[Coral-List] Abstract Deadline Aug. 1 - Coral Reefs of the Gulf Conference (Jan. 17-19, 2012, Abu Dhabi, UAE)

[John Burt]

A reminder that the abstract submission deadline for the 'Coral Reefs
of the Gulf' conference closes next month on August 1, 2011. Further
information is below (including a link to the abstract submission
form); please feel free to pass to colleagues working on reefs in the
Arabian/Persian Gulf or surrounding seas.

----------------------------
Call for Abstracts: ‘Coral Reefs of the Gulf’ conference (Jan. 17-19,
2012, Abu Dhabi, UAE)

Abstract submission is now open for the ‘Coral Reefs of the Gulf’
conference, being held at the InterContinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates, from 17–19 January, 2012.  Please submit at:
https://nyuad.nyu.edu/institute/conference.coral.reefs.html    NOTE:
The deadline for submission is August 1, 2011.

This conference will bring together leading regional and international
scientists working on the marine systems in the Arabian and Persian
waters of the Gulf and the surrounding seas. Our goal is to discuss
our current understanding of coral reef ecosystems in the region, to
open a dialogue on future research directions, and to discuss how this
research can be better integrated with regional marine management
programs. A list of a several of the confirmed speakers is provided
below, and we are welcoming additional abstract submission from active
marine scientists or science-based managers in the region.

The Coral Reefs of the Gulf conference is being hosted by the New York
University – Abu Dhabi Institute, the research wing of the New York
University campus in Abu Dhabi. The Institute will provide meals and
event transportation for conference speakers and can facilitate
arranging immigration visas (if relevant). There are no registration
fees for presenting participants. Flights and accommodation may also
be provided to a limited number of participants in need of financial
support (contact John.Burt at nyu.edu if relevant).

This two and a half day conference will include a series of themed
symposium sessions, each opened by a keynote address from a renowned
expert in the field. Themed sessions in this conference tentatively
include “Natural history of Gulf reefs”, “Environmental extremes and
climate change”, “Threats to reef communities in the Gulf and
surrounding seas”, “Science-based management and conservation
initiatives”, and a locally-focused session on specific studies of
unique reef sites in the Gulf. There will also be a discussion session
where participants are invited to break into smaller,
topically-focused groups to open dialogue on knowledge gaps and means
to improve our understanding of these unique ecosystems. We are
planning to keep this conference small and focused (~100 participants)
in order to foster greater interaction among participants.

Please upload abstracts at
https://nyuad.nyu.edu/institute/conference.coral.reefs.html (max. 250
words) or contact John.Burt at nyu.edu for further information.
Deadline for submission: 1 August, 2011. Acceptance decisions will be
communicate in early September.

Steering Committee - Coral Reefs of the Gulf Conference
  - John Burt – New York University-Abu Dhabi
  - David Feary – University of Technology, Sydney
  - Andrew Bauman – James Cook University/ARC Centre for Excellent in
Coral Reefs Studies

A selection of confirmed speakers include, among many others:
 - Don Anderson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
 - Michael Berumen, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology
 - Kent Carpenter, International Union for the Conservation of Nature
 - Morgan Pratchett, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
 - Bernhard Riegl, Nova Southeastern University
 - Peter Sale, United Nations University
 - Charles Sheppard, University of Warwick