The impacts of climate change - including sea level rise and frequent, intense storms - threaten coastal infrastructure worldwide, including civilian communities and military installations.
Reefense is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded program that seeks to fund the development of novel hybrid reefs (structures with both engineered and biological components) that reduce wave energy and protect coastal infrastructure from flooding and erosion. Engineered elements of the structures aim to maximize wave attentuation and promote ecosystem function, while biological innovations support the growth and climate resilience of calcareous reef-building organisms (corals or oysters), enabling the structures to keep up with sea level rise.
Projects funded by Reefense will span five years and combine innovations in materials science, hydrodynamic modeling, adaptive biology, and ecosystem restoration. The ultimate goals of the Reefense program are to reduce the costs of maintaining coastal infrastructure, strengthen the functioning of vital ecosystems, and support military readiness in the face of climate change.
Learn more about Reefense here: https://www.darpa.mil/program/reefense
