Coastal Conference Speakers Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Katie Mosher, 919-515-9069, kmosher@ncsu.edu

Coastal topics matter statewide. Make plans now to attend North Carolina’s Coastal Conference, April 4 and 5, 2017, in Raleigh. And encourage university students to join you.

The spectrum of resilience will be at the forefront of discussions during the event. Speakers include Craig McLean, assistant administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Mike Sprayberry, director of N.C. Emergency Management, and Rear Adm. David Titley, who is retired from the U.S. Navy and now leads Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk.

“We are pleased to have such a great mix of presenters from all levels of government, many universities, and the business and nonprofit sectors,” notes Susan White, executive director of North Carolina Sea Grant, host organization for the event. “Our goal is to energize new and continued partnerships that can actively work toward solutions to benefit coastal communities, economies and ecosystems.”

Daytime plenary sessions and concurrent panels will be at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Check the updated draft agenda here.

A free evening program on April 4 will be at the Nature Research Center of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences downtown. Speakers there will include N.C. Rep. Pat McElraft and N.C. Sen. Bill Cook. Both represent coastal districts and hold leadership roles in the N.C. General Assembly. Bland Simpson, whose books and music celebrate North Carolina’s coastal region, also will present.

A student poster competition will showcase research by graduate students and undergraduates across the state. Cash awards will be presented. Deadline for students to apply is March 17.

The conference has strong support from sponsors:

• Emerald: NC State University’s Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development; East Carolina University; and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• Sapphire: NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management.
• Ruby: Duke University Marine Lab.
• Crystal: Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership and the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Coastal and Marine Sciences.

“We see sponsorships as critical to helping us cover the costs for student participation. They are our future leaders and need to be part of these discussions,” White notes. See the sponsorship flyer or contact White at snwhite3@ncsu.edu or 919-515-2455 for more information.

Registration and other details are available at ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/nc-coastal-conference.

Note to news editors and producers: For media registration, contact Katie Mosher, kmosher@ncsu.edu.

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North Carolina Sea Grant: Your link to research and resources for a healthier coast