Newswise — Representatives from more than 24 New York colleges, universities, and degree-granting institutions with expertise and interest in marine and/or coastal science will convene to form a collective association that will be the voice for the marine science community and contribute through research and education to reshaping the state's policies for stewardship of aquatic environments.

The event will feature remarks by:"¢ Stony Brook University President Shirley Strum Kenny;"¢ School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Dean David Conover;"¢ State and local elected officials; and"¢ Keynote speakers Donald F. Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and Carl Safina, President of the Blue Ocean Institute.

NYMSC will serve as a new platform to facilitate collaboration among New York academic institutions in their efforts to advocate shared interests in communicating science, influencing public policy, and increasing funding for the marine sciences within New York.

This is a critical period for the stewardship of New York's coastal resources and environments. The legislation that created the New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council (OGLECC) in 2006 set the state on an ambitious, bold new course toward managing New York's marine resources in a holistic, ecosystem context. NYMSC will facilitate active participation by the academic community in this endeavor by helping institutions coordinate activities that promote scientific support for management decisions and educate students and the public about the need for a sustainable approach to managing our aquatic resources.

By sharing resources, expertise, and information across institutions, the NYMSC will help New York's marine science community collectively strive to find solutions to the challenges that New York's coastal communities face. Please see the attached agenda for a complete schedule of the founding meeting.

More information about NYMSC can be found at: http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/~nymsc

WHERE: Charles B. Wang Center, Stony Brook University

WHEN: Friday, September 19, from 10:00 to 4:00.