By Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection
A group of Florida middle schoolers is tackling water pollution in an unconventional way — by collecting scientific samples while surfing and skateboarding. The SurfSkate Science program in South Florida, featured in the upcoming CBS series “The Visioneers,” trains students to monitor water quality along coastal areas, with their data contributing to a national National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration database.
The Sunshine State’s struggle with water quality and climate impacts has made it a laboratory for grassroots solutions, so intrepid host Zay Harding dives into a mission of discovery highlighting those working to protect the planet.
“There has got to be a way to make this exciting for them; how do we tie in skating or surfing with this? And so they are letting their kids do this and bring their friends and then educating them to being aware of it, and that’s really what the whole series is about,” Harding explained.
While this series circles the globe showcasing climate solutions — from Norway to Arizona — it keeps coming back to Florida, featuring three innovations, and that’s no accident. With rising seas and record storms, Florida has become a lab for climate survival tactics. “The Visioneers” premieres Saturday at 9 a.m. EDT.
The series also features Miami-based Kind Designs, a startup fighting flooding with 3D-printed “living seawalls” that mimic mangrove roots. Harding said the founder, Ukrainian immigrant Anya Freeman, was inspired after years of wading through Miami’s flooded streets.
“She said I’ve got to get my head around this and try to come up with a solution, and she’s come up with these seawalls that are now protecting Florida. Yeah, it’s these people who are getting mad, then making change,” Harding continued.
The series showcases how everyone can contribute to climate solutions — from former lawyers to schoolchildren.
Thais Lopez Vogel, cofounder and trustee of VoLo Foundation, said the inclusive approach is key.
“Through emotions, through actions, through doing things. So I think this is a different way to tackle the climate crisis. We are trying to do it in every angle, and this one is going to be very, very effective,” Vogel said.
The series comes as the state has seen a 5% increase in high-tide flooding since 2000, according to NOAA’s 2024 Sea Level Rise Report, while a Florida Climate Institute study estimates coastal erosion costs $1.4 billion annually.
Florida News Connection is a bureau of the Public News Service. Volo Foundation contributes to its fund for reporting on climate change/air quality, environment and environmental justice, and is a financial supporter of The Invading Sea. Banner photo: Zay Harding, host of “The Visioneers,” examines the future of coastal protection with Kind Designs showcasing 3D-printed living seawalls in Miami (Screenshot of visioneerstv via Florida News Connection).
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