Brett Branco is the Executive Director of the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay. He began his academic career learning about the science of coastal environments, and the integration of science into public policy and resource management. During his PhD work, his interests expanded to include the dynamics of shallow lakes and ecological resilience with an emphasis on urban environments. After a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Western Australia, he came to Brooklyn College to study the local urban waters and create experiential place-based learning opportunities for students. While serving as Associate Director of the Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center, he became involved in the creation of the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay. As the Director, he leads a variety of projects on topics including urban flooding and nature-based solutions to water quality and climate change challenges.