Students working to restore sand dunes in Coney Island. Here's why activists say their help is needed.
Students are swapping their textbooks for shovels in a mission to restore sand dunes at Coney Island Creek.
It's considered one of the most polluted waterways in New York City. For decades, environmental activists have been pushing to designate the beach there as a
Superfund site
so it can one day be eligible for a massive cleanup.
The
National Wildlife Federation
partners with the
NYC Parks Department,
American Littoral Society
, and
Coney Island Beautification Project
in an effort to fight beach erosion and restore the shoreline.
"Nature-based solutions have been shown to be holistic and sustainable, and they work. Sand dunes will help to mitigate the next storm surge, chronic tidal floods and chronic erosion that is experienced by these communities," said Abby Jordan, the federation's climate science program manager.
Dozens of homes stand steps away from the beach, a community that was inundated and devastated by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Jordan, who is from Brighton Beach, says trauma from the storm pushed her into this line of work.
"Being waist-deep in storm surge is something I will never forget. That is not something any young person needs to live through," she recalled, saying the experience changed her life.
Georgina Cullman, an ecologist from the NYC Parks Department, says student volunteers can help labor-intensive initiatives like this be more effective.
"The Parks Department takes care of 12% of the land area of New York City," she said. "But we need neighborhoods and our neighbors to take an interest and love and care for these spaces, too."
Social worker Franky Jordan brought his students from Liberation Diploma Plus, a transfer high school that focuses on kids who fell behind.
"We know that students learn in different ways, and actually getting their hands dirty is one of the best ways for students to get involved," he said.
Public school students spent hours not just learning about the environment, but actively rebuilding it.
"It could help save lives eventually, like in the future," said 11th grader Nakaya Wry.
Rico St. Hilaire, a recent graduate, liked the program so much last year that he returned to learn more about the way this prevents flooding.
"It's basically forming a whole net, which, like, keeps it in place, which I think is really cool," he told CBS News New York's Hannah Kliger.
They're leaving more than just footprints in the sand; their work is shaping a stronger and greener shoreline.
Have a story idea or tip in Brooklyn? Email Hannah by
CLICKING HERE
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Researchers uncover wildfire protection strategy hiding in plain sight — and it starts with an overlooked species
Beavers are offering forests unexpected protection against wildfires. By bolstering beaver habitats, scientists have found they can prevent parts of the environment from being scorched. A new study shows that beaver dams and the wetlands they create were the only features to survive an incinerated landscape in the wake of recent wildfires in Colorado. In 2020, the East Troublesome Fire became the second-largest wildfire in the state's history, burning nearly 200,000 acres and taking more than a month to contain. While assessing the damage from the fire, wildlife managers reported that only beaver ponds were untouched. Beavers are incredible creatures, building dams to create their own habitat. The semiaquatic rodents block off streams to pool water into ponds and develop wetlands where they can build homes. The water, of course, is not flammable and offers protection against an increasing number of wildfires. Researchers studied five fires from 2000 to 2018. In their findings, they reported that beaver ponds and canals thoroughly irrigate the surrounding land, turning dry, flammable vegetation into lush landscape. Not only did the plants survive, but the green space provided refuge to livestock and wildlife. Wildfires impact human communities in a number of ways. Smoke inhalation increases the risk of heart attack and stroke while reducing the body's immunity. Wildfires also have an effect on mental health, causing trauma when a person is exposed to danger and loss. Wildlife managers are looking for ways to support beaver populations. It's estimated that while there were once 100 to 200 million beavers across North America, today's numbers sit around 10 to 15 million. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is focusing on habitat restoration. In 2018, the National Wildlife Federation adopted a resolution to support beaver restoration as a response to the changing climate. Beavers are often called nature's engineers. Their ingenuity could be the answer to surviving in a world with an ever-changing climate. What would you do if natural disasters were threatening your home? Move somewhere else Reinforce my home Nothing This is happening already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Business Wire
