Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture Liz Camuti, along with Professor and Program Co-Director of Landscape and Engineering Margarita Jover, has been awarded a $749,961 grant from the Gulf Research Program (GRP) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to lead the “Gulf Coast Climate Futures” studio. This interdisciplinary studio, part of the GRP’s larger Gulf Futures initiative, invites students to explore the pressing issues of climate mitigation and adaptation in the Gulf Coast region. The studio aims to prepare students to address challenges specific to the Gulf—an area heavily impacted by the oil and gas industry—by engaging them in the practice of analyzing, hypothesizing, and proposing forward-thinking scenarios to build community resilience.

In addition to Camuti and Jover’s studio, the GRP is investing $5.9 million to fund eight Gulf Futures design studios across architecture programs in Gulf states. These studios encourage collaboration among students from diverse fields, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the region’s challenges, from climate resilience to economic growth and ecological stewardship. The program aims to prepare the next generation of architects and designers by combining design thinking with interdisciplinary approaches to address the Gulf's complex environmental and social issues.

By studying existing resilience and restoration plans, faculty and students in the Gulf Coast Climate Futures studio will develop innovative design solutions that challenge traditional methods of climate adaptation. Through the GRP’s investment, these studios provide students with a platform to reimagine sustainable and resilient futures for Gulf communities, blending creative vision with practical solutions for real-world impact.

For more information, visit the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.