Challenges and Opportunities in Operationalizing Coupled Human and Natural Systems Research in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

March 26, 2026 - March 27, 2026
Annapolis, MD

This workshop convened in-person on Thursday-Friday, March 26-27, 2026 at the CBF Philip-Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a two-day workshop to convene federal, state, local, and academic partners to synthesize the state of the science on applied coupled human and natural system (CHANS) approaches, recognize opportunities for collaboration, identify achievable solutions, and articulate key research needs. The workshop was highly collaborative and application-focused, with activities designed to engage participants in structured breakout sessions to achieve four primary objectives:

  1. Synthesize the current state of applied CHANS science and its relevance to addressing challenges in the CBW ecosystem.
  2. Map feedbacks and identify gaps.
  3. Assess CHANS applications.
  4. Develop recommendations.

Relevant materials:

  • Background information on CHANS

Workshop Steering Committee:
* STAC Member

Presentations:

Recordings:

  • Panel: Shared Challenges and Opportunities in Coupled Systems
    Facilitated by Theo Lim (UBC, SCARP)
    Panelists: Mindy Roberts (Puget Sound Partnership), Jeff Lerner (EPA), Lew Linker (EPA), Alyssa Dausman (The Water Institute), Brett Milligan (UC Davis)
  • Panel: Policy and Implementation Challenges
    Facilitated by DG Webster (Dartmouth College)
    Panelists: Sarah Elfreth (U.S. House of Representatives, MD-3), Hilary Harp Falk (Chesapeake Bay Foundation), Maggie Woodward (Chesapeake Bay Commission)

 

If you have any questions, please contact Meg Cole, STAC Coordinator, at colem@chesapeake.org.