23-04-2025
- Business Wire
Aurion Biotech Appoints Edward J. Holland, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer and Eris P. Jordan, O.D., as Chief Development Officer
SEATTLE & CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aurion Biotech, a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company whose mission is to restore vision to millions of patients, today announced the appointments of Edward J. Holland, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer, and Eris P. Jordan, O.D., as Chief Development Officer. Aurion Biotech is developing AURN001, an investigational, single-administration, allogeneic cell therapy for the treatment of corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial disease, a condition that causes progressive vision loss in millions of people worldwide. Dr. Holland has been a key supporter of Aurion since its inception, serving as Chair of the Medical Advisory Board and leading the first team of U.S. corneal surgeons to deliver the cell therapy developed by Aurion Biotech, based on foundational technology from Professor Shigeru Kinoshita at Kyoto Prefecture University of Medicine. His insights and clinical leadership have helped shape the trajectory of Aurion's development program. Dr. Jordan, a co-founder of Aurion, has been instrumental at every stage of the company's clinical journey. She led the foundational clinical trials in El Salvador, including the IOTA and ESCALON studies, and has since overseen the expansion of Aurion's clinical development program into North America. Her contributions have brought Aurion's mission to life — grounded in tireless advocacy for patients and deep collaboration with the global corneal surgeon community. 'I've had the privilege of knowing Dr. Holland for over a decade,' said Arnaud Lacoste, Ph.D., M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer of Aurion. 'His dedication to patients and his leadership in corneal care have been instrumental to the success of our program. His appointment as Chief Medical Officer further strengthens our clinical and scientific foundation as we move toward late-stage development and, ultimately, broader patient access.' 'Over the past four years, Dr. Jordan has poured her heart into this program,' Lacoste continued. 'Her leadership of our global clinical trials has been extraordinary, and her commitment to patients and surgeons alike reflects who we are as a company. I'm honored to continue working with Eris as Chief Development Officer.' Dr. Holland added, 'Joining Aurion in this capacity is both exciting and deeply meaningful. I've seen firsthand the transformative potential of AURN001, and I look forward to helping the team bring this therapy to patients who urgently need new options.' Dr. Jordan commented, 'This program has always been about patients — those we've met and those still waiting. I'm grateful to lead the development of AURN001, and to work alongside a team so deeply committed to scientific excellence and to the people we serve.' About Edward J. Holland, M.D. Dr. Holland is a globally recognized leader in cornea and external disease. His numerous honors include the Senior Achievement and Life Achievement Honor Awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Binkhorst and Lindstrom Medals from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Castroviejo Award from the Cornea Society. He has been named among the 'Best Doctors in America' and has published extensively in both basic and clinical research, with over 300 peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Holland was the co-principal investigator of the Cornea Donor Study, the largest clinical trial ever conducted in the field of cornea, and he has co-edited five editions of Cornea, the most widely read textbook on corneal disease and surgery. About Eris P. Jordan, O.D. Dr. Jordan brings over two decades of experience across clinical practice and the ophthalmic industry, and she continues to serve as a practicing clinician specializing in cornea and anterior segment. Prior to co-founding Aurion Biotech and serving as Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs, she held leadership roles including Senior Director of Medical Affairs at CorneaGen, Clinical Team Lead and Surgeon Educator at AcuFocus, Inc., and Executive Clinical Outcomes Specialist in Bausch & Lomb's surgical division. Before transitioning to industry, Dr. Jordan spent a decade in direct patient care and served as Clinic Director for a cornea and anterior segment surgical practice. She completed her post-graduate training at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute—the top-ranked U.S. eye care institute—and earned both her Doctor of Optometry and Bachelor of Optical Sciences degrees in a fast-tracked program from Salus University, graduating with highest clinical honors. About Aurion Biotech Aurion Biotech's mission is to restore vision to millions of patients with life-changing regenerative therapies. The company is developing AURN001, an investigational cell therapy for corneal endothelial disease. AURN001 is the first cell therapy for the corneal endothelium to be commercially launched (in Japan) and is advancing through clinical development in North America. Aurion received the prestigious Prix Galien award for Best Start-Up in Biotech in 2022. In 2025, Alcon acquired majority ownership of Aurion Biotech. For more information, visit
