Conference Overview

Each day will be packed with educational and networking events. Here's what is included in your conference registration and a description of optional events.

Opening Plenary - Monday, June 14, 2010

"Towards a National Ocean Policy: Connections Across the Land-Sea Boundary"

The Monday opening plenary will kick-off the conference to inform and engage conference participants in discussion on the development of national-level U.S. ocean policy and how it can be a valuable tool for climate change adaptation. Global climate change will have significant effects on coasts and oceans over the next century. In the past several decades, progress has been made on integrated coastal planning and governance through such mechanisms as the Coastal Zone Management Act and the National Estuary Program. More recently, President Obama's June 2009 memorandum directed the federal agencies to coordinate on both the production of a national ocean policy and on the development of a framework for marine spatial planning. What is still lacking, however, is the connection between the two – coastal and marine – across the land-sea boundary. The plenary will explore the potential for an ecosystem-based planning and governance approach extending from the head of the coastal watershed to the limits of the U.S. EEZ, and through the lens of potential impacts related to global climate change, in particular sea level rise. The presentations will include global, national regional and North Carolina perspectives.

Panelists include:

• Dr. Mike Orbach, Duke University
• Kristina Gjerde, High Seas Policy Advisor, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (invited)
• Dr. Larry Crowder, Duke University
• Dr. Douglas Rader, Environmental Defense Fund

Closing Plenary - Wednesday, June 16, 2010

"Making the Connenction: Translating Science into Coastal Policy"

The Wednesday closing plenary will conclude the conference with discussion of one of the most critical issues ocean and coastal managers face: how to strengthen the interface between scientists and managers. In order to be more effective at helping decision-makers such as legislators and policymakers make wise decisions about coastal management, the question becomes: how to leap from policy analysis to policy implementation? Understanding the science, social issues and legal aspects of policy can be challenging. Moreover, science doesn't always perfectly fit the policy questions that follow. In addition, there is the issue of values. Natural resource utilization and protection issues have an element of value bases interwoven with policy. Science tries to be "value-neutral", but policy often has a set of values associated with it. Therefore, the broader issue becomes the strategies and tactics by which we translate scientific knowledge into effective policy. Join us at the conference's closing plenary for lively debate and discussion on how to make the connection.

Panelists include:

• Dr. Charles "Pete" Peterson, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Institute for Marine Science and Vice-Chair, North Carolina environmental Management Commission
• Dr. William Hogarth, University of South Florida and former director, National Marine fisheries Service and North Carolina division of Marine fisheries
• Dr. Betsi Beem, University of Sydney, Australia
• Terry Holman, U.S. Department of the Interior

Six Concurrent Sessions Every Day!

Three days of concurrent sessions will present the latest research and tools regarding ocean and coastal issues and provide opportunities to discuss innovative solutions that can be undertaken by local communities, states, regions and industries. The concurrent sessions will be grouped into fives themes:

• Changing Shorelines
• Climate Change
• Coastal Economies
• Coastal Environments
• Sociopolitical Adaptation

Three Evening Receptions!

Welcome Reception

On Sunday evening, enjoy meeting up with old friends and making new acquaintances at the Welcome Reception, to be held poolside at the conference hotel.

Aquarium Reception

On Monday evening, you can dine among the fish at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River and facing the ocean. To tour the facility is to take a journey down the Cape Fear River — from freshwater streams and swamps, to coastline habitats, to reefs and the open ocean. Transportation will be provided.

Poster Reception

Attend this reception on Tuesday evening in the hotel to view the conference poster presentations and discuss and interact with poster presenters.

First Time Attendees!

If this is the first TCS conference you will attend, you are cordially invited to join the TCS Board of Directors for a special orientation session prior to the Welcome Reception on Sunday, June 13 at 5:15 PM. You'll learn when the best networking opportunities happen and will have at least two dozen new acquaintances when you leave the room! Please check the First Time Attendee box on the registration form so we can contact you with details.

Student Activities!

The Coastal Society actively supports opportunities for graduate students to interact with professionals in ocean and coastal resource management, as well as with other students. Students are entitled to full participation in all events at deeply discounted registration rates. Three student awards acknowledging the best student paper, poster and presentation will be presented at the Wednesday Awards Luncheon. Students can take advantage of a special career opportunities luncheon on Monday, where an interactive session with a panel of experts will be convened to discuss career opportunities in ocean and coastal resource management. TCS Student Chapters will present a poster about forming a TCS chapter and their individual activities. There will likely be a designated late night gathering spot in town to continue the networking.

Support local coastal resource protection, restoration or educational activities!

The Coastal Society is continuing its Coastal Resource Recovery Fund initiative to contribute to coastal resource protection and restoration efforts. First begun in 2006 to assist areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the initiative is now directed toward efforts in the host state of the 2010 TCS conference, North Carolina, and in the Gulf states. Funds raised during this effort will be used to contribute to a coastal resource protection, restoration, or educational project. The final selection will be made from submitted proposals by a panel of TCS members in those states and the TCS Board. Details will be available at the conference. Please consider lending your support.

Note: the concert fundraiser referenced in the TCS 22 Preliminary Program was canceled. This is not a purchase of a ticket.

Pre-Conference Workshops and Field Trips!

An optional program of pre-conference workshops and field trips will be offered on Sunday, beginning at 7:30 am. Whether or not you choose to participate in a workshop or field trip, plan to arrive in Wilmington in time to join us at our Welcome Reception at 6 PM. Workshops and field trips are described in detail, with times, costs and what to bring beginning on p. 8.

Registration Fees

Full registration includes all plenary and concurrent sessions, Sunday Welcome Reception, Monday Evening Reception, Tuesday Evening Poster Reception, all scheduled luncheons and breaks and the TCS 22 Proceedings. Workshops, field trips, and concert ticket purchase are optional and require an additional fee. Registration fees are outlined on the registration form. There are two rate schemes: an early bird rate is available until May 18, 2010, and standard rates apply after May 18, 2010. Please register early and save!

Please click here to view The Tentative Agenda.