Dr. Grace Molino is a postdoctoral fellow with the NW CASC, and is part of a national cohort of fellows leading regional research projects related to the future of species’ range shifts as part of the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program, run by the National Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Grace’s scientific training combines large-scale, remotely sensed data products with field surveys to examine biological, physical and anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem shifts with climate change. Her current work at the NW CASC, in collaboration with management partners, examines coastal squeeze of priority ecosystems and species with sea level rise in the Pacific Northwest. When not in the office, Grace can be found on the coast or in the mountains looking at interesting rocks, cycling or trying out a new recipe.

What led you to work in the field of climate adaptation?

I was in high school on Long Island, New York, when Superstorm Sandy hit and demolished huge swaths of coastal communities. It was a harsh reality check that as a society, we were very far from prepared for a changing climate, which is predicted to bring increasingly strong storms into contact with our coast. Simultaneously, I felt very protective of the coastal ecosystems I grew up in and around, like salt marshes, which face increasing pressure from development and pollution. In my work, I get to combine all the things I am most passionate about – increasing the resilience of our coastal ecosystems and communities so that they are ready for both short-term threats like storms and the long-term challenge of sea level rise. 

What does your day-to-day work look like?

On a broad level, my research examines how ecosystems and communities respond to sea level rise, and where that can put them into conflict with one another. Some days I spend staring at high resolution aerial imagery and maps of land use and ecosystem extent on my computer, and some days I have back-to-back meetings with colleagues and stakeholders to make sure my research aims align with their needs. I also spend a lot of time thinking about how to best communicate my research. This includes preparing and giving conference presentations, public seminars and classroom lectures. I really enjoy that each day is different, but the best days are the ones when I get to step outside of my office and into the coastal ecosystems themselves for a bit of field work!

How does your work support climate resilience in the Northwest?

My research examines the physical barriers to coastal ecosystem landward migration with sea level rise in the Northwest. Right now, that means filling gaps in datasets of built barriers, such as levees, roads, seawalls and other shoreline armoring, that are likely to prevent ecosystems such as seagrass and salt marshes from migrating laterally as sea level rise begins to inundate upland areas in the region. Ultimately, I will use this dataset to identify potential restoration sites for key species of interest. I am very grateful for the ongoing conversations with Northwest stakeholders I have been connected to through the NW CASC to ensure that the end products are both useful and usable. 

What is your favorite thing about your work?

My favorite part is that my work has taken me all over the U.S. and to different countries. I have had the opportunity to live in new places for school and jobs, as well as travel for extended periods of time for research, conferences and field courses. I love visiting new coasts and meeting the folks who live and work there. Every trip teaches me something new about how coastal ecosystems and communities are responding to global changes, and that is essential for my work as I try to understand the landscape of coastal resilience around the country and how we might be able to make connections and learn from what is going on in seemingly disparate places.