Sea Level Rise: Measurement, Understanding, Adaptation

The Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment at Connecticut College is proud to be hosting our 2026 Lear-Conant Environmental Symposium, Sea Level Rise: Measurement, Understanding, Adaptation.

Over the coming decades sea level rise, accelerated by climate change, will pose major challenges to densely populated coastal regions, including ecological and human impacts on coastal Connecticut and the Long Island Sound region. Relative sea level – the height of the sea level relative to land at a particular place – is a complex phenomenon affected by many variables, including water temperature, global sea level rise caused by melting ice, sedimentation, coastal infrastructure, and land subsidence.

This Lear-Conant Symposium will bring together dynamic researchers across varied disciplines and fields. Each of our speakers will discuss topics that consider the complexities of sea level, how we measure it, understand it, and what it means for human and ecological communities. This symposium builds on the strong tradition at Connecticut College of coastal salt marsh ecology and research on the impacts of seal level changes on tidal wetlands. The symposium will also provide an opportunity to discuss and explore what it means to care for places and communities that will be affected by sea level rise.

In conjunction with the symposium, we will be hosting a small Coastal-Climate Exposition that will feature local community groups, NGO's, student groups and more. We have limited space, but if you're interested in exhibition tabling information, please contact the center at [email protected], subject line: SLR Expo.

Agenda's for both days are below. We will continuously update the event page and the symposium website with details and relevant news.

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Register on this site with Eventbrite to secure your spot for each day. For your convenience, use the links below to add the events to your calendar.

Click to add the Friday event to your calendar.

Clickto add the Saturday events to your calendar.

Info: Chu Room, Shain Library at Connecticut College
Join the Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment as we present the 2026 GNCE Alumni Environmental Achievement Award to Katherine Serafin ‘08. A graduate of Connecticut College and the second Goodwin-Niering Center alumni scholar to receive the award, Katherine joins an accomplished list of graduates that have gone on to make significant contributions in a wide variety of fields. The recipients exemplify the many ways that an environmental passion and a dynamic liberal arts education can significantly benefit society and our natural world.

From scientific research to film making, land conservation to business practices, and interpreting the natural world through maps to writing biographies of leading environmental activists, the recipients have earned a place on the short list of our outstanding graduates.

Info: Chu Room, Shain Library at Connecticut College. Katy Serafin ‘08, University of Florida and the 2026 Goodwin-Niering Center Alumni Environmental Award recipient will give the opening keynote lecture. The lecture will be followed by a short Q&A.

Info: Living Room, Shain Library at Connecticut College
Join us as we celebrate the start of our 2026 Lear-Conant Environmental Symposium, a legacy started in 2002 thanks to the generous support of Linda Lear '62. Since 2002, Lear’s generous gift to the Center has provided biennial symposia funding to honor the legacy of Elizabeth "Babs" Conant '51, an evolutionary zoologist, who served the College as Assistant Professor of Zoology, Dean of Sophomores, and Trustee from 1982-1992. Conant was awarded the College Medal in 1995.

Info: Our Saturday programming will begin with registration and a continental breakfast in the JTC Gallery in the Cummings Art Center, followed by a full day of interdisciplinary exploration. Our incredible lineup of speakers will examine sea level, how we measure it, understand it and what it means for human and ecological communities. The symposium will also provide an opportunity to discuss and explore what it means to care for places and communities that will be affected by sea level rise.

Saturday includes all lectures, breaks, lunch and a closing reception for all symposium attendees. Our wonderful programming is made possible by the generous support of Linda Lear '62. Since 2002, Lear’s generous gift to the Center has provided biennial symposia funding to honor the legacy of Elizabeth "Babs" Conant '51, an evolutionary zoologist, who served the College as Assistant Professor of Zoology, Dean of Sophomores, and Trustee from 1982-1992. Conant was awarded the College Medal in 1995.

Info: Join us in the JTC Gallery for guest registration and a continental breakfast. Mingle with industry & academic experts before our full day of exciting programming.

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