Reef-related Meeting

[Bob Buddemeier]

CORAL REEF SYMPOSIUM AND MEETINGS

Coral reef issues and programs will be a major focus of the joint
annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
(SICB) and its associated societies*, the International Society for
Reef Studies (ISRS), and the Ecological Society of America (ESA),
which will be held at the Boston Marriott Hotel -- Copley Place,
January 3-7, 1998.  SICB is organizing both meeting and program.

The scientific meeting will feature a major emphasis on coral reef
science, including an invited Symposium Jan. 6-7 on *CORAL REEFS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE -- ADAPTATION, ACCLIMATION, OR EXTINCTION.* 
Contributed paper and poster sessions, special events, and society
meetings will also take place.  Invited Symposium speakers include:
A. B. Pittock, B. N. Opdyke, J. Pandolfi, R. A. Kinzie III, R. Gates,
K. Yamazato, B. Carlson, H. Lasker, J. Benzie, D. Potts, R. Rowan, R.
P. M. Bak, T. Done, R. Karlson, J. Kleypas, T. Done, J.-P. Gattuso,
B. Hatcher, S. V. Smith, and R. W. Buddemeier.

Included in the presentations will be the initial versions of the
final report of Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)
Working Group 104.  This group, co-sponsored by the Land-Ocean
Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) Core Project of the
International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), has as its charge
a review and report on the topic *Coral Reef Responses to Global
Change: The Role of Adaptation.  In addition to SCOR and LOICZ, the
symposium is being sponsored by SICB, ISRS, ESA, and the New England
Aquarium.

Abstract submittal information (deadline: mid-August) has been mailed
to all members of the participating societies, and registration
information will be distributed in early Fall, 1997.  Non-members who
are interested in participating should contact SICB at 1-800-955-1236
(phone), 1-312-245-1085 (fax), or sicb at sba.com.  Additional
information about SICB and the meeting can be obtained from the SICB
home page:  http://www.sicb.org/.  The home page
http://bcrc.bio.umass.edu/sicbboston/  provides information on the
status of the meeting planning and schedule.

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS OF INTEREST TO *REEFERS*:

1.  Business meeting of the ISRS (tentatively scheduled for January
7).
2.  Breakfast meeting, Society for Research on Coelenterates (SRC
--schedule to be announced)
3.  Workshops and programs organized by the New England Aquarium (to
be announced)
4.  Coral Reef contributed paper and poster sessions (if number of
submissions justifies)
5.  Other symposia and SICB Divisional and topical sessions
6.  SYMPOSIUM:  *CORAL REEFS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE -- ADAPTATION,
ACCLIMATION, OR EXTINCTION*  -- Jan 6-7.

We are doing our best to put together a program that addresses both
the major conceptual underpinnings of reef science and their
applicability to large-scale policy issues -- and one that provides a
stimulating and enjoyable opportunity for those interested in reef
science to meet and exchange ideas.  We think it will be very
exciting, and look forward to seeing you there.

Robert W. Buddemeier and Howard R. Lasker,  Symposium organizers.

P.S.  For those submitting abstracts-- in order to specify clearly to
the program committee that you are interested in being in a
reef-oriented  session, we suggest that you (a) try to have a title
containing a key word such as *coral* or *reef*, or (b) add a note to
your abstract submittal form.  Because it will be a relatively large
and busy meeting, we endorse the SICB suggestion that you consider a
poster presentation if possible.


*Other participating societies include The American Microscopical
Society (AMS), The Crustacean Society (TCS), the Animal Behavior
Society (ABS), and the Julia B. Platt Club.