Brunswick, Ga. – Scientists from across the state will share how research is addressing coastal Georgia’s most critical environmental and economic issues at the Georgia Coastal Research Council Symposium, on March 16 from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Held at the University of Georgia Marine Extension facility in Brunswick (715 Bay St., Brunswick), the event will highlight research funded by Georgia Sea Grant and Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Incentive Grants.
The daylong symposium will include three blocks of one-hour sessions with the themes Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, Coastal Communities and Shoreline Change/Coastal Hazards. Presentations will be given on a variety of topics including oyster health and restoration, hurricane activity, effects of land development and resiliency planning. The symposium is free and open to the public.
“The symposium will consist of talks that will bring to light the research that’s going on around the coast that has an impact on people’s lives,” said Margaret Myszewski, GCRC program coordinator. “We’re hoping these presentations will help the public realize that researchers aren’t just working on esoteric ideas, but that they’re working on projects that will have long-term impacts on ordinary people.”
Myszewski said the symposium might be of interest to members of environmental non-governmental organizations, local government representatives and anyone interested in environmental issues along the coast. However, the topics addressed at the symposium often affect those living beyond the coast.
“There will be talks about challenges associated with tidal flooding, such as when to relocate houses,” said Myszewski, issues that often require changes in state laws and that might impact inland areas.
The symposium will be hosted by the Georgia Coastal Research Council, an organization with a mission to provide objective information about scientific issues pertaining to the Georgia coast. Georgia Sea Grant, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, and the Georgia Coastal Management Program fund the GCRC, which seeks to improve dialogue between coastal scientists and decision-makers in Georgia.
For more information about the GCRC, see http://www.gcrc.uga.edu.
UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
The University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant are a state and federal partnership dedicated to conducting research, education and outreach to enhance coastal environmental, social and economic sustainability. As units of the Office of Public Service and Outreach at the University of Georgia, they help improve public resource policy, encourage far-sighted economic and fisheries decisions, anticipate vulnerabilities to change and educate citizens to be wise stewards of the coastal environment. Georgia Sea Grant is one of 33 Sea Grant programs throughout the country housed under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For more information, see http://marex.uga.edu or http://georgiaseagrant.uga.edu.
