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School of Earth Sciences

Austin Becker

[photo] Austin Becker headshot
Title:PhD Student
Primary Affiliation:Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment & Resources
Other Affiliations:E-IPER
Office Location:
E-mail:austinb@stanford.edu

Biographical Information

Austin grew up in Connecticut, but has spent equal time living
in Rhode Island and on Cape Cod. His previous career was as a captain
of schooners and tall ships. He designed and oversaw educational
programs that engaged students in leadership training, taught
traditional seamanship skills, and developed educational programs in
maritime heritage, marine science, and contemporary marine affairs. As a
professional mariner, Austin traveled throughout the U.S. Eastern
Seaboard, the Caribbean, Thailand, and New Zealand. He returned to
graduate school in 2005 and earned a Master of Marine Affairs and Master
of Environmental Science and Management from the University of Rhode
Island.

Research

Austin's Ph.D. research explores the potential impacts of climate change
on seaports around the globe. He focuses on the "adaptation" side of
climate change and works across the disciplines of policy, economics,
engineering and climate-change science to quantify the risks and
vulnerabilities faced by ports and the economies that depend upon them.
He is also exploring potential adaptation strategies that ports, policy
makers, and the insurance industry may employ to build resiliency in the
face of climate change.

Teaching

Austin is an instructor for CEE 129/229, Engineering and Policy
Responses to Climate Change Impacts on Seaports, along with Prof. Martin
Fischer and Dr. Ben Schwegler. He also helped create the ENVRES 220 Seminar, Our Coastal Society: An Interdisciplinary Seminar on Ocean/Coastal
Themes, with Meg Caldwell. He also TA'd IPER 330, Research Approaches for Environmental Problem
Solving.

Professional Activities

Before coming to Stanford, Austin worked for Rhode Island Sea Grant and
the Coastal Resources Center on policy issues around urban working
waterfronts and ports, marine-based recreation and tourism, and coastal
environmental issues. In his role as a Marine Research Associate, he
studied and analyzed data collected from maritime-industry stakeholders
and collaborated on creating policy solutions that addressed conflicting
demands for limited waterfront space, the marine economy, and the
ecological health of the urban waterfront.

In other previous lives, he owned and operated a yacht charter business
with a classic wooden sailboat, worked as a marine surveyor, managed a
marina on Cape Cod, and served on the municipal Harbor Management
Committee in Provincetown, Mass.
Continental Sloop Providence

Austin still holds a 500-Ton U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license for
ocean-going vessels.

Education

  • 2006 | Master of Environmental Science and Management University of Rhode Island
  • 2005 | Master of Marine Affairs University of Rhode Island
  • 1995 | BA Maritime History Hampshire College
  • 1994 | n/a Maritime Studies Williams/Mystic Maritime Studies Program

Professional Experience

  • 2006 - 2008 | Marine Research Associate R.I. Sea Grant/Coastal Resources Center, URI
  • 1997 - 2005 | Captain Providence Maritime Heritage Foundation and various vessels up to 135'
  • 1997 - Present | 500-Ton Master License, All Oceans, Aux. Sail United States Coast Guard

Honors & Awards

  • 2011 | Lieberman Fellowship (Awarded
    to 9 graduate students across all disciplines at Stanford for outstanding
    scholarship, teaching, and university service)
  • 2011 | Centennial Teaching Assistant Award for outstanding teaching by Stanford graduate students
  • 2011 | Certificate
    of Achievement in Mentoring in the School of Earth Science  
  • 2010 | 2nd Place Winner of Student Competition at ASCE Ports 2010 Conference
  • 2009 | McGee Award from Stanford School of Earth Sciences
  • 2008 | Shell Fund Award to support research and travel

University Service

  • 2011 - Present | E-IPER Student Liaison Committee
  • 2011 - Present | Graduate Teaching Consultant, Center for Teaching and Learning, Stanford University
  • 2008 - Present | Founder/Co-President, The Coastal Society, Stanford University Chapter
  • 2006 - 2007 | President, The Coastal Society, University of Rhode Island Student Chapter

