Three New York Sea Grant specialists with ties to the Finger Lakes region have been recognized by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network for their work supporting coastal communities, environmental resilience and public outreach efforts across New York.
The awards were presented during the 2026 Great Lakes Sea Grant Network meeting in Oswego, honoring Coastal Community Development Specialist Mary Austerman, Coastal Processes and Hazards Specialist Roy Widrig, and Great Lakes Outreach Coordinator Megan Cochran for achievements in outreach, leadership and community engagement.
Austerman, who is based in Newark, and Widrig received the 2026 Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Superior Outreach Programming Team Award for their work on the Sodus Point Dune Outreach Initiative. The project brought together residents, business owners, regulators and other stakeholders to address long-running disagreements over dune maintenance and shoreline protection along Lake Ontario.
Sea Grant officials said the initiative helped move the conversation from conflict toward collaboration by combining scientific expertise, public engagement and regulatory guidance. The effort supported maintenance of approximately 1,800 feet of shoreline while helping local leaders develop long-term strategies for managing coastal resilience challenges. Austerman and Widrig were previously recognized by state Assemblyman Brian Manktelow for their work on the project.
Megan Cochran received the 2026 Great Lakes Sea Grant Network Early Career Award for her contributions since joining New York Sea Grant in 2021 as the organization’s first Great Lakes Outreach Coordinator. Her work has included expanding social media outreach, supporting grant programs, developing educational resources and coordinating training efforts for Sea Grant staff across the Great Lakes region.
Among Cochran’s projects are efforts to help shoreline property owners better understand changing lake conditions and flooding risks, as well as educational programs that connect students with environmental scientists studying Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Sea Grant officials credited her work with helping communities access funding opportunities and better understand issues affecting the Great Lakes watershed.
New York Sea Grant is a partnership between Cornell University and the State University of New York that supports research, education and outreach programs focused on coastal communities, environmental stewardship and economic development throughout the state’s marine and Great Lakes regions.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
