November 16, 2007
Contact:
Felecia Henderson
Associate Director, Public Affairs
(954) 262-5315
fhenders@nova.edu
Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center Professors
to Participate in Environmental Conference with Al Gore
Ft. Lauderdale (Davie), FL - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore will be the keynote speaker of the first ever Environmental Conference hosted by the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, in association with the National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) at Nova Southeastern University and the Ocean Conservancy, to examine the mutual interdependency between local actions and global initiatives. The conference, “Fostering a Green Culture in Small Island Nations”, will be held in Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Nov. 18-20.
Richard Dodge, Ph.D., dean and professor of the NSU Oceanographic Center (OC) and executive director of NCRI, will participate on the panel “Coral Reefs and Climate Change”. Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D., an associate professor at the OC and associate director of NCRI, will serve as moderator of the panel. Dave Gilliam, Ph.D., an OC assistant professor and NCRI researcher, will take part in the panel discussion covering “Climate Change and its Impact on the Sustainability of Fisheries Resources”.
Gore will share his theme of “Thinking Green: Economic Strategy for the 21st Century”, arguing that the physical changes in our planet will eventually influence our global economy. He will encourage business audiences to consider broader issues – environmental, social and political – when planning economic strategy.
“The National Coral Reef Institute at Nova Southeastern University is honored to be able to be a part of this far-thinking environmental related conference” said Dodge. “The coral reefs throughout Caribbean represent an extraordinary biological, geological, and economic resource. Far-thinking planning is needed for best research, management, and conservation to ensure preservation and persistence of these precious ecosystems.”
The National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) was established by Congressional mandate in 1998. NCRI's primary objective is the assessment, monitoring, and restoration of coral reefs through basic and applied research and through training and education. NCRI operates at the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center.
The Oceanographic Center offers a doctorate (Ph.D.) degree in Oceanography (with emphasis on Marine Biology or Physical Oceanography) and master’s (M.S.) degrees in Marine Biology, Coastal Zone Management (online or onsite), Marine Environmental Sciences, and Physical Oceanography. Joint M.S. degrees can be obtained in Marine Biology and Coastal Zone Management; Marine Biology and Marine Environmental Sciences; Marine Biology and Physical Oceanography; and Coastal Zone Management and Marine Environmental sciences. A non-degree distance Graduate Certificate is offered in Coastal Studies. For additional information visit www.nova.edu/ocean.
