The International Ocean Institute-USA and the city of St. Petersburg, FL, are hosting a Coastal Cities Summit 2008: Values & Vulnerabilities, www.coastalcties.org, on November 17-20, 2008, to address the complex challenges that coastal city leaders face as populations increase, resources are depleted, and the impacts of climate change are felt. The Coastal Cities Summit intends to bring together coastal city leaders, managers,academics, and trade professionals to discuss environmental, social, economic, and public policy challenges and viable solutions.
REGISTER NOW!!! Abstract submission and registration now open! Submission deadline - May 15.. Early registration deadline - July 31.
The 3 ½ day conference will focus on three themes: Climate Change, Risk and Vulnerability, and Sustainable Development. The planners are soliciting speakers on four areas that are particularly relevant to coastal cities: freshwater, pollution, energy, and port security. All sessions are intended to give a long-needed voice to those on the front lines taking leadership on climate change, providing implementation and response plans, and continuing to focus on protecting citizens from possible extreme events and human-induced degradation.
The International Ocean Institute (IOI) has 26 operational centers around the world. IOI-USA is the newest center, established in St. Petersburg, FL in 2006 by agreement between IOI headquarters in Malta and the University of South Florida (USF). The mission of IOI-USA is to provide an international center of excellence in education, training, development, and capacity building, with particular interest in coastal and marine areas. The University of South Florida (USF), established in 1956 as a public university, is a comprehensive multi-campus research university serving more than 42,000 students. It is home to the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions, a center dedicated to promoting sustainable healthy communities around the world, and one of the co-organizers of the event. The resources and expertise of USF allow IOI-USA to offer an outstanding conference program that will attract attendees from around the world. Further information on the conference can be found at its website: www.coastalcities.org or you may e-mail the Secretariat at mara@ioiusa.usf.edu.
