Presenter: Miró Merrill
Co-presenter: Taylor Richmond
Mentor: Mark Blaine, Journalism
Poster: 45
Major: Journalism
In 1964, the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded uplifted the Copper River Delta. This created a shift from saltwater to freshwater marsh over a broad area, and started a new line of succession for plant and
animal species. The quake, combined with a variety of hydrologic features and a tremendous bio-abundance yet lack of biodiversity, made the region a somewhat controlled environment for scientific study. It’s also a place with significant natural resources that are deeply connected to the Cordova community. Within this environment, we saw an opportunity to explore the connection between scientists, policy makers and constituents, and look at communicating climate science through the network that connects those three groups of people on the Copper River Delta. Using a broad range of multimedia and multi-platform storytelling techniques and tools, we began a multiyear process of documenting attitudes and values communities facing climate change.