Becker receives first Sloan fellowship for URI

AUSTIN BECKER, a University of Rhode Island professor of marine affairs, was named URI’s first recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
AUSTIN BECKER, a University of Rhode Island professor of marine affairs, was named URI’s first recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Austin Becker, a University of Rhode Island professor of marine affairs, was named URI’s first recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, according to a release from the school on Friday.

Becker, who said he was “honored” to be selected, said the award “recognizes the importance of bringing the latest ocean science information to the public and the decision makers who need it in order to make choices that benefit society.”

A member of the URI faculty since 2014, Becker’s research is driven by the effects of climate change and helps strengthen coastal communities against storms, sea level rise and other natural hazards, linking social and marine sciences.

Each year the Sloan Foundation awards $60,000 fellowships to 126 scientists to further research in a variety of fields. Becker said the funds would be used to further develop a virtual disaster impacts model, techniques to visualize the impact of disasters, techniques to better understand the relative vulnerability of North Atlantic seaports and methodologies for engaging stakeholders in resilience planning.

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He added that this opportunity will allow him to involve more students in his research as well as purchase new forms of technology to better understand climate change impact more quickly so results can be published and disseminated to the public, insurance companies and emergency planners sooner.

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