LA-SEER Talk: From Risk to Resilience - Fall 2025 Series will welcome Dr. Matthew Bethel, a transdisciplinary researcher and science-policy leader dedicated to advancing coastal resilience through collaborative knowledge systems. As Associate Executive Director of Research for Louisiana Sea Grant at LSU, Dr. Bethel oversees the program’s research portfolio and student fellowship initiatives, fostering innovation and capacity-building across Louisiana’s coastal communities.

With over two decades of experience applying geospatial technologies to integrated social-ecological decision support systems, Dr. Bethel leads a research program that bridges scientific data with community-based insights. His work emphasizes the complementary use of science-based information and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to inform hazard mitigation and climate adaptation planning at local, state, and regional levels.

Dr. Bethel’s approach centers on inclusive partnerships that elevate community voices and strengthen resilience through shared understanding and co-produced solutions. At LA-SEER Talk, he brings forward strategies for integrating diverse knowledge systems to support equitable and effective environmental decision-making.