Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines
Science. Policy. Education. Outreach. Coastal.
News & Media
- PSDS Articles & Op-Eds: Authored by PSDS
- Newspapers & Op-Eds: Articles Featuring PSDS
- PSDS on the Air: Radio & Television
2022
- Opinion | To Save America’s Coasts, Don’t Always Rebuild Them (New York Times, 10/4/22)
- Opinion: It’s time to stop waiting for more NC beach homes to collapse (Rob Young in the Raleigh News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer, 5/31/22)
2021
- Opinion | Climate Change Is Winning the Battle Over Our Coastlines (Rob Young in the New York Times, 9/2/21)
- Commentary | Hunting Island is changing. We must reimagine how visitors experience it. (Rob Young in the Charleston Post & Courier, 4/13/21)
2020
- Opinion | Remember dedicated public servants diligently doing their jobs (Rob Young in the Charleston Post & Courier, 1/30/20)
2019
- Opinion | Is Cape Lookout an Omen for Other Barrier Islands? (Rob Young in the New York Times, 10/24/19)
2018
2016
- Opinion | The Beach Boondoggle (Rob Young in the New York Times, 10/12/2016)
2017
2014
- A Beach Problem Built On Sand (by Rob Young – NYtimes.com – 8/21/2014)
- Oregon Inlet jetties: The unjustifiable sequel in NC (by Orrin Pilkey – 7/9/14)
2013
- Storm Surge Database Publication Announcement!
- JCR Publication about our Storm Surge Database, By Katie Peek and Rob Young
- Fire Island Inlet Statement: An open letter from coastal scientists about Old Inlet
2012
- NYT: We Need to Retreat from the Beach, By Orrin Pilkey
- USA Today Op-Ed: Sandy Reminds us of Coastal Hazards, By Rob Young and Andy Coburn
- Yale 360: Shoot the Messenger: Carolina’s Costly Mistake on Sea Level Rise, By Rob Young
- NC Coastal Federation: 5 Misconceptions about SL Rise, By Robert S. Young, D. Reide Corbett, David Mallinson, Charles Peterson, Stanley R. Riggs, Antonio B. Rodriguez
- The Montserrat Reporter: A Study of Isle’s Bay Beach-relating to Sand Mining, By Katie Peek & Rob Young
- PSDS leads a scientific effort to examine proposed rule changes for beach nourishment projects in Florida
2022
- Ian shows the risks and costs of living on barrier islands | AP News (10/1/22)
- Mark Woods: Can we protect ourselves from hurricanes? Expert has some thoughts (Jacksonville.com, 10/5/22)
- Norfolk moves ahead on sea wall project to protect against storms (Washington Post, 10/5/22)
- Hurricane Ian Is a Warning From the Future | WIRED (WIRED, 9/28/22)
- The sea will rise 12 inches by 2050. Here’s what we can do to get ready | CivicCon (Pensacola News Journal, 5/9/22)
2021
- Black families passed their homes from one generation to the next. Now they may be lost (The Guardian, 10/6/21)
- ‘And then it was too late’: Flood warning timeline reveals challenges of mountain forecasting(Smoky Mountain News, 9/15/21)
- Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines hits $5 million mark in grants (WCU.edu, 9/28/21)
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore Crafts Beach Nourishment Plan (National Parks Traveler, 5/31/21)
- The Enormous Risk of Atmospheric Hacking (The New Yorker, 2/17/21)
- Commentary: SC Supreme Court ruling on Capt. Sam’s Spit is a victory for entire coast (Charleston Post & Courier, 6/7/21)
- Horry County Council still mulling changes to flood ordinance, delays approval (MyHorryNews, 9/22/21)
- North Carolina beach maintenance costs increase amid climate change(Wilmington Star-News, 8/20/21)
2020
- Virginia taps Rob Young, Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, for science expertise (WCU.edu, 12/11/20)
- Disappearing beaches: Climate change could wipe out half of the world’s sandy shorelines (NBC News, 3/5/20)
- Sand for beach replenishment projects in SC and Southeast is becoming scarcer (Charleston Post & Courier, 11/8/20)
- Fortress Charleston: Will Walling Off the City Hold Back the Waters? (Yale Environment 360, 5/5/20)
- Beach Projects Help But Choices Lie Ahead (Coastal Review, 2/17/20)
- Tossing Cash in the Ocean (TCPalm.com, 1/27/20)
2019
- Dorian Takes a Swipe at Beach Replenishment Projects (Scientific American, 9/6/2019)
- Math May Favor Buyout of North Topsail (Coastal Review, 7/2/2019)
- Amid flooding and rising sea levels, residents of one barrier island wonder if it’s time to retreat (Washington Post, 11/9/19)
- Buyout of Hundreds of Homes in North Carolina Town Cheaper Than Protecting Them From Future Storms, Study Says (The Weather Channel, 7/3/19)
