Scientists at FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) are taking a lead role in getting key players together from across the nation to discuss issues facing the world’s estuaries and how observation and prediction systems can address these issues.

FAU Harbor Branch will host a workshop for the “Our Global Estuary” initiative, which will bring together 50 invited participants from across the US and from Australia.  Top estuarine scientists, resource managers, urban planners, environmental lawyers, tribal, coastal and ocean observing system managers, educators and other stakeholders will come together to work toward new solutions for regional and global sustainability. There will be a press conference following the final session of the workshop on Wednesday, October 22 at noon on the Harbor Branch campus (5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce.)

“There is an urgent need to anticipate and manage environmental changes in estuaries, both regionally and globally,” said António Baptista, Ph.D., workshop co-chair and director of the NSF Science and Technology Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction. “These critical but sensitive ecosystems provide some of the world’s most valuable natural resources, and are essential for economic and environmental sustainability.”

This workshop is the first in a series of events which aim to provide a powerful set of recommendations to answer science questions, aid management, develop policy and promote stewardship activities.

“I am excited to be a part of this ground-breaking initiative,” said Margaret Leinen, Ph.D., workshop co-chair and director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.  “Bringing together this high-level group of experts is the first step in providing recommendations that can be used to respond to the risks and opportunities facing the world’s estuaries.”

The workshop, funded by proceeds from the HBOI Foundation’s annual “Love Your Lagoon” dinner held each February, has been coordinated by a nine-member steering committee of nationwide experts with backgrounds in observatories, estuarine science and management.

“This workshop would not be possible without the grant support from the HBOI Foundation and the hard work of the steering committee,” said Megan Davis, Ph.D., workshop co-chair and HBOI associate executive director of research. “We are very pleased that HBOI was chosen as the location to host this timely and much needed national workshop on estuarine observation and predication networks.”

For more information or to attend the press conference, contact Carin Smith at 772-242-2230 or carinsmith@fau.edu.