Connecting Oceans and Cities: Rethinking a Crucial Relationship to Drive Innovative and Sustainable Urban Development

Timothy Beatley is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities at University of Virginia's School of Architecture, where he has taught for the last twenty-five years. His work focuses on the development of sustainable coastal communities and creative strategies by which cities and towns can fundamentally reduce their ecological footprints. Beatley believes we must create a culture of "ocean literacy" incorporating building design, art that draws inspiration from marine forms, citizen volunteerism and more to create new policies that support and protect marine health.

Beatley is the author or co-author of more than fifteen books addressing the crucial role of sustainable and resilient cities as our best hope for addressing today's environmental challenges. His new book published by Island Press, Blue Urbanism, he argues that, given all we've gained from the sea, city policies, plans, and daily urban life should acknowledge and support a healthy ocean environment. It offers a comprehensive look at the challenges and great potential for urban areas to integrate ocean health into their policy and planning goals.

Richard Burroughs is Professor of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island, and a visiting Professor at Yale's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. His work focuses on marine environmental policy formulation and implementation, ecosystem management, marine pollution, and the role of science in public policy.  He has had scholarly articles published in Coastal Management, Maritime Policy and Management, Society and Natural Resources, and The Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, among others. He serves on the Narragansett Bay Commission and the Mystic Seaport International Council.

According to Burroughs, one of the biggest difficulties facing urban managers in coastal areas is conflicting values that society holds - such as the desire for easy access to pristine beaches while seeking to put houses on the beach - that results in unclear policy directions. Burroughs' book, Coastal Governance published by Island Press, examines the current thinking on such issues as fisheries, oil development, waste disposal, suburban sprawl, and other topics. Throughout the book, coastal citizens are challenged to determine how to improve existing policies.