Peter Ruggiero Oral History Interview

A lifelong interest in the ocean has taken Peter Ruggiero from sailing around Boston Harbor as a child to researching coastal geomorphology and hazards at Oregon State University. He has worked for state and federal agencies on the west coast, developing a beach monitoring program for the state of Washington and modeling coastal geomorphology and hazards along both west and east coasts. Climate change has been relevant to his research throughout his career and recent research has involved preparing coastal communities in the Pacific Northwest for future impacts.

Ruggiero describes his academic path in coastal engineering, including his previous resistance to a career in academia. He discusses collaborative research projects in the Pacific Northwest and the Outer Banks. Other highlights include going to Sumatra following the 2004 tsunami, embracing his role as a teacher, and a broader discussion of climate change.