- Trump Administration Makes It Easier to Dredge Protected Areas to Restore Beaches (New York Times, 11/7/19)
- With More Storms and Rising Seas, Which U.S. Cities Should Be Saved First? (New York Times, 6/19/19)
- OBX town of Duck looks to the mountains for help with coastal flooding (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 3/7/2019)
- Breaching Cape Lookout National Seashore (National Parks Traveler, 9/23/19)
- Continuing Education: Coastal Resilience (Architectural Record, 8/1/19)
- Dorian One of Strongest, Longest-Lasting Hurricanes on Record in the Atlantic (Inside Climate News, 9/7/19)
- Not Trusting FEMA’s Flood Maps, More Storm-Ravaged Cities Set Tougher Rules (Inside Climate News, 3/19/19)
- Special exception in SC law could save 17 beach houses, but at what cost? (Charleston Post & Courier, 5/10/19)
- More than $1B spent replenishing NJ beaches over past 30 years (NJ.com, 1/17/19)
- Why Giant Pipes (Intentionally) Spewed Water and Sand Onto Rockaway Beach (New York Times, 5/24/19)
- Here’s How Much It Would Cost to Build Seawalls Around Vulnerable US Cities (The Weather Channel, 6/21/19)
2018
- N.C. beach homes and coast are ‘doomed’ and residents need to get out, scientist says (Star News, Wilmington, NC | Raleigh N&O – 8/21/18)
- Connecticut’s vanishing shoreline: One storm away from disaster (CT Mirror, Hartford, CT – 11/27/18)
- AP Explains: Why North Carolina is vulnerable to hurricanes (Associated Press – 9/11/18)
- Public Weighs In on Holden Beach Groin (Coastal Review, Newport, NC – 8/21/18)
- Are you at risk from sea level rise? (Star News, Wilmington, NC | GateHouse Media – 7/28/18)
- After Back-to-Back Hurricanes, North Carolina Reconsiders Climate Change (Inside Climate News, NY – 12/27/18)
- DISAPPEARING BEACHES (ABC News – 2018)
2017
- A Vulnerable Community Braces for the Impacts of Sea Level Rise (Yale Environment 360 – 1/30/17)
- Florida Has Seen Bad Effects from Trump-Like Climate Gag Orders (Scientific American – 2/8/17)
- Beach strategies: Rebuild, retreat or relax (Delaware Online – 1/27/17)
- United States of Climate Change (The Weather Channel – 2017)
- Trump Ignores Climate Change. That’s Very Bad for Disaster Planners (New York Times – 11/9/17)
- How often must we ‘fix’ Bathtub Beach, and can we keep doing it forever? (Treasure Coast Newspapers, FL – 10/27/17)
- ‘Living shorelines’: Can they save us from storms, sea rise? (Asbury Park Press, NJ – 8/21/18)
2016
- Coastal Geologist Criticizes Beach Renourishment efforts (The State, Columbia, SC – 8/17/16)
- Reinforce and Build (Hakai Magazine – 12/20/16)
- How to protect coasts from sea-level rise (Yale Climate Connections – 7/12/16)
- Beach renourishment drives away tiny sea creatures (The State, Columbia, SC – 8/19/16)
- Four Years After Sandy, Real Estate is Recovering (Hartford Courant – 8/11/16)
2015
- The Changing Carolina Coast: Sand Is Everywhere, Except When It Isn’t (North Carolina Public Radio – 6/2/15)
- After dangerous season in 2014, Ocean City hoping for calm seas this summer (Baltimore Sun – 5/26/15)
- For Vulnerable Barrier Islands, A Rush to Rebuild on U.S. Coast (Yale Environment 360 – 1/26/15)
- CT’s repeat flood damage dilemma: move out or rebuild? (Connecticut Mirror – 10/9/15)
- Letting Go of Paradise (Hakai Magazine – 10/29/15)
- Scientists Foresee Losses as Cities Fight Beach Erosion (Climate Central – 10/9/15)
- To sample climate concerns, look at nature (Climate Central – 10/9/15)
2014
- Growing, and Growing Vulnerable: Barrier Islands Feeling the Effects of Climate Change (nytimes.com – 9/29/14)
- Why Americans are flocking to their sinking shores even as the risks mount (Reuters.com- 9/14/14)
- New York’s Plan to Storm-Proof Fire Island Is Deeply Flawed, Says Scientist (NextCity.org- 9/12/14)
- Hurricane Arthur’s Threat to the July 4 Economy (Time.com – 7/3/14)
- Hurricane Arthur Shifts Left, Aims for a Direct Hit in Eastern North Carolina (wunderground.com – 7/3/2014)
- CRC Limits Sea-Level Rise Study to 30 Years (nccoast.org – 5/6/14)
- SC seawalls, beach projects score victory (thestate.com – 5/8/2014)
- Rising Seas Don’t Stop North Carolina Bridge That Uses U.S. Cash (businessweek.com – 5/6/14)
2013
- Rethinking the Shores (Sag Harbor Express – 9/13/13)
- Recovery from Superstorm Sandy ignited fight over dunes (USA Today – 8/29/13)
