The third Frontiers of Research in Caribbean Science and Technology (FORECAST) Conference is scheduled for August 20 and 21, 2026, in UWI-St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. This year’s theme is “Science and Innovation for a Sustainable Caribbean”. The FORECAST Conference is a collaborative effort by the faculties of Science and Technology from The UWI Campuses (St. Augustine, Mona, Cave Hill, Five Islands), the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTECH), the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), Trinidad and Tobago, and the University of Guyana (UG). This hybrid conference will take place in-person and online, offering flexibility and convenience to participants.

1. Life Sciences at the Nexus of Sustainable Health, Environment, and Food Security
2. Chemistry for Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship
3. Applied Physics and Emerging Technologies in Small Island States
4. Applied Mathematics and Solutions for Real-World Problems
5. From Code to Impact: Computing for Regional Development
6. Geographic Perspectives, Climate Change Effects, Mitigation, and Adaptation
7. Converging Science and Integrating STEM for a Sustainable Caribbean

Other related themes are also acceptable.

Registration page link: https://form.jotform.com/fstjotform/forecast-2026-registration

Registration fees:

Members of participating institutions (Students and Staff): US$ 25.00

External members: US$ 50.00

Abstract submission link: https://form.jotform.com/fstjotform/forecast-abstract-submission

Use “Scientific Reports” format

See the model below. The presenting author’s name should be in bold font.

Nature-based Solutions as Building Blocks for coastal flood risk reduction: a model-based ecosystem service assessment

Massimiliano Marino1*, Martin J. Baptist2, Ahmad I. K. Alkharoubi2, Sofia Nasca1, Luca Cavallaro1, Enrico Foti1 & Rosaria Ester Musumeci1

1Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, Catania, Italy. 2Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Den Helder, The Netherlands. Email: massimiliano.marino@unict.it

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as effective measures for mitigating flood risks and enhancing climate change adaptation. However, evaluating their efficacy in delivering flood risk reduction ecosystem service (FRR-ESS) is usually limited by reliance on qualitative, expert-based “quick-scan” scoring methods. While already challenging for present-day evaluations, this limitation becomes even more significant when addressing future climate scenarios, introducing deep uncertainties in the evaluation. The present study introduces a model-based framework to quantify FRR-ESS provided by coastal NbS, which integrates expert-based assessments with quantitative results from an eco-hydro-morphodynamic numerical model. The model enables a comparative evaluation of individual and combined effects of NbS following a Building Blocks approach. By integrating habitat map change prediction in the evaluation, NbS flood reduction response to present and future storm scenarios (i.e. wave climate and sea level rise) are investigated. The methodology is applied to a Mediterranean coastal lagoon in Sicily (Italy), and can be easily adapted to diverse coastal ecosystems. Our findings underscore the significant role of coastal habitats in reducing flood risk and highlight the importance of integrating physically-based modelling into FRR-ESS evaluation. This approach provides a robust and flexible tool for policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions that support both ecological sustainability and disaster risk reduction.

*Corresponding author