Professional Activities

  • 2010 - Present | Working group member of PIANC Ports Working Group 150: Green Ports: A
    Practical Guide for a Sustainable Seaport
  • 2011 - Present | Coordintating author for UNCTAD Ad hoc expert group's consensus paper
    on seaport adaptation paper
  • 2011 - Present | Supporting author for US National
    Climate Assessment Report, Technical Input on Coasts Chapter
  • 2009 - Present | Reviewer for Journal of Climatic Change, Journal of Maritime Policy and Management, and Journal of Risk Management
  • 2007 | UNCONN American Experience Lecture Series, Guest Lecturer
  • 2007 | URI Integrated Graduate Research and Traineeship (IGERT), Guest Lecturer

Courses Taught

  • 2011     (Winter) | ENVRES 220 (TA)  Our Coastal Society [Enrolled 15]
  • 2010-2011    (Quarterly) | CEE 129/229     Engineering and Policy Responses to Climate Change Impacts on Seaports [Enrollment varies]
  • 2010     (Winter) | CEE 229 (TA)     Engineering and Policy Responses to Climate Change Impacts on Seaports [Enrolled 8]
  • 2010     (Spring) | IPER 330 (TA)     Research Approaches for Environmental Problem Solving [Enrolled 4]

Publications

    Refereed

  • Becker, A. (in review). “Maritime
    Transportation and Ports.” Entry for the Encyclopedia
    of Natural Resources    .
  • Becker, A., Fischer, M., Inoue, S., Schwegler,
    B. (2011). “Climate Change Impacts on International Seaports: Knowledge,
    Perception, and Planning Efforts Among Port Administrators.” Journal of Climatic Change, published
    online on March 5, 2011. Online at http://www.springerlink.com/content/x150wl76g57843k6/fulltext.pdf.

    Non-Refereed

  • Rijks, D., Pena, C., Becker, A., et al. (in
    prep.). “Sustainable Ports.” Report from PIANC Working Group 150.
  • Becker, A., Newell D., Fischer, M.,
    Schwegler, B. (2011). “Will ports become forts? Climate change impacts,
    opportunities, and challenges.” Terra et
    Aqua, Official Magazine of the International Association of Dredging Companies    ,
    Number 122, pp 11-17.
  • Becker, A. Wilson, A., Bannon, R., McCann,
    J., Robadue, D., Kennedy, S. (ed.), (2010). “Rhode Island's Ports and
    Commercial Harbors: A GIS-Inventory of Current Uses and Infrastructure.” Rhode
    Island Statewide Planning Program, Providence, RI.
  • Becker, A., (2010). “Ready Whatever the Weather,”
    Ports and Harbors Magazine,
    International Association of Ports and Harbors, March 2010, 26-27.
  • Becker, A., J. Boyd, C. Chaffee, S. Kennedy,
    J. McCann, N. Mitchell, R. Sheridan, M. Allard Cox, & A. Neville (Eds.)
    (2008). “Recommendations for Management of the Woonasquatucket River &
    Promenade Street District.” Rhode Island Sea Grant, Narragansett, R.I., 34pp.
  • Becker, A. (2006). “Making the Waterfront
    Work: A Case for True Mixed-Use Redevelopment of Providence Harbor,” 41 Degrees
    North, 3(2), pages 12-13.

