This first event in a planned series of roundtables was structured to allow for active interactions and knowledge exchange among participants via presentations, networking, and small roundtable discussions. The roundtable discussions are reflected in the resulting position paper, addressing key priorities and science gaps in different thematic areas related to coastal resilience, and providing recommendations for the role of universities in research, education, and outreach that would inform the resilience planning for Virginia’s coastal zone.

The event was held at the Virginia Tech main campus in Blacksburg, VA, on October 11 & 12, 2018. Participants included faculty from Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, College of William and Mary, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and University of Virginia, as well as local government officials from the cities of Hampton and Norfolk, experts from the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and representatives from the Wetlands Watch NGO.

The selected roundtable themes were: 1) Engineering the future with more water; 2) Technology as a part of solution; 3) Socio-ecological systems; 4) Community resilience; and 5) Should we stay or should we go?

The roundtable discussions emphasized the important role of stakeholders in providing traditional knowledge, professional expertise, and a new perspective on pressing issues of coastal flooding in Virginia. Holistic stakeholder representation in resilience deliberations, consistent with the whole-of-community approach to building resilience, will ensure that all parties engage in transformative learning and converge on solutions that will be mutually acceptable and beneficial for all Hampton Roads populations.

As for the science, there are plenty of existing flood models and risk information, with more granular and sophisticated impact projections emerging by the day. What is needed at this point are innovative ways to translate this science into cost-effective and sustainable resilience strategies that will be compatible with the local context of diverse Hampton Roads communities.

Fall 2018 Roundtable Report