By Jugal Patel, Student Correspondent
After years of living near the coast, treading through flooded streets is no longer out of the ordinary for me and other students at Old Dominion University (ODU). What is new for young people is the opportunity to brainstorm solutions to flooding and sea level rise-related problems.
In a first-of-its-kind event at ODU, “Engaging Students: Adapting to Sea Level Rise,” students got that chance. The event was part of a Public Service Week initiative at ODU, hosted by the University’s Department of Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences on September 18.
“Young people have not been that represented in our planning process,” said Michelle Covi, Virginia Sea Grant extension staff at ODU and a lead planner for the event. “Everyone needs to be aware of the risks we face and should have a voice in the planning process.”
At the event, students were tasked with applying adaptation principles to flooding and sea level rise issues facing ODU’s campus. Located in Norfolk, the ODU campus is locked between the tidally influenced Elizabeth and Lafayette Rivers on both sides, making it particularly vulnerable to future changes.
To get the conversation started, I presented on how working professionals have approached flooding and sea level rise issues during my time covering adaptation and coastal resilience as a student correspondent with Virginia Sea Grant. After, we looked at examples and inspiration from all over the world: floodable districts in Hamburg, Germany; robotic storm surge barriers in Rotterdam, Netherlands; greenscaped shorelines in New York City; even some efforts from Norfolk and ODU campus.
During discussions for how to solve problems facing ODU, students suggested permeable roadways, vertical gardens retrofitted to parking garages, green roofs, creative housing, and materials research as possible solutions.
Students’ ideas were recorded and voted on at the end of the event, which were summarized by Covi. The findings will be submitted to the city of Norfolk and the University.
Just two weeks after the event, ODU experienced flooding first-hand. Hurricane Joaquin, northeast winds, and a separate storm system combined to drive extreme high tides onto the campus and surrounding communities.
When I returned to ODU’s campus to document the flooding, the issues we discussed during the event gained new meaning. Water claimed roads and parking lots, prompting closures and making it difficult for me to get around and see the extent of flooding. I was particularly reminded of flooding hazards as rivers advanced closer towards the campus’ waterfront dormitories.
Our discussions at the event, and encounter with a waterlogged region shortly after, may likely become commonplace—especially as young people continue with life in a changing world.
Engaging ODU students will continue as a part of efforts to adapt coastal Virginia to its future challenges, says Covi. “We need to hear from young adults on how they want to live in world that will be increasingly dealing with the impacts of climate change.”
