2025 Speaker Series
Innovative Insurance Solutions for Climate Risk
Join Steve Brandt (Chief Development Officer) and Charlie Sidoti (Executive Director) from InnSure for an informative presentation on cutting-edge approaches to closing the climate insurance "protection gap." They will discuss their flood resilience pilot program with Salem, Massachusetts—the first of its kind in the state—which combines home resilience audits with community-based insurance solutions that recognize and reward local climate adaptation efforts. Learn how these innovative approaches address the growing challenges coastal communities face as traditional insurance markets struggle with increasing climate risks.
Climate Change and Shellfishing in the Merrimack River: End of a Legacy or a New Beginning?
Join us on October 21, 2025 as Wayne Castonguay, Regional Shellfish Program Supervisor for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, will explore the rich history of this iconic fishery, examine how climate change is reshaping coastal industries, and present potential pathways to preserve this vital resource for future generations.
Addressing the health of the Merrimack River: water quality, combined sewer overflows and restoration.
Join Curt Rogers, Executive Director of the Merrimack River Watershed Council, and Jose Tapia, Water Quality Project Manager, for an important update on the health of the Merrimack River. This talk will cover the latest data on combined sewer overflows (CSOs), current remediation efforts, and the real-time monitoring results from Newburyport’s Harbormaster dock. The speakers will highlight gaps in the current plan, outline next steps, and share how community members can get involved in protecting and restoring the river.
High Stakes at High Tide: Understanding Coastal Flood Risks
Katie Giannakopoulos, Coastal Dynamics Research Associate at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, will discuss take a closer look at the impacts of Sea Level Rise in the Gulf of Maine and how it relates to coastal storms.
The Coastal Resilience Benefits of Seagrass Meadows and Wetlands
Join us as Phil Colarusso, marine biologist and diver for the Environmental Protection Agency, returns to provide an update following his February 2020 presentation. Dr. Colarusso is a recognized expert in "blue carbon"—coastal habitats such as seagrasses, salt marshes, and mangroves that play a key role in capturing and storing carbon.
Life Cycle of an Oyster and how Coastal Acidification affects this important reef builder
Join us for the next Surge Speaker Series event: Lifecycle of an Oyster, featuring Liv Woods and John A. Cigliano from the Mass Oyster Project at the Newburyport Senior/Community Center at 7 pm on Tuesday March 4th. Doors open at 6:30 for light refreshments. The talk will begin at 7.
Additional events are always being planned ...stay tuned for details.
Greater Newburyport Community Media Hub (NCM-Hub) will be recording the 2025 Speaker Series events at the Community Senior Center. We appreciate their support.