MTS: New Webinar Series on Oil Spill Impacts

In support of a collaboration between the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, the MTS will host a three-part webinar series in support of a TechSurge focused on the effects of oil spills on the environment and public health occurring in February 2018. The first webinar will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 from 4-5 p.m. ET. 

The topic of the webinar series is Introduction to the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI). Essentially, the webinar will share insights into the research of the impacts of the oil, dispersed oil, and dispersant on the ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico and affected coastal States in a broad context of improving fundamental understanding of the dynamics of such events and their environmental stresses and public health implications. The GoMRI is developing improved spill mitigation, oil and gas detection, characterization and remediation technologies.

The goal of the webinar is to improve society’s ability to understand, respond to and mitigate the impacts of petroleum pollution and related stressors of the marine and coastal ecosystems, with an emphasis on conditions found in the Gulf of Mexico. Knowledge accrued will be applied to restoration and to improving the long-term environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico.

Speakers at the webinar include:

Dr. Charles “Chuck” A. Wilson serves as the GoMRI Chief Scientific Officer, which provides scientific and research advice and leadership to the GoMRI. Additionally, he supports the Research Board’s efforts to ensure the intellectual quality, research effectiveness, and scientific independence of the $500 million GoMRI research initiative.

Dr. Wilson is a distinguished scientist and academic leader. He has held faculty and administrative posts at Louisiana State University (LSU), from an assistant professor in the Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences to full professor and department chairman. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, and prior to that as the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. 

Dr. Edward Buskey, Principal Investigator, Dispersion Research on Oil: Physics and Plankton Studies (DROPPS) Consortium. Dr. Buskey came to The University of Texas Marine Science Institute in 1986 as a Research Scientist, and was promoted to Professor in 1999. His research interests have focused on studies of the behavioral ecology of marine zooplankton, and how sensory perception mediates behavioral adaptations for locating food resources, avoiding predators and finding mates. Much of this research makes use of video microcinematography and automated video-computer methods for image and motion analysis. 

Dr. Steven Murawski is a fisheries biologist and marine ecologist involved in understanding the impacts of human activities on the sustainability of ocean ecosystems. He has developed approaches for understanding the impacts of fishing on marine fish complexes exploited in mixed-species aggregations. Additionally, his work on impacts of marine protected areas and other management options has formed the scientific basis for regulation. Such assessments can help inform investments to rebuild the Gulf of Mexico from effects of the oil spill, loss of juvenile nursery areas, nutrient enrichment, overfishing and other factors.

Dr. Murawski currently serves as Director of the Center for Integrated Analysis and Modeling of Gulf Ecosystems (C-IMAGE).

There will be a second webinar held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, and a third will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. Registration is open now and is free for everyone.