Samuel Cryan ’22


Geosciences
Coastal Zone Management and National Estuarine Research Reserve System
I worked with the National Estuarine Research Reserve System through the Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) program to analyze the different estuarine (areas where rivers meet the sea) nature reserves and determine how resilient the reserves will be in the face of climate change and rising sea levels. I looked at specific features of each reserve such as erodibility and the percentage of area below higher high water (the highest high tide) to determine risk and identify ways to reduce it. I also conducted greenhouse gas audits and worked on getting some of the sites designated as internationally important by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands treaty. I learned a lot about coastal management practices to better protect estuaries, as well as how to work with geographic information system (GIS) mapping. I also gained a lot of insight into the structure of NOAA and the many important projects they work on. I loved the experience and hope to continue studying coastal management.
2021
Climate and Environmental Science
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Erica Seiden, Program Manager, NOAA