Conversations from the Coast: The Podcast

How do tourism, people, and nature shape the future of our coastal communities?

In this episode of Conversations from the Coast, UCF Coastal NextGen member Dr. Axel Eriksson discusses his journey from tourist guide to researcher, explores the challenges and opportunities facing coastal destinations, and shares insights from his work on tourism, environmental change, community engagement, lifestyle migration, and digital nomads. From the Indian River Lagoon to coastal communities around the world, Axel offers a unique perspective on the human side of coastal resilience and sustainability.🌊 Learn how people, place, and policy intersect to influence the future of our coasts.

In this episode of Conversations from the Coast: The Podcast, hosts Ivan Haigh and Gabi Quadrado welcome Dr. Shannon Howley, Assistant Professor in UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media and a new member of UCF Coastal. Shannon discusses her research on science communication, misinformation, public trust, and offshore wind energy, and shares how effective communication can help coastal communities navigate complex environmental challenges.

In this episode of Conversations from the Coast, hosts Ivan Haigh and Gabi Quadrado talk with Dr. Peng "Patrick" Sun, Assistant Professor in UCF's Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering and Director of the RISE Lab. Patrick shares how technologies such as drones, smart sensors, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and remote sensing are helping create smarter, more resilient infrastructure and what these innovations could mean for the future of coastal communities.

Join us for a conversation with Professor Robert Nicholls, a globally recognized expert on sea-level rise, coastal flooding, and climate adaptation. From advising international climate assessments to developing tools used to evaluate coastal risk worldwide, Robert shares insights on the challenges facing coastal communities and the pathways to a more resilient future. 

In this first episode we will introduce you to our two hosts, Dr. Ivan Haigh, Director of UCF's Center for Integrated Coastal Research, and postdoctoral researcher Gabi Quadrado.