NSU Spearheads Largest Coral Reef Symposium in the World

Faculty, staff and students from the Oceanographic Center took part in the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist (seated) at the International Coral Reef Symposium with (from left) Senator Burt L. Saunders (R-Fl, 37th District); Michael W. Sole, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Richard Dodge, Ph.D., chairperson of the 11th ICRS Local Organizing Committee, executive director of the National Coral Reef Institute and dean of the NSU Oceanographic Center; and Jonathan Saunders.

From left: George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU executive vice president/COO; Timothy R.E. Keeney, deputy assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere, NOAA; Kameron Onley, acting assistant interior secretary for water and science, U.S. Department of the Interior; Michael W. Sole, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Richard Dodge, Ph.D., NSU Oceanographic Center dean and executive director of the National Coral Reef Institute.

The 11th ICRS was the largest ICRS in history, with over 3,500 people attending the scientific sessions and coral reef Education Center. The ICRS is the largest scientific meeting on coral reefs in the world and takes place every four years. Past host locations include Okinawa, Japan and Bali, Indonesia. This was the first time the conference has been held in the continental United States in over 30 years. The participants came from over 75 countries and included coral reef scientists, managers, policy makers, students and conservationists.

NSU served as an official sponsor of the 11th ICRS, with NSU Executive Vice President/COO George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., speaking at the Opening Ceremonies. NCRI researchers were also well represented, with 11 oral presentations and 29 poster presentations.