In October, MDC’s Conservation Science Coordinator Tess Sailor-Tynes traveled to Arlington, VA to attend the biennial Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) Coastal & Estuarine Summit. This conference hosts students and professionals from all over the country to present information on a broad range of restoration topics from sustainable urban infrastructure to living shorelines and beyond. While attending RAE, Tess went to sessions that explored shoreline and oyster reef restoration data, community restoration programs, seagrass research, and performance of alternative materials.
Tess joined colleagues from Florida to present during two sessions. Her first presentation titled “Smells Like Team Spirit” was one of five in a session titled “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Shoreline”, a musically-inspired group of presentations that focused on Florida’s transition away from plastic-based oyster restoration. Tess used this opportunity to discuss how Marine Discovery Center has continued to focus efforts on community-based restoration through these changes while supporting our research partners.
For the second presentation, Jessy Wayles of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program introduced the Seagrass Nursery Network – five organizations along the lagoon, including MDC, that received funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to establish or advance seagrass nurseries to support regional restoration needs. Tess presented on MDC’s exciting construction of the multi-species nursery on campus as well as plans for project implementation and research opportunities. This session also included a panel discussion at the end to field questions from audience members.
Tess says that the opportunity to network with restoration professionals, represent Marine Discovery Center, and attend engaging sessions was extremely rewarding and she looks forward to reflecting on lessons learned at another successful conference.
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