Directory

William Sea
Associate Professor

Biography

Bill Sea is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at BSU. Originally from Bemidji, he is a graduate of BSU majoring in Mathematics. He subsequently earned graduate degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Atmospheric Science), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Water Resource Science) and a PhD in Ecology at Colorado State University. His PhD research focused on climate-fire-vegetation interactions in southern African savannas, with extensive fieldwork conducted in Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park in South Africa.

After completing his PhD, he continued work as a research scientist for just under seven years in Australia, first at the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research in Canberra focusing on the remote sensing of vegetation dynamics in northern Australian savannas and grasslands, followed by an appointment at the University of Canberra with research examining the management of invasive plants and threatened species.

His current research primarily focuses on the effects of environmental change on northern forests, remote sensing of near-surface hydrology, and managing resilience of southeast Asian wetlands and agricultural socio-ecological systems subject to environmental change. The reseach combines approaches that include ground-based fieldwork, remote sensing, statistics, modeling, and interviews. At BSU, he teaches a wide range of courses at all levels in Environmental Studies, Geology, and Geography. In his spare time, he practices spelling, arithmetic, and plant identification with his four-year old son.

Teaching

I regulary teach the following undergraduate courses in the Fall semester:

  • ENVR 2000 - Introduction to Environmental Science (in person and online)
  • ENVR 3700 - Natural Resource Management
  • ENVR 3880 - Environmental Controversies
  • GEOL 3120/5120 - Soils

I regulary teach the following undergraduate courses in the Spring semester:

  • ENVR 2000 - Introduction to Environmental Science (online and in person)
  • GEOL 4300/5300 - Global Environmental Change
  • GEOG 3125/5125 - Weather and Climate

I also regularly teach or team-teach graduate level courses in support of the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies

Recent Work

 

While visiting southern Vietnam during June 2016, I reached out to some scientists at Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City to organize a meeting at VNU to talk about sustainability of the Mekong Delta. The Mekong Delta is recognized as one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate change, with the combined effects of sea level rise, salt water intrusion into agricultural fields, upstream dam building, and rapid industrialization of the Vietnamese economy. The meeting went very well and continued for lunch over a delicous meal of seafood and cold drinks. From that first meeting a productive collaboration was born that continues to this day.

Conservation of Mekong Delta Wetlands

Representative recent publication:

Nguyen, Q. H., To, Q. T., Dang, P. D., Phong, N. L., Tran, T. H. A., Ngo, X. Q., Dao, P. Q., Quoi, L. P., Hanington, P., and W. B. Sea (2018). Conservation of the Mekong Delta wetlands through hydrological management. Ecological Research, 33, 87-103.

Land use dynamics in the Mekong Delta

Representative recent publication:

Nguyen, H. Q., Dung, Q. T., Khoi, D. K., Korbee, D., Pham, D. M., Luan, H., Lan, V. T., Tang L T., Nguyen, L. T., Trang, N. T. T., Nguyen, T., Dung, K. Wyatt A., and W. B. Sea (2020). Land-use dynamics in the Mekong delta: From national policy to livelihood sustainability. Sustainable Development, 28, 448-467

Socio – ecological resilience of mangrove-shrimp models

Representative recent publication:

Nguyen, H. Q., Tran, D. D., Hong, L., Vu, T., Ho, L. H., Ngoc, P., Nguyen, D. Q., Wyatt, A., and W. B. Sea (2020). Socio–ecological resilience of mangrove-shrimp models under various threats exacerbated from salinity intrusion in coastal area of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. International Journal of Sustainability and World Ecology, 27, 638-651.

Other recent articles:

Luu, T., Verhallen, M., Tran, D. D., Sea, W. B., Nguyen, T. B., Nguyen, H. Q. (2022). Statistically examining the connection between dike development and human perceptions in the floodplains' socio-hydrology system of Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Science of the Total Environment, 810,152207.

Tran, D. D., Dang, M. M., Duong, B. D., Sea, W., Vo, T. T. (2021). Livelihood vulnerability and adaptability of coastal communities to extreme drought and salinity intrusion in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 57, 102183.

Ward, E. G., O'Connell, K. B., Race, A., Alwin, A., Cortijo-Robles, K., Esparza, D., Jolley, A., McDevitt, A., Patel, M., Prevost, L. B., Shaulskiy, S., Shinbro, X. A., Treibergs, K., Alvaro, M., Sea, W. (2021). Affective learning outcomes in the field. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 102, 1-12.

