First Joint Private and Federal Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference

Event Date:

January 21, 2013 to January 23, 2013

Complimentary Registration for Credentialed Members of the Media Available

Who:

Thirteen sponsoring agencies have come together to host the first joint private and federal Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference, a forum for the research community in the Gulf of Mexico to share their latest scientific results. A gathering of approximately 800 oil spill-related experts from academia, state & federal agencies and non-governmental organizations is expected.

What:

The Gulf is a dynamic and complex system that is facing several issues, such as non-petroleum pollution, hypoxia, coastal development, erosion and inundation, and climate change. This Conference will engage and build a community of researchers working on all aspects of Gulf of Mexico ecosystem science and initiate dialogue with the users of that information.

At the Conference, the research community in the Gulf of Mexico will share their latest scientific results to: bring greater context and integration to ongoing research; share scientific information with attendees to initiate dialogue about how research will impact processes for policy, conservation, and management; and enhance public understanding of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.

The three-day Conference will consist of a keynote address by Admiral Thad Allen, a plenary panel of five distinguished speakers, 19 scientific sessions, 519 abstracts for oral and poster presentations, a public forum on the broader understanding of the current status of the Gulf of Mexico, and a media-specific special science translation session. More details are provided below. For a full Conference schedule, click here.

Keynote Speaker

Admiral Thad Allen (United States Coast Guard, Retired) will deliver the keynote speech on January 21, 2013 and will be available for interviews.

Plenary Panel

A plenary panel of five distinguished speakers will set the stage for the Conference during the opening plenary session on January 21, 2013 with an update on research and close the Conference on January 23, 2013 by summarizing what was discussed during the Conference sessions as well as to present research needs and priorities for the future.

Scientific Sessions

The Conference will feature 19 scientific sessions. The searchable database of accepted abstracts for oral and poster presentations is available here.

Public Forum

A public forum with speakers Donald F. Boesch, Ph.D. and Steven A. Murawski, Ph.D. will be held on the evening of January 22, 2013 to provide the general public with a broader understanding of the current status of the Gulf of Mexico and prospects for recovery in relation to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. More information is available here (registration is required).

For the Media:

Journalists who register for the conference are encouraged to attend a special science translation session on the first day of the conference, organized by the Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. The 2.5 hour session will provide an overview of how to most effectively interpret and translate scientific findings for news audiences.

A Mobile Conference App will be available.

Where:

New Orleans Marriott Hotel, 555 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

*A press room will be open on site in the Rhythm room on the third floor.

When:

January 21-23, 2013 (three full days)

Why:

The Conference sponsors share a goal to improve society’s ability to understand the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem to ensure its long-term environmental health. One important aspect of this is understanding the impacts of petroleum pollution and related stressors on the marine and coastal ecosystems, as it will support future response, mitigation, and restoration efforts.

How to Register:

The registration fee will be waived for credentialed members of the media.

Please send your contact information (name, media outlet, email, and phone) to Kristin Kracke and she will send you details on how to complete your complimentary registration online.

Online registration will close on January 11, 2013. After that, you can register onsite during the following times: