The coasts are home to an estimated 40% of the population globally and 60% of the population in New Jersey. The coastal environment also provides diverse habitats for countless marine and terrestrial species. For centuries, humans have lived, worked, and played along the coasts, and the ocean has long been an important component of the economy.

Sea levels are expected to rise as the earth's climate warms, which makes our coastlines particularly vulnerable. Climate change will likely impact not only the physical coastline, but also the billions of people who live and work near the water and the organisms whose habitats lie within coastal regions. Understanding the impacts of climate change on our coasts therefore requires the perspectives of sociologists, economists, and scientists alike.

The Coastal group is focusing particularly on how climate change will impact the coast of New Jersey. The group currently includes geologists, sociologists, and oceanographers.