More than 35 members of Stony Brook University, including faculty, students, and staff, visited Long Beach and the Rockaways on Long Island’s Atlantic coast to study how local communities are responding to climate-related challenges. The field trip offered participants a close look at infrastructure projects and community development efforts that aim to increase resilience in these coastal areas.
Long Beach, which has about 33,000 residents and was severely affected by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, now serves as a case study for coastal resilience. Heather Lynch, director of Stony Brook’s Collaborative for the Earth (C4E), explained that the team examined two major infrastructure initiatives that are changing how the city prepares for future storms and flooding. The Bay Park Conveyance Project is one of the largest wastewater infrastructure upgrades in the region. Another project focuses on improving utilities and services that are vulnerable to extreme weather events. These projects represent a comprehensive approach to adapting to climate change.
“These are more than just engineering projects,” said Lynch, who is also endowed chair for ecology and evolution in the Institute for Advanced Computation Science (IACS). “They’re about reimagining how coastal communities can survive and thrive in an era of rising seas and intensifying storms.”
The group also visited RISE Rockaway in Far Rockaway. L&M Development Partners developed this mixed-use project combining affordable housing with retail space and community amenities. The initiative aims to set a new standard for post-disaster recovery by emphasizing both physical resilience and social equity.
While walking along restored beaches planted with native vegetation, participants observed nature-based solutions designed to reduce erosion and protect against storm surges while maintaining recreational access. They compared these methods with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ beach reinforcement work involving large-scale sand placement along the shoreline.
The field trip brought together students from various disciplines such as urban planning, environmental science, art, sociology, atmospheric sciences, and public policy. Each group analyzed different aspects of coastal adaptation—from development patterns affecting vulnerability to ecological impacts of engineered structures.
Adam Charboneau, lecturer at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, noted the importance of direct experience: “First and foremost, you see people in action, so it’s not just an idea,” he said. “It’s real people doing real things in their communities. You also see all the nuances that don’t come through in classroom discussions.”
Charboneau discussed how sustainability planning often involves balancing economic growth, environmental health, and equity: “One thing we always focus on in sustainability or sustainable planning are these three ‘Es’ or three pillars: economic growth, environmental health, and equity and fairness,” he said. “Those things are hard to align, right? Because they’re often in conflict, and you see ways in which community groups are trying to navigate those conflicts to some greater alignment.” He cited Long Beach’s dune system as an example where protection measures may increase property values but could affect aesthetics or views for some residents.
Sustainability student Akshay Illiparambil commented on the complexity involved: “You can design the perfect system on paper, but when you see the actual coastline and understand the community dynamics, you realize how many variables you have to account for,” he said.
The visit highlighted ongoing debates over whether hard infrastructure like seawalls or nature-based solutions should be prioritized; it also raised questions about maintaining beach access versus providing protection—and what happens when communities lack resources for major investments.
Manisha Desai—executive director of Stony Brook’s Center for Changing Systems of Power—emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration: “Engineers need to understand social dynamics. Social scientists need to grasp technical constraints. Everyone needs to think about equity and justice.”
According to organizers from C4E at Stony Brook University Research & Innovation (https://research.stonybrook.edu/), this field trip reflects a broader institutional commitment toward climate research education intended to prepare future professionals tasked with building resilient coastal communities.
“These aren’t distant, abstract problems. They’re unfolding right now, just miles from Stony Brook, in communities where real people are making difficult decisions about their future,” Lynch said.