Recent Scientific Presentations

  1. Sea, W.B., Luu, T., Tran, D. D., Nguyen, H. Q. Socio-hydrological complexity in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: a systematic review and recent empirical findings from the floodplains of An Giang province. AGU Fall Meeting, December 14, 2020.
  2. Luu, T., Nguyen, H. Q., and W. B. Sea. Exploring the socio-hydrological system and its co-evolution pattern in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam: a systematic literature review supported by empirical data from a case study in An Giang province. International Conference on Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific region: from Environmental aspects to Socio-economic impacts, Quy Nhon, Vietnam, March 30, 2020. (Postponed to April 2021 because of COVID-19).
  3. Sea, W. (with Quan Nguyen at al). Agriculture adaptation for wetland conservation in Mekong Delta – A case study at Tram Chim RAMSAR site. The 12th International Long-Term Ecological Research, Leipzig, Germany, September 4, 2019.
  4. Sea, W. B., Ness, R., Liknes, G., and W. Sea. Assessing quaking aspen stress along a climate gradient in northern Minnesota ecoregions. 12th North American Forest Ecology Workshop: Forests on the edge in rapidly changing conditions, Flagstaff, Arizona, June 25, 2019.
  5. Sea, W., Ness, R., Walechka, J., Liknes, G., and W. Sea. Regional patterns of quaking aspen health and mortality across northern Minnesota ecoregions. 2019 Forestry and Wildlife and Research Review. University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center, January 10, 2019.
  6. Sea, W. Opportunities and challenges of being interdisciplinary, Bemidji State University Honors Lecture, November 26, 2018.
  7. Sea, W. (with Quan Nguyen et al). Socio-ecological resilience of mangrove shrimp livelihood model in the Mekong Delta: a case study in Binh Dai District, Ben Tre, The 12th International Long-Term Ecological Research-East Asia-Pacific Regional Network Conference, Taichung, Taiwan, October 15, 2018.
  8. Sea, W. (with Quan Nguyen et al). Long term ecological approaches to assess the resilience of Shrimp-Mangrove ecosystems in the Mekong Delta, Center of Water Management and Climate Change, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, June 22, 2018.
  9. Ness, R., Walechka, J., Liknes, G., and W. Sea. Assessing and modeling quaking aspen stress along a climate gradient in northern Minnesota ecoregions. 2018 Forestry and Wildlife and Research Review. University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center, January 11, 2018.
  10. Sea, W. and G. Liknes. Evaluation of SMAP at Forested Sites Across a Rainfall Gradient in Northern Minnesota. PECORA 20: Observing a changing earth. Sioux Falls, SD, November 13-16. 2017.
  11. Walechka, J., Liknes, G. Sea., W., and R. Ness. A Comparison of Satellite-derived Soil Moisture to in Situ Observations Across a Rainfall Gradient in Northwest MN — 27th Annual Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium Conference and Workshops, Bemidji, Minnesota, October 4-6, 2017.
  12. Sea, W. B. Management for drought susceptibility of northern Minnesota forests under future climate change, 2017 Forestry and Wildlife Research Review, Cloquet Forestry Center, University of Minnesota, January 10, 2017.
  13. Sea, W. B (with Quan Nguyen et al.), Hydrological management for biodiversity restoration in Lang Sen wetlands, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, under changing environment. The 11th International Long-Term Ecological Research-East Asia-Pacific Regional Network Conference, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, October 28, 2016.
  14. Sea, W. B. Closing the canopy on research: a savanna ecologist moves to the forest. Department of Biology seminar, University of North Dakota, October 14, 2016.

Open Field

I have supervised the following M.S. students:

  • Karl Anderson, Thesis title: Use of biofilm reactors for purification of bromate. Completed, Fall 2016. Currently a PhD student in Civil Engineering at NDSU.
  • Jeff Marjamaa, Thesis title: Comparing floristic quality of restored and remnant prairies at Glenalough State Park. Completed, Spring 2018. Currently employed at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
  • Jordan Lutz, Thesis Title: Exploring behavioral antecedents of food waste via the theory of planned behavior, Completed, Spring 2018. Currently employed at Bemidji State University as the Sustainability Project Manager.
  • Ryan Ness, Thesis title: Regional patterns of quaking aspen health and mortality across northern Minnesota ecoregions, Completed, Spring 2019. Currently employed as Research Associate at Corteva Agriscience in Willmar, MN
  • Nick Phillips, Capstone Project:  A summary of four environmental program and policy projects delivered during employment with various government units from 2014 through 2020. Currently employed as Environmental Technician at the U.S. Corps of Engineers, St. Paul.
  • Michelle Prosser, Capstone Project: An Abridged Review of Notable Natural Resource Projects During a 15-Year Span, Completed, Fall 2020, Currently employed as a Project Manager at the U.S. Corps of Engineers, St. Paul.
  • Jillian Walechka, Capstone Project: Analysis of the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) L3PM Product across Northwest
    Minnesota, Completed Fall 2020.
  • Priya Setlur. Capstone Project: Capstone Experience at Georgia-Pacific Corporation Dudley, North Carolina and Madison Georgia, Completed Fall 2020. Currently employed as an Enviromental Manager at the Georgia Pacific Corporation
  • Ashley Locklear, Thesis Title: An assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and practice of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge at Bemidji State University, Completed Spring 2021. Currently employed at Northwest Indian Community Development Center

I currently supervise the following M.S. students:

  • Alysha Brooks, Thesis Title: Declining quaking aspen health in response to drought and fire.