- Coastal Alabama braces for the coming changes, as sand shifts beneath the federal flood program (Mobile Press Register – 8/9/13)
- Four Ways the Government Subsidizes Risky Coastal Rebuilding (Pro Publica – 6/19/13)
- Bloomberg Outlines $20 Billion Storm Protection Plan (NY Times – 6/11/13)
- Rebuilding the Coastline, but at What Cost? (NY Times – 5/18/13)
- “NATURE’S TOLL ROAD, Rebuilding N.C. 12 threatens the Outer Bank’s existence.” (PilotOnline.com- 5/5/13)
- Dispute in Hamptons Set Off by Effort to Hold Back Ocean (NY Times – 4/17/13)
- Can We Predict When People Will Abandon the Jersey Shore? (Discover Magazine – 3/20/13)
- Rebuilding the Shores, Increasing the Risks (NY Times – 4/8/13)
- Opinion piece about whether to retreat from the coast (Newark Star Ledger – 2/5/13)
- Editorial page Q&A about coastal policy in wake of Hurricane Sandy (Newark Star Ledger – 2/3/13)
- Story of coastal rebuilding after big storms (Businessweek – 1/31/13)
- After Sandy, federal flood insurance drawing renewed scrutiny (Salt Lake City Desert News – 1/24/13)
- Is rebuilding in hurricane zones wise? (SF Chronicle – 1/18/13)
- Hurricane Sandy relief bill clears first barrier, stirs debate (Nature.com Blog – 1/16/13)
2012
- Cost of Shoring Up Coastal Communities (NY Times – 11/5/12)
- The dunes did their job, but restoration has cost (Philadelphia Inquirer – 11/5/12)
- Charlotte Observer has gallery of photos from Andy Coburn’s flyover at NC coast. North Carolina’s coast is ‘hot spot’ for rising sea levels (Charlotte Observer – 11/5/12) |
- Sandy reminds us of coastal hazards (USA Today Editorial – 10/31/12)
- A North Carolina Lifeline Built on Shifting Sands (NY Times – 3/5/12)
- A lifeline built on shifting sands (Honolulu Star Advertiser – 3/6/12)
- 50 years ago, a storm that redefined the Jersey Shore (Philadelphia Inquirer – 3/4/12)
- Dial-a-Flood: A New Smart Phone App Helps Residents and Researchers Predict Storm Surges (Scientific American Feature – 6/15/12)
- Leaders oppose longer setback lines on beach homes (Bluffton Today – 1/22/12)
- Bold plan proposed to save coastal Louisiana (Boston Globe – 1/12/12)
- Removing dams, restoring culture (Sylva Herald – 1/5/12)
- Professor honored for work in Northwest (WCU News – 6/20/12)
2022
- Dr. Rob Young on the Growing Pains of Coastal Adaptation (Coastal News Today, 9/18/22)
- The sea will rise 12 inches by 2050. Here’s what we can do to get ready | CivicCon (Pensacola News Journal, 5/9/22)
2021
- What Will It Take To Take It Seriously (Blue Ridge Public Radio, 9/14/21)
- The Porch: The River | BPR (Blue Ridge Public Radio, 9/17/21)
2020
2019
2017
2016
- Coastal geologist conducting mountain of work (The State, Columbia, SC – 8/19/16)
- Sand’s End (The Verge – 11/17/16)
2014
- Congress and the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (WCQS NPR – 4/9/14)
2013
- Should We Cease to Build In Harm’s Way (KRWR To the Point- 2/15/13)
- WBUR/NPR Onpoint radio (Boston) story about coastal rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy (2/5/13)
- Rebuild or Retreat from the Jersey Shore? (WNYC interview – 1/28/13)
- Shoring Up the Nation’s Crumbling Coastlines (NPR Science Friday – 1/25/13)
- Experts Urge Caution As $50 Billion In Sandy Aid Passes House (NPR Interview – 1/18/13)
- WCU Professor Objects to Portion of Aid Bill (WCQS Interview)
- NBC Nightly News Interview with Andy Coburn and Rob Young (NBC News)
- Rob Young on WFAE (Charlotte) talking about sea-level rise and Hurricane Sandy (11/1/12)
- Rob Young on NPR’s Marketplace (11/2012)
- Rob Young on WCQS-FM (Asheville) talking about Hurricane Sandy
2012
- Rising Tides and the Changing Coast (WUNC North Carolina Public Radio)
- Hurricane Irene (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio News)
- Terminal Groins (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio News)
- Are Berms Good for Cleanup? (CNN Anderson Cooper, AC 360° – 6/16/10)
- Gulf Oil Spill (WQCS Western North Carolina Public Radio Conversations)
- Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
- New Jersey Beach Replenishment, Is It Worth It? (WHYY Radio – 5/9/11)
- NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams about NC Beach Nourishment
- Swiss Public Radio Interview about sand mining
Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines
Old Student Union
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723