Newswise — Ocean Springs, MS – Join the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (Alliance) for a series of virtual Tools Cafes sponsored by Esri, the world leader in location intelligence technology. Eight, hour-long technical programs, will feature 24 of the latest tools and resources for the Gulf of Mexico.

Tool topics relate to the Alliance's wide range of priority issues. These include topics varying from coastal resilience and water resources to marine debris. The “Tool Time with Dave” series will be hosted by Dave Reed, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, who is the co-chair of the Alliance’s Data and Monitoring team. 

The Alliance developed the bi-weekly series of interactive programs based on the in-person Tools Café ordinarily held during their annual All Hands meeting. The 2020 conference was canceled, but the interest in the technical tools was still high. Alliance participants look forward to engaging new people and new resources. They come away knowing if the tool is the best fit for a project they manage. 

"Even though our annual meeting was canceled, going to a virtual platform continues to give our partners opportunities to share their resources. Participants can still learn how these tools work through the live demonstrations,” said Laura Bowie, Executive Director. "It also provides an opportunity for new participants to join the Alliance when travel isn’t possible. We can't thank Esri enough for helping make this happen."

The bi-weekly program, Tool Time with Dave, runs August through November 2020. The kick-off event is scheduled for August 4th and covers three tools that address sea level rise. Get complete information on Tool Time with Dave at www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/tooltime.