3 August 2009
CORAL FORUM TO PROBE REEF FUTURE
The future of the world's coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, the fish and human coastal communities that depend on them will be under the spotlight when the nation’s leading coral scientists meet in Brisbane this week.
A highlight of the two-day symposium, hosted by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies is a public forum at 6pm on Friday August 7 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. This will showcase the latest scientific insights into these iconic natural systems and encourage public discussion and debate about how we care for them.
Key issues covered at both events include:
- Can our coral reefs survive a warming climate?
- How will acidifying oceans affect our corals and fish?
- Ways human intervention can help protect reefs
- What do we need to do to keep the GBR intact in future?
- Do no-take areas really conserve fish stocks?
- Are we loving Moreton Bay to death?
The program consists of:
- A 2-day symposium on 6th -7th August with talks by leading scientists and policy makers, in the Brisbane Customs House. This is aimed at scientists in diverse fields, educators, natural resource managers, conservationists and policy makers. Media are welcome.
- The public forum at 6.00pm, Friday 7 August hosted by Bernie Hobbs, a multi-award-winning science writer and broadcaster with ABC Science online. This event is for everyone: the general public, teachers and school children as well as scientists, resource managers and policy-makers. It will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Media are welcome.
CONTACT:
MEDIA wishing to interview scientists appearing at the symposium or forum, either before or during the event should contact:
Jenny Lappin, CoECRS, 07 4781 4222 0417741638 or jennifer.lappin@jcu.edu.au
Monica Gaffney, CoECRS, 07 4781 4000 or monica.gaffney@jcu.edu.au
Jim O’Brien, James Cook University Media Office, 07 4781 4822 or 0418 892449
Program details: http://www.coralcoe.org.au/events/symposium09/program.html
Public Forum details: http://www.coralcoe.org.au/events/symposium09/public.html