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cicada maps show where the insects will emerge in the U.S. this spring
Cicadas are poised to return at some point in the spring of 2025, potentially bringing billions of bugs to neighborhoods across the eastern United States. The group of cicadas set to appear has been labeled Brood XIV. Emerging once every 17 years, Brood XIV is the second-largest group of periodical cicadas — which rise from underground en masse — and will be the only group this spring. That means there will likely be fewer cicadas above ground than there were in 2024, when multiple broods of cicadas emerged at the same time. Where will cicadas emerge in spring 2025? Cicadas this year will likely be concentrated in Kentucky and much of Tennessee. The insects from Brood XIV are also expected to show up in parts of Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, in addition to smaller pockets farther north in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, central Pennsylvania and Long Island, New York. CBS News' data team created an interactive map that shows where cicadas are expected to be this year. The map uses information from the University of Connecticut's Cicada Project, which plots the brood's spread based on its known locations in the past. When will cicadas emerge in spring 2025? The huge groups of cicadas emerge when the soil reaches a certain temperature in the spring, according to University of Connecticut researchers. In warmer states, cicadas usually come out in late April or May. In cooler states, their arrival tends to occur in May or early June. How long will cicadas be above ground? Researchers say cicadas typically remain in a given area for 4 to 6 weeks after they first emerge. Most individual cicadas live for just a few weeks, but, since the emergence itself happens over a two-week period, their eventual fading will also be staggered. What are cicadas? Cicadas are a type of insect, related to stink bugs, bed buds and aphids. The ones expected to arrive in droves this year are a variety called periodical cicadas, which appear in huge swarms and often create loud buzzing sounds, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Annual cicadas exist as well. Periodical cicadas have earned a reputation across eastern North America because of their conspicuous recurrence. Individual "broods" are biologically synchronized to crop up simultaneously in 13- or 17-year intervals, when they rise from their burrows underground in populations that can reach up to the trillions. Between intervals, they live in soil as larvae and feed on fluids from plant roots, the wildlife federation explains. There are three species of cicadas that emerge every 17 years, and four species that materialize every 13 years, according to researchers at the University of Connecticut. When cicadas share the same emergence year, they're considered part of a brood. The interactive map below shows where different broods are scattered across the country. { font-family: "Proxima Nova"; font-size: 16px; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px; } .select-container { display: flex; align-items: center; } .embed__resizer { padding-top: 650px !important; } /* Default height for larger screens */ #datawrapper-chart { width: 100%; height: 650px; border: none; } @media (max-width: 768px) { .embed__resizer { padding-top: 550px !important; } } @media (max-width: 480px) { .embed__resizer { padding-top: 400px !important; } /* Adjust height for mobile screens */ @media (max-width: 480px) { #datawrapper-chart { height: 350px; } } } Active periodical cicada broods in the U.S. Select a brood: All broods Brood I (2029) Brood II (2030) Brood III (2031) Brood IV (2032) Brood V (2033) Brood VI (2034) Brood VII (2035) Brood VIII (2036) Brood IX (2037) Brood X (2038) Brood XIII (2041) Brood XIV (2025) Brood XIX (2037) Brood XXII (2027) Brood XXIII (2028) Your browser does not support embedding this content. function switchVis(chartId) { = ' + chartId; } Why do cicadas make noise? The noise people often hear from cicadas is a mating tactic, according to the wildlife foundation, which notes that male cicadas tend to crowd together and produce raucous choruses in efforts to attract females. Once the mating process has ended, female cicadas deposit their eggs in tree branches. When they hatch, the larvae fall to the ground, burrow into the soil, and the cycle starts again. Vatican announces Pope Francis' funeral details as his burial requests are revealed From the archives: 1970 Earth Day special report with Walter Cronkite Remembering Pope Francis, the Catholic Church leader who broke with tradition
