Like most people in Hampton Roads, Old Dominion University (ODU) President John R. Broderick is directly impacted by sea level rise. Dr. Broderick sees how rising waters, from a high tide or storm event, regularly flood the ODU campus in Norfolk, Virginia. Much of coastal Virginia struggles with understanding the underlying issues, formulating effective responses and ensuring everyone has access to the most up to date and accurate information on sea level rise.
To respond to these issues, ODU teamed up with the College of William and Mary’s Coastal Policy Center and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to establish the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency, which studies sea level rise, proposes policies, and communicates with local residents. ODU is working to educate students by organizing forums to discuss resiliency strategies and developing a curriculum to teach climate change.
Broderick was recently interviewed by The Chronicle of Higher Education about how universities can plan for sea level rise. He said their initiatives date back to 2008, and since then the university has been focusing more attention on the issue on a daily basis, whether the concern is how students get around campus or planning for future buildings. He hopes his focus on partnerships with other universities and the local community will help bring people together over this cause. As a representative at a college, he says “we have to continue to talk about it and be a convener.”