TCS 19 Call for Papers

Please join us in Newport, Rhode Island May 23- 26, 2004, for The Coastal Society's 19th International Conference (TCS 19) entitled Measure for Measure: How Do We Gauge Coastal
Stewardship? TCS 19 will focus on how coastal managers, resource users, law and policy makers, educators and students, and other coastal community members measure and assess coastal resources, functions and human impacts. We will examine these challenging questions:

What we expect will be a riveting opening plenary features Dr. Jeremy Jackson who will speak on his work on "shifting baselines," identifying the need to establish coastal and ocean management goals and track our efforts to achieve them. A second plenary will focus on the seminal reports from the U.S. Oceans Commission and Pew Ocean Commission.

Concurrent sessions will focus on the selection, col-lection,
analysis and use of relevant information to inform and support coastal resource management. The sessions will be grouped into four themes:

Each presenter will highlight methods for measuring and assessing coastal communities and resources.

2004: A "Watershed" Year for
Ocean & Coastal Policy

In 2004,for only the second time in U.S. history, a federal commission will issue a comprehensive report on the state and necessary reform of U.S. coastal and ocean policy. The first commission, known as the Stratton Commission, wrote in 1969 that a U. S. national ocean and coastal policy as a whole must provide for "a long-range program to develop knowledge, technology, and a framework of laws and institutions that will lay the foundation for efficient and productive marine activities in the years ahead." Thirty-five years after the Stratton Commission, its descendent, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, will issue its own comprehensive
report on U.S. ocean and coastal policy just prior to TCS 19. This forthcoming report, in combination with the 2003 Pew Commission report entitled America's Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change, has heightened considerable attention and concern for U.S. ocean policy nationally. Participants at The Coastal Society 19th International Conference will have the unique opportunity to join colleagues for a discussion of these reports including calls for enhanced governance, greater coordination of science and management, essential habitat protections, ecosystem-based management and, most challenging, timely implementation.

The plenary session on the two commission reports will be followed immediately by concurrent panel sessions which will discuss the potential regional impacts of these reports and the ensuing reforms to be undertaken. We invite you to join us in advancing analysis of U.S. ocean and coastal policy and
generating insights into the future of America's oceans and coasts.

Exploring the Southeastern New England Coast
Newport, Rhode Island is located in the heart of historic southeastern New England and the "Ocean State," affording conference attendees a unique opportunity to experience and explore this fascinat-ing and frequently overlooked coastal region. From beautifully preserved coastal towns to the historic coastal city of Providence; from the working water-fronts of the Pt. Judith commercial fish port to New England's finest surfing and recreational diving waters, Rhode island and southeastern New England are a coastal lover's dream. TCS 19's organizers have taken the unusual step of organizing three major field trips on the second day of our con-ference to encourage attendees to take an opportunity to explore and learn together about a fascinat-ing region of America's coast and to ground with real-world examples the issues to be highlighted and discussed at TCS 19.

Institute for Future Coastal Leaders
The Coastal Society, in partnership with the Environmental Leadership Program, is offering the first Institute for Future Coastal Leaders. This day-long Institute will present recent graduates and current graduate students engaged in the study of marine sciences, law or policy the opportunity to
receive training in leadership skills. These skills, focusing on communication between and facilita-tion of constituent groups, can be used to develop comprehensive, long-term and pro-active approach-es to marine policy and the management of ocean and coastal resources.

Participants will be introduced to communica-tion and facilitation techniques and given a chance to put them in practice using a real-life case study, leaving with a clear understanding of not only the value of facilitation in addressing policy issues, but also the training to use those techniques in their regions. This Institute will also provide students an opportunity to expand their professional network
with other students and professionals. A virtual follow- up program will be offered in 2005 to assess the value of the Institute to future coastal leaders and to establish a network of young coastal leaders nationwide.

In order to facilitate an effective training module, the Institute will be limited to 15 participants who will be selected based on an application. Information and applications are available on the conference web site and must be completed by March 22. Partial travel funds for the conference will be made available to those selected for the Institute. For more information, contact Kristen Fletcher at by e-mail at kfletcher@rwu.edu or (401) 254-4613.

Student Involvement
The Coastal Society actively supports opportunities for students to interact with professionals in coastal and marine management. Students are entitled to full participation in all events at a deeply discount-ed registration rate. Three student awards acknowl-edging the best student paper, poster and presenta-tion will be presented at the Awards Luncheon on Wednesday. There will also be a special workshop for students and young professionals.