    PRESENTATIONS

    Invited

  • Becker, A., Fischer M., Matson P., Newell D.
    (2011). “Adaptation strategies for seaports: Global implications and local
    perspectives.” United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Ad
    Hoc Expert Meeting on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: A Challenge for
    Global Ports, Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 30.
  • Becker, A., Newell D. (2011). “Climate change
    adaptation for seaports: Engineering and policy for a sustainable future.”
    Arup, San Francisco, CA, Feb. 8.
  • Becker, A. (2010). “Seaports and Climate
    Change.” Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 19, (webcast).
  • Becker, A. (2010). “Hot Topics in Climate
    Change Science.” American Sail Training Association Annual Conference, Long
    Beach, CA, Nov. 15.
  • Becker, A., Fischer, M., Inoue, S. (2010). "Climate
    Change Adaptation: Results of a global survey of ports." Joint UNECE -
    UNCTAD Workshop, Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 8.
  • Becker, A., Fischer, M., Schwegler, B.
    (2010). “Climate Change Adaptation: AAPA/IAPH Member Plans and Perceptions,”
    presented at AAPA Harbors, Ports, and Navigation/GreenPorts America, Charleston,
    SC, April 26.
  • Becker, A., Fischer, M., Schwegler, B.
    (2010). “Climate Change Adaptation: IAPH/AAPA Member Plans and Perceptions,”
    presented at International Association of Ports and Harbors Mid-term
    Conference, Savannah, GA, June 7.
  • Becker, A., Schwegler, B., Matson, P. (2010).
    “Impacts of Climate Change on Seaports: Preliminary Results of a Survey of
    Knowledge, Perceptions and Planning Efforts Among Port Administrators,” Sea
    Level Rise 2010 Conference, Corpus Christi, TX, March 2. 
  • Becker, A. (2007). University of Connecticut,
    American Experience Lecture Series, Guest Lecturer.
  • Becker, A. (2006). URI, Integrated Graduate
    Research and Traineeship (IGERT) Program, Guest Lecturer.

    Other

  • Newell, D., Fischer, M., Schwegler, B.,
    Becker, (2011). “Climate change adaptation for seaports
    Engineering and policy for a sustainable future.” Coastal Zone 2011: Chicago,
    IL, July 17.
  • Newell, D., Fischer, M., Schwegler, B.,
    Becker, A., Chase, N. (2010). “Preparing Ports for Sea Level Rise.” Cities and
    Ports, 12th International Conference: Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 17.
  • Newell, D., Fischer, M., Schwegler, B.,
    Becker, A. (2010). “Ports & the Environment Seminar 2010: Distributed
    Technological Tools for Global Sea Level Rise Response Planning,” Long Beach, CA,
    Oct. 4.
  • Becker, A., Fischer, M., Schwegler, B. (2010).
    "Impacts of Climate Change on Seaports: A Survey of Knowledge,
    Perceptions, and Planning Efforts of Port Administrators," The Coastal
    Society, Shifting Shorelines: Adapting to the Future Annual Conference, (proceedings
    in press), Wilmington, NC, June 14.
  • Becker, A., Fischer, M., Schwegler, B.
    (2010). “Impacts of Climate Change on Seaports: Results of a Survey of
    Knowledge, Perceptions and Planning Efforts Among Port Administrators.” American Society of Civil Engineers Ports
    2010: Building on the Past, Respecting the Future,     Jacksonville, FL, April
    25-28.
  • Becker, A., Fischer, M., Matson, P. (2010). “Impacts
    of Climate Change on Seaports: A Survey of Knowledge, Perceptions and Planning
    Efforts Among Port Administrators,” Coastal Zone 2009 Conference, (proceedings
    at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz/), Boston, MA, July 21.
  • Becker, A., McCann, J. (2009). “Toward
    Understanding the Dynamics of Water Dependent Uses and Coastal Policy Through
    Rhode Island’s Ports and Commercial Harbors Inventory,” Coastal Zone 2009
    Conference, (proceedings at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz/), Boston, MA, July 21.
  • Becker, A., J. McCann, S. Kennedy, P.
    Rubinoff. (2007). “Applying Place-based Coastal Management Tools in the
    Redevelopment of Rhode Island's Urban Metro Bay Shoreline,” The Proceedings of the Water Access 2007: A
    National Symposium on Working Waterways and Waterfronts    , Norfolk, VA, page
    41, May 9.
  • Becker, A. (2006). “Urban Waterfronts in the
    21st Century: Shaping Policy for the Port of Providence,” The Coastal Society
    Annual Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, May 15.  

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