Will Your State Host NOAA's Next Digital Coast Fellow?

September 16, 2019

Over the past year, former Alaska Sea Grant research trainee Richard Buzard has been working with the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Coastal Hazards Program in Anchorage, Alaska to help rural Alaskan coastal communities understand flood impacts and respond to coastal storms, and develop flood impact guidance for coastal mapping on the last frontier. 

Rich was partnered with mentor DGGS Coastal Hazards Program (CHP) lead scientist and program manager, Jacquelyn Overbeck, as part of NOAA's Digital Coast Fellowship program.

The NOAA Coastal Management Fellowship and Digital Coast Fellowship Program matches postgraduate students with key NOAA partners to work on specific projects for two years. The program provides fellows with professional mentoring and training and the hosts with technical assistance to help them manage the coast effectively. 

NSGIC, one of the founding members of the Digital Coast Partnership, again has the opportunity to submit a proposal for the Digital Coast Fellowship program on behalf of one of our member states. Applications for 2020-2022 fellows are being accepted through October 11 from prospective fellowship hosts.

This is a great opportunity for states to develop a specific program that will further the mission of the Digital Coast program and to work with a dedicated fellow. 

All states and U.S. jurisdictions with federally approved coastal zone management programs, and states developing them may submit a project proposal to NSGIC for potential selection as a fellowship host. Six project proposals are typically selected each year. Examples of state projects selected in 2019 can be viewed here.

Further information on the program and application process can be found on the NOAA website here. Please note that the proposal must include a description of how your organization will provide $15,000 in matching funds. These funds cannot come from federal dollars. Also, note that the proposal must show how the project would address one or more of the specified strategic focus areas and how it will further the mission of the Digital Coast. 

If you are interested in exploring this exciting opportunity, please contact Jamie Chesser at [email protected] to begin the process! Interested states submit their proposals to NSGIC and together we choose one proposal to submit to NOAA. 

Lastly, mark your calendars to hear directly from Rich about his work in Alaska at the NSGIC Annual Conference in Snowbird, Utah! He is leading a presentation on “Bringing Alaska to the Digital Coast” on Thursday, September 26 at 9 am. He will also be at the Coastal Caucus lunch on Tuesday, September 24 at 12 pm.