Sustainable Coastal Growth and Resilience - The First Course of the Coastal Resilience School

This hybrid course is designed for early-career professionals, scientists, consultants, and environmental agency representatives eager to address today’s critical coastal resilience challenges. Combining rigorous theory with practical applications, the course offers a comprehensive 10-week virtual phase followed by an in-person workshop in Bertinoro, Italy (April 7–11, 2025).

Participants will gain advanced knowledge and hands-on experience, equipping them with tools and strategies to enhance coastal resilience in real-world contexts.

The course is free of charge, with travel and accommodation covered by the Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience.

The application call are open from November 15 to December 15. 

Who is the Course For?

• Early Career Ocean Professionals (1-5 years of relevant experience)
• Scientists and Researchers specializing in coastal or environmental fields
• Professionals in coastal management, conservation, or environmental consulting

Application Requirements

• Master’s degree in relevant fields (e.g., environmental sciences, coastal engineering, political sciences)
• 1-5 years of experience in coastal or environmental fields
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written)
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with digital learning environments

The application call will be open from November 15 to December 15. To apply, please follow the link provided at the bottom of this page.

Course Structure and Timeline

The course follows a blended format to optimize learning, alternating between online lessons, dedicated weeks for hands-on practice, and an in-person capstone workshop. Each online module includes daily two-hour lessons (available at any time of day), followed by practical exercises, a live webinar, and mentorship sessions.

Online Phase (January 27 - April 4, 2025)

The online portion of this course spans 10 weeks, structured to build knowledge progressively across five modules. Each module includes a week of daily lessons followed by a week focused on assignments, tutorships and live webinars. 

• Module 1: Overview of Coastal Resilience and its Business Implications
  Week 1-2 (January 27 - February 7)
  Introduction to the principles of coastal resilience, highlighting the importance of adaptive strategies and the role of public and private sectors in emergency management.

• Module 2: Understanding Coastal Hazards Using Operational Oceanography
  Week 3-4 (February 10 - February 21)
  Practical training on open-source scientific data tools, covering hazard analysis with oceanographic data and cloud-based Python tools for data visualization.

• Module 3: Environmental Impact Assessment and Risk Management
  Week 5-6 (February 24 - March 7)
  Overview of environmental impact assessments, with a focus on managing flood and erosion risks as part of the resilience framework.

• Module 4: Enabling Technologies for Coastal Resilience
  Week 7-8 (March 10 - March 21)
  Exploration of essential technologies, including AI, GIS, data assimilation, and satellite Earth observation, applied to coastal sustainability.

• Module 5: Innovative Solutions for Coastal Resilience
  Week 9-10 (March 24 - April 4)
  Development of practical resilience strategies tailored to key coastal infrastructures, such as sustainable ports and coastal cities, addressing challenges from climate change and extreme weather.

This sequence prepares participants for the in-person workshop in Italy, where they will apply their knowledge through a hands-on project.

In-Person Workshop (April 7-11, 2025)

Participants will work on individual project proposals, applying the skills and concepts gained in a real-world scenario related to coastal resilience. Each participant will present their proposal to the group, receiving feedback from instructors and peers.

Primary Learning Objectives

• Grasp the fundamentals of coastal resilience and its applications in business and public policy.
• Leverage operational oceanography data for analyzing coastal hazards.
• Conduct environmental impact assessments and manage coastal risks.
• Utilize cutting-edge technologies to address coastal resilience challenges.
• Design effective resilience strategies for critical coastal infrastructure.
• Complete a hands-on project, addressing a real-world resilience issue.