If you missed it (or just want to see it again), here is a recording of our Climate Change, Social Change: The Next 50 Years of Coastal Protection presentation (5/15) by Dr. Charles Lester, researcher and former California Coastal Commission Executive Director. With the increased threat of sea level rise, he shared challenges that face our coast and possible solutions. Thanks to Midpen Media Center for recording it. Check out their site for similar programming.

Charles Lester Biography

Researcher, Marine Science Institute

Dr. Charles Lester has been working in the field of ocean and coastal management for more than 25 years. Currently he is at Marine Sciences Institute at UC Santa Barbara, and continues to research, write, teach and consult about sea level rise, coastal resilience, and other aspects of California coastal law and policy. Charles is also the half-time director of the Santa Clara River Conservancy, working to protect, restore and enhance the Santa Clara River. Charles worked many years for the California Coastal Commission, including serving as the agency’s fourth executive director from 2011 to 2016. Previously, Charles was an assistant professor of political science at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he taught environmental law and policy, with a focus on public lands governance and coastal zone management. He received his Ph.D. and J.D. from UC Berkeley, and a B.A. in Geochemistry from Columbia University.