The Museum of Chincoteague Island is proud to partner with the Island Theatre to offer a presentation by Chris Hein, Associate Professor at Virginia Institute of Marine Science, on the Barrier Islands. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Island Theatre and support the Museum of Chincoteague Island by attending this special event. The event is October 29th at 7:00pm inside the Island Theatre. Tickets are $8 online and $10 at the door. This is one you will not want to miss.

** This is a date change, please mark your calendars!**

The Study of Barrier Islands Past Present and Future presented by Chris Hein, Associate Professor at Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Join us at the Island Theatre Saturday October 29th at 7pm.

2000 years (and counting) of change along Virginia’s Barrier Coast

Stretching 75 miles from Assateague to Fisherman’s, the beaches, dunes, marshes, and lagoons of Virginia’s Barrier Islands are a jewel of conversation, ecological resources, and natural beauty. They also are among the most dynamic barrier islands in the world, and hold within their sediments the history of Virginia’s Eastern Shore and clues to its likely future. This talk will focus on the geologic history, active present, and threatened future of Virginia’s barrier islands, with special emphasis on the formation and history of Chincoteague and Assateague islands, and ongoing work to forecast future change at Chincoteague Inlet. Hein’s research is primarily focused on coastal change, and forecasting the impacts of sea-level rise, changing coastal sediment supplies, and increased frequency/intensity of storms on barrier islands, marshes, tidal inlets, and the communities that live, work, and recreate on them.  Locally, he leads the multi-institution Chincoteague Inlet Modeling Study, focused on the dynamics of, and best management practices for, Chincoteague Inlet and nearby barrier islands.