{"690325":{"#nid":"690325","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow Awarded National Climate Resilience Grant","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA Georgia Tech-led project advancing coastal resilience and ecosystem restoration has been selected for the inaugural\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/revive-restore-announces-inaugural-climate-resilience-fund-cohort\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClimate Resilience Fund\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E cohort, awarded by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/\u0022\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Restore\u003C\/a\u003E. The award is one of ten in a new $3.4 million fund to leverage genetic rescue for marine and coastal ecosystems under threat from climate shifts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELed by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJoel E. Kostka\u003C\/strong\u003E, Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and director of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/georgias-tomorrow\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow (GT\u00b2)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the research effort will help restore coastal salt marshes through AI-enabled micropropagation and developing probiotics for plants. It is the only salt marsh-focused effort funded nationally in the cohort.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe award supports both the development of more climate-resilient salt marsh plants, as well as new capacity for coastal restoration in Georgia \u2014 an effort that aligns closely with GT\u00b2\u2019s mission to connect research, innovation, and community needs to address critical environmental and community challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHealthy Coasts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESalt marshes are among Georgia\u2019s most important natural resources, helping buffer communities from storms, support fisheries, and sustain coastal economies. Yet the state currently lacks a reliable source of salt marsh seedlings needed for large-scale restoration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/probiotics-and-ai-enabled-micropropagation-for-salt-marsh-restoration\/\u0022\u003EThe funded project\u003C\/a\u003E addresses that gap by advancing the production of hardier marsh plants and laying the groundwork for a broader restoration economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe opportunity here is to build something that doesn\u2019t currently exist in Georgia \u2014 a scalable, science-driven supply of salt marsh plants for safer, healthier coastal communities and ecosystems,\u201d Kostka says. \u201cBy combining biotechnology, ecology, and partnerships across the region, we are accelerating coastal resilience while supporting long-term environmental and economic benefits.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EKostka will work with project co-researchers\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EElse-Marie Ulrika Egertsdotter\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECaitlin Petro\u003C\/strong\u003E (Georgia Tech Biological Sciences),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHeather Joesting (\u003C\/strong\u003EGeorgia Southern University),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEmily Coffey\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELauren Eserman-Campbell\u003C\/strong\u003E (Atlanta Botanical Garden), and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESydney Williams\u003C\/strong\u003E (University of Georgia and Georgia Sea Grant) \u2014 along with several anticipated regional partners, including University of Georgia Marine Institute, GA\/SC\/NC Departments of Natural Resources, Southeastern Plant Conservation Alliance, and Bald Head Island Conservancy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team will create a \u201cClimate-Ready Spartina Toolkit\u201d with automated plant tissue culture, AI-based screening tools, a culture collection that serves as probiotics for plants, a seed bank and library of preserved plant materials, step-by-step instructions for successful growing, and ready for regional deployment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe project also continues the evolution of Kostka\u2019s collaborative research Egertsdotter and the Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute. \u201cRBI shares the goal of using biotechnology to produce climate-resilient plants that benefit society,\u201d Kostka says. \u201cTheir expertise in plant tissue culture and automation make this work possible. It also is a great example of collaboration between GT Sciences and Engineering \u2014 the automation of plant tissue culture was developed by mechanical engineers in RBI.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegional Resilience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe new award builds on growing momentum for Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow and its expanding network of collaborators focused on coastal resilience. Based in the College of Sciences, GT\u00b2 is designed to align discovery science with technological innovation and data-driven tools to deliver practical solutions for communities across the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn April, GT\u00b2 launched a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/23\/georgias-tomorrow-and-bald-head-island-conservancy-launch-research-fund-partnership\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eformal research fund and partnership with the Bald Head Island Conservancy (BHIC)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, connecting Georgia Tech researchers with BHIC\u2019s Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability in North Carolina to advance shared work in coastal sustainability, ecosystem health, and environmental resilience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe partnership combines BHIC\u2019s applied, field-based conservation work with Georgia Tech\u2019s strengths in technological innovation and data analysis, creating new opportunities for graduate research, community engagement, and real-world implementation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBetter Together\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThese \u201call hands on deck\u201d approaches reflect a broader strategy to scale tangible solutions across regional ecosystems by connecting researchers and partners with community stakeholders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cTogether, we hope these projects will demonstrate that genetic rescue is a powerful lever for the blue carbon ecosystems that underpin both ecological and human communities in the face of climate change,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELiv Liberman\u003C\/strong\u003E, Director of Ocean and Climate at Revive \u0026amp; Restore and program manager for the Climate Resilience Fund.