Well over 100 people crammed into the Tipsy Teapot, a funky teahouse by day and music venue by night, in Greenville this evening for the bi-monthly Science Cafe.
Science Cafe brings in scientists and engineers in Eastern North Carolina, and blends them with the general public for an informal scientific discussion. Today's event featured Coasts in Crisis, led by geologist Stan Riggs.
Riggs, a recently retired Distinguished Research Professor of Geology at East Carolina University, has conducted research on modern coastal systems since 1964 and joined the faculty at ECU in 1967.
He discussed the importance of protecting the coastline of North Carolina, and the importance of acknowledging that its existence is entirely dependant on the weather.
"The coastline is built by storms, maintained by storms, and moved by storms," Riggs said.
Right now, Hwy. 12 is the only access to eight of the villages in the Outer Banks, and it is often underwater.
"It's not worth a tooth if you can't get to it," Riggs said. "You would not believe how much money goes into building Hwy. 12."
Riggs suggested leaving all cars and hotels on the mainland and putting in a high tech ferry system and a water taxi system.
"I guarantee people will come from all over the world to get to (the beaches)," he said.
He also discussed the importance of the no hardening and sandbag laws, and how to contact our legislators about the issue.
Riggs opened the room up to a discussion and brought materials with suggested books and UNC-TV programs for further information.
Science Cafe is sponsored by Sigma-Xi, Go-Science and North Carolina Biotechnology Center's Eastern Regional Office. The next event is scheduled for February.