Sustainable Solutions for Coastal Communities Facing Challenges Due to Sea Level Rise and Flooding
Presented by Distinguished Professor Dr. Michel Boufadel, this seminar explores how engineers use science, data, and systems thinking to protect communities, manage natural resources, and solve complex environmental challenges. It features research from NJIT’s Center for Natural Resources (CNR), a leader in environmental and energy-focused engineering research.
About the Center for Natural Resources (CNR)
Established to foster responsible environmental and energy resource utilization while protecting communities from natural and human-made hazards, the Center for Natural Resources (CNR) specializes in:
Assessment and mitigation of major hazards impacting communities
Remediation of pollution in natural environments
Evaluation of natural resources for energy production, with an emphasis on renewable energy systems
CNR research bridges engineering, environmental science, and public safety, helping engineers design solutions with long-term societal impact.
Seminar Focus Areas
This seminar presents an overview of cutting-edge research conducted at CNR, including:
Transport of water and chemicals in natural environments
Environmental fluid mechanics, including investigations into underwater oil release and its propagation below the surface and at the water–air interface
Coastal system dynamics, recognizing the coast as the terminal impact zone of offshore oil spills
Faculty and student researchers explore four critical factors influencing coastal systems:
Tides
Waves
Evaporation
Buoyancy (including the role of freshwater being approximately 2% lighter than seawater)
In addition, the center develops quantitative metrics for assessing community resilience, supporting engineering solutions that strengthen infrastructure, ecosystems, and public safety.
Why This Seminar Matters
Aligned with the Engineering Week theme Transform Your Future, this seminar demonstrates how sustainable engineering:
Translates research into real-world risk mitigation
Supports resilient communities and infrastructure
Balances innovation with environmental and societal responsibility
Students gain insight into how engineering careers can directly impact climate adaptation, energy systems, and environmental protection.
Who Should Attend
Engineering students interested in sustainability and environmental systems
First-year engineering students exploring research pathways
Faculty and staff
Students interested in coastal engineering, energy systems, or environmental modeling