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe efforts reflect GT\u00b2\u2019s goal of creating pathways from research to implementation, working across sectors to deliver measurable outcomes for the southeastern environment and its communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThis award recognizes the kind of integrated, real-world research that GT\u00b2 is built to deliver,\u201d says Kostka. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing together researchers, agencies, and community partners to move from science to scalable solutions \u2014 especially along southeastern coasts, where the need is urgent and the opportunities are significant.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E###\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow (GT\u00b2) is a College of Sciences\u2013based initiative that connects discovery science, innovation, and partnerships to address pressing challenges in environmental and community resilience across Georgia. The initiative works with state agencies, industry, non-profits, and local communities to develop solutions that improve quality of life and strengthen the state\u2019s future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Revive \u0026amp; Restore\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Restore is a nonprofit conservation organization that develops and promotes genetic rescue technologies to protect and restore endangered and extinct species. Founded in 2012 by Stewart Brand and Ryan Phelan, the organization works across birds, mammals, coral, and marine ecosystems to demonstrate that biotechnology is an essential tool in the conservation toolkit.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech-led project advancing coastal resilience and ecosystem restoration has been selected for the inaugural Climate Resilience Fund cohort, awarded by Revive \u0026amp; Restore. The award is one of ten in a new $3.4 million fund to leverage genetic rescue for marine and coastal ecosystems under threat from climate shifts. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The award is one of ten in a new $3.4 million fund to leverage genetic rescue for marine and coastal ecosystems under threat from climate shifts.  "}],"uid":"34528","created_gmt":"2026-05-18 15:27:44","changed_gmt":"2026-05-18 17:52:44","author":"jhunt7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680302":{"id":"680302","type":"image","title":"Spartina alterniflora lines a marsh environment on Sapelo Island. (Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston)","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESpartina alterniflora lines a marsh environment on Sapelo Island. (Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779119519","gmt_created":"2026-05-18 15:51:59","changed":"1779119683","gmt_changed":"2026-05-18 15:54:43","alt":"A salt marsh waterway is lined by cord grasses, sand, and trees. The sunny cerulean sky is dotted with clouds.","file":{"fid":"264549","name":"DSC00553-copy2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/DSC00553-copy2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/DSC00553-copy2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2475406,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/18\/DSC00553-copy2.jpg?itok=IRHQ2IaM"}},"680300":{"id":"680300","type":"image","title":"Ulrika Egertsdotter is a principal research scientist in the Renewable Bioproducts Institute and a renowned expert in seed cloning. (Credit: Christopher McKenney)","body":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EUlrika Egertsdotter is a principal research scientist in the Renewable Bioproducts Institute and a renowned expert in seed cloning. She designs and develops automated technologies that produce valuable plants for the state\u2019s forestry, agriculture, and horticulture industries. (Credit: Christopher McKenney)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779118934","gmt_created":"2026-05-18 15:42:14","changed":"1779118934","gmt_changed":"2026-05-18 15:42:14","alt":"Ulrika Egertsdotter is pictured in her lab, between shelves of trays with seeds that she is cloning.","file":{"fid":"264547","name":"seed-cloning.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/seed-cloning.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/seed-cloning.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2208576,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/18\/seed-cloning.jpg?itok=KDdpfW8e"}},"680301":{"id":"680301","type":"image","title":"Joel Kostka and co-presenters at the RBI 2026 Spring Workshop.","body":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka and co-presenters at the RBI 2026 Spring Workshop. An international leader in ecosystem biogeoscience, Kostka is the inaugural faculty director of Georgia Tech for Georgia\u0027s Tomorrow, as well as Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and associate chair for Research in the School of Biological Sciences. He holds a joint appointment in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. (Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779119044","gmt_created":"2026-05-18 15:44:04","changed":"1779119044","gmt_changed":"2026-05-18 15:44:04","alt":"Joel Kostka and co-presenters stand under a leafy tree in a courtyard outside the RBI 2026 Spring Workshop.","file":{"fid":"264548","name":"Kostka.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/Kostka.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/Kostka.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":8844237,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/18\/Kostka.jpg?itok=GbeZPGHC"}}},"media_ids":["680302","680300","680301"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/georgias-tomorrow","title":"Georgia Tech for Georgia\u0027s Tomorrow"},{"url":"https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/revive-restore-announces-inaugural-climate-resilience-fund-cohort\/","title":"Revive \u0026 Restore: Climate Resilience Fund"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/2026_-_georgias_tomorrow_-_concept_paper_-_coastal_solutions.pdf","title":"GT\u00b2 Concept Paper: Coastal Solutions"},{"url":"https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/","title":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute"}],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:elizabeth@reviverestore.org\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElizabeth Bennett\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Director\u003Cbr\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Restore\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jess@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}