In May 2017, the Science and Resilience Institute convened a full-day workshop at Brooklyn College focused on the current state of science and knowledge on sediments and nutrients Jamaica Bay. The goal was to develop a shared understanding on the health of the Bay, with an emphasis on deep-water conditions and benthic communities.
Thirty participants including scientists, community members, and public agency representatives attended the workshop. The morning opened with participatory exercises designed to identify common goals for the Bay, capture knowledge of the Bay’s key historical events, and current conditions of flora and fauna. To give an overview of relevant science, scientists presented short, 5-minute presentations summarizing new and ongoing research followed by Q&A and discussion. The workshop concluded with breakout groups charged with distinguishing points of common understanding and points of disagreement, identifying knowledge gaps, and formulating research questions that can contribute to an improved understanding of the Bay.
With feedback from the workshop participants, we are developing a synthesis report that will summarize the well-crafted research questions developed to address common root concerns about the health and future of the Bay.
