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Scientists Wanted

Are you looking for a way to get started in community science or apply your scientific skills to solve real-world problems? These Thriving Earth Exchange projects are looking for technical expertise to address water issues related to modeling, mitigation, and mapping.  Apply here to be connected to project leaders.

 

Projects Seeking Scientists

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Community: Southeast Queens, New York

Summary: Project scientist will work with community leads and community science fellow in collaboration with Thriving Earth exchange to develop a plan to mitigate the groundwater flooding and rising water table in the Southeast Queens neighborhood of New York. 

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

  • Water and Climate scientist with adaptation experience. 
  • Experience with urban flooding mitigation. 
  • Worked on solution/methods to lower groundwater table using natural or scientific techniques. 
  • Experience and/or desire to participate in community education, outreach, and engagement. 
  • Experience with citizen science. 
  • Public speaking skills 
  • Strong listening and collaboration skills 
  • Willingness to connect science to local concerns. 
  • Relaxed, easy-going personality with a good sense of humor. 
  • The scientist should be able to visit the community in-person. 

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now! 

 

Pixabay nature image Louisiana

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Community: St. John the Baptist Parish, New Orleans, LA

Summary: The Planning and Zoning Department at St. John the Baptist Parish is seeking a scientific partner(s) to map flood risk and develop an accompanying network of green infrastructure solutions to address drainage and stormwater management issues. T

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

  • Scientists with resilience/adaptation experience
  • Experience with hydrologic studies, flood maps, and green infrastructure
  • Knowledge and experience in environmental and flooding concerns in Southeast Louisiana
    • Preference for a scientist with the ability to visit the community in-person
  • Understanding and respect for the unique cultures and perspectives in Southeast Louisiana
  • Experience and/or desire to engage with citizen science
  • Willingness to connect science to local concerns
  • Strong listening and collaboration skills
  • Student engagement in the project would be great!

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now! 

 

sewer grate

Image by M K from Pixabay

Community: Camp Hill, AL

Summary: We are seeking a GIS specialist to contribute their expertise to a project focused on addressing water infrastructure challenges in rural communities. By harnessing the power of GIS technology, we aim to analyze, map, and optimize water distribution systems, ensuring reliable access to quality drinking water for all residents.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

  • Experience collecting and analyzing spatial data

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now! 

 

Bridge with Jacksonville FL skyline

Image by Sharon Kehl Califano from Pixabay

Community: Jacksonville, FL

Summary: The city of Jacksonville recently released their Resilient Jacksonville plan, which outlines investment and development priorities for the next 50 years, which will assuredly bring great challenges and opportunities to this low-lying coastal city. Neighborhoods like the Ribault are supposed to be prioritized for investment as part of this plan. This project seeks to support the city by gathering on the ground data to supplement flood risk modeling (including a cutting edge compound flooding model currently under development) and incorporate community members into the process of identifying resiliency investment opportunities.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of urban flooding, especially in Florida or similar coastal environment.
  • Interest in climate hazard mitigation.
  • Thoughtful communicator.
  • Values community concerns and lived experience of local stakeholders.
  • Sufficient time and capacity to contribute to the project (at present we do not have a strong sense of how much of a time commitment will be required to complete this project and expect to discuss this with prospective scientists during interviews).
  • Based locally or remote (if remote, interest and capacity to perform site visit preferred, especially for the citizen science project design role).

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now! 

 

Paradise Creek Educational Park walkway view during high waters. Taken from the Paradise Creek Educational Park Inc Facebook web page (https://www.facebook.com/friendsofparadisecreek/) Link: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofparadisecreek/photos/pb.100064602647283.-2207520000/10150525138084668/?type=3

Community: National City, CA

Summary: Paradise Creek Educational Park Inc (PCEPI) is an environmental organization that advocates for conserving, protecting, and enhancing the salt marsh habitats in the National City. Since 1993, PCEPI has been working orestoring PCEP to mitigate floods while developing a place that serves the community and the habitat.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

Engineer:

We want an engineer/scientist with experience in flood extent modeling at a local scale. The ideal person must know about hydraulics and related software such as HEC-RAS (it could be other free available software). It will be a plus if this expert also has some basic knowledge of hydrology and how to compute extreme discharge values using design storms. Since PCEP is in an urban area, having previous experience modeling in urban environments is also a plus. The Scientist will generate flood inundation maps for the current and potential scenarios. The Scientist will use available bathymetry, land use descriptions, and hydrological information for this. The community is open to engaging with students who are at an advanced level. Remote engagement is ok.

  • Experience with flooding extent modeling.
  • Experience simulating urban environments.
  • Great communication skills.
  • Basic knowledge of how to estimate extreme values.
  • Relaxed, easy-going personality.

Landscape architect:

Additionally, we would like a professional with experience in habitat restoration to help design the expansion of the wetland. Ideally, this person must know how to adequate green areas to mitigate floods. The community is open to engaging with students who are at an advanced level. Remote engagement is ok. However, depending on the circumstances, the professional may visit the area at least once during the project.

  • Urban planning for flood mitigation.
  • Great communication skills.
  • Good listener.
  • Habitat restoration.

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now!