosts Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes are joined by Dr. Nicole Elko , Executive Director of ASBPA and Co-Executive Director of the U.S. Coastal Research Program, and Emily Patrolia , founder of ESP Advisors. Together, they unpack what really happens during Coast Week in Washington, D.C.! We talk about: - How coastlines are showing up on Capitol Hill - Practical t...

What do a soon-to-be PhD, a recent master’s grad, and two coastal professionals have in common? A love for all things coastal —and a healthy dose of imposter syndrome. In this month’s Going Coastal , Jon and Marissa have a fun discussion about student research with Amy Bredes (Stevens Institute of Technology) and Constance Hickman (University of South Alabama), diving into nature-based solutions,...

In this month’s episode of Going Coastal , your favorite co-hosts dive into three major topics affecting our shorelines: Sneaker Waves – Marissa unpacks some of the physics behind these sudden, powerful waves that have taken people by surprise—where do they occur and what makes them so dangerous? Nuisance Erosion – Jon explores this under-the-radar issue that’s affecting beaches and infrastructure...

In this insightful 10th episode of Going Coastal , co-hosts Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes speak with Elizabeth Sherr , a self-taught science communicator and content creator who shares her passion for breaking down complex scientific concepts in relatable and engaging ways. Join us as Elizabeth takes us through her journey in science communication, from her rise on social media to speaking at confe...

In this 9th episode of Going Coastal, hosts Jon Miller and Marissa Torres chat with seasoned field data collectors Nina Stark and T ori Tomiczek to gain insight into the world of post-storm reconnaissance. Nina and Tori share their experience collecting data in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in coastal Florida, how we can learn, advance, and adapt following extreme events, and how y...

In this 8th episode of Going Coastal , hosts Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes sit down with young coastal engineering innovators Jacob  Stasiewicz & EJ Rainville to explore the world where tech , research , and entrepreneurship collide. They dive deep into how they are shaping the future of coastal science and technology, sharing valuable insights on career paths, the power of creativity, and advi...

In Episode 7 of Going Coastal, hosts Marissa Torres and Deb Fernandes are joined by two trailblazing women in coastal engineering, Dr. Julie Dean Rosati and Dr. Jane McKee Smith . Julie, Technical Director for Civil Works Research and Development for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center as well as the Technical Director for Flood Risk Management at CHL - more co...

In  Episode 6  of  Going Coastal , hosts Marissa Torres & Deb Fernandes chat with ASBPA student award winners Kayla O’Brien & Leanne Hauptman . Discover their inspiring journeys in coastal science, from academic challenges to impactful research. Kayla shares insights on winning the Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar Award, while Leanne discusses the implications of being the Student Educationa...