Information for ACRS 2019 attendants

ACRS 2019 Conference Program

ACRS2019_DraftProgram_v4 (May 6, 2019)

Conference Keynote Speakers

We have exceptional keynote speakers for the ACRS 2019 conference, including:

Russell Kelley [James Cook University]

Talk: Adventures in Ocean Literacy and Science Communication: insights from wrangling scientists, stakeholders and training 1000 people

Russell Kelley has been a member of the ACRS since the early 1980’s when he started his career as a coral reef geologist at UQ working on the raised reef terraces of the Huon Peninsula, PNG. Subsequently Russell worked on programs at JCU and AIMS where he developed an interest in coral identification. In 1990 he left working-life and sailed all over the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Straits returning two years later to join an underwater film making group as science communicator and director / producer. After a decade working on high production-value factual documentaries he moved into science communication more broadly – work that continues today. In the 1990s / 2000s he produced a series of landmark print products focused on promoting a whole-of-system approach to reef management ( e.g. the Blue Highway, the original Catchment to Reef). Later his interest turned to the fundamentals of ocean literacy and capacity building with the publication of the Coral Finder (3 editions) and the Reef Finder. Russell, in partnership with marine park manager Rachel Pears and others, have trained over 1000 people through the Coral Identification Capacity Building Program. Russell is the 2017 recipient of the ACRS medal for science advocacy for his exceptional role communicating coral reef science, and contributions to science education and conservation.

Prof. Amatzia Genin [The Hebrew University of Jerusalem]

Talk: Living in the flow: benefits, costs, and ecological consequences for corals and fish in exposed and sheltered reefs

Professor Amatzia Genin is a marine ecologist and biological oceanographer. His major interest is in the coupling between physical and biological processes in the marine environment, focusing on the effects of water motion on fundamental ecological processes, including predator-prey relationships, competition, symbiosis, mass transfer, and behavior. Research at his lab is process-oriented and inter-disciplinary, addressing mechanisms that operate at levels ranging from the individual to the ecosystem. Most of Amatzia’s studies are based on field experiments involving advanced technologies and novel approaches. Amatzia completed his BSc (1977) and MSc (1981) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel and his PhD (1987) at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego, USA. He has been a faculty at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a resident researcher at the InterUniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of Eilat (IUI) since 1987. During the past six years, he was the scientific director of the IUI. At present, he is on sabbatical leave at UQ in Ove Hoegh-Guldberg’s lab.

Dr. Alana Grech [ARC Centre of Execellence for Coral Reef Studies]

Talk: The Great Barrier Reef’s changing coast

Dr Alana Grech completed her doctorate in Environmental Science at James Cook University. Currently she is the Assistant Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and leads research on the conservation and management of tropical coastal ecosystems. Alana was previously employed as a Senior Lecturer in spatial information science at Macquarie University, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University. Much of her work explores spatially-explicit approaches to cumulative impact assessment (CIA), and the implications of CIA in environmental decision-making, policy and practice. Alana received the Queensland Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year Award in 2018 for her leadership in science and communication.

Dr Pat Hutchings [Australian Museum]

Talk: Australian Coral Reef Society – a brief history and its contribution to Australian coral reef conservation

Dr Pat Hutchings is a Senior Fellow, at the Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum. Her research mainly focuses on the systematics and ecology of polychaetes which are dominant components of all benthic ecosystems. She also has an interest in wetland ecology and coastal zone management and has worked extensively on coral reefs especially with regards to bioerosion. In addition, her work has explored how rates and agents of bioerosion are changing with increasing anthropogenic impacts on reefs around the world using experimental approaches.

Mr Josh Thomas [CEO GBRMPA]

Special session: Building bridges between science and management: towards resilience-based management of the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Thomas was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority in 2019 for a term of five years. Mr Thomas has more than 15 years’ experience in the public and private sector in Australia and overseas. He has helped shape and lead environmental policy and programs for the Great Barrier Reef and in terrestrial natural resource management.

Mr Thomas has worked in a number of senior public sector roles and across the environment, agriculture and finance portfolios, as well as in federal Ministerial offices. He has a strong track record of public engagement on matters affecting Australia’s World Heritage sites, and through major environmental programs such as the Biodiversity Fund and Caring for our Country.

Mr Thomas’ policy experience in the marine environment extends across the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments, migratory and endangered species, whaling matters, marine parks and Antarctica. He is committed to enhancing Australia’s natural environment and has been a strong advocate for incorporating both contemporary science and Indigenous traditional knowledge into environmental management throughout his career.

Special Session

Building bridges between science and management: towards resilience-based management of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Josh Thomas, together with the Authority’s Reef Knowledge section will provide an overview of the agency’s vision for resilience-based management of the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem.

The critical need for close collaboration between scientists and managers to address known and emerging pressures on the Reef will be discussed. A number of current projects that clearly demonstrate the benefits of close collaboration, including the Reef 2050 Integrated Monitoring and Reporting Program, crown-of-thorns starfish control and Marine Park compliance will also be outlined.

This overview will be followed by a forum to discuss and capture how the Authority and scientists can most effectively foster current and future collaborations, which is essential to how we all best assist the Reef at such a critical point in its history. By focusing our efforts and working with partners, together we will give the entire Great Barrier Reef ecosystem the best chance of maximising its resilience as the climate changes.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is Australia’s lead manager of the Great Barrier Reef. For more than 40 years, we’ve been managing this great natural icon to ensure it’s protected for the future. Our work is guided by:

We use the best available scientific information to guide us, and engage with experts and the community. This includes four Reef Advisory Committees and 12 Local Marine Advisory Committees. Out on the water, field management and enforcement of zoning rules is carried out with Queensland and Australian Government agencies on our behalf. We provide a number of other services to protect and manage the Reef ranging from issuing permits, providing advice on marine management, and operating our education centre Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. We report to the Australian Government Environment Minister. Our Board oversees the agency, which is structured into four main Branches: Reef Engagement, Corporate Services, Reef Protection and Reef Strategy. The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer leads the organisation on a day-to-day basis, with the guidance of the board.

Social Program

There will be many opportunities to network and mingle! Please see map below for the location of the venues.

>Welcome Dinner

Tuesday 7th May
Held at the Wheelhouse room from 7 pm onward
A buffet dinner will be served

>CSIRO Poster Session

Wednesday 8th May
Held at the Waterfront Pavillion room from 5:30 pm onward
Drinks and antipasto platters will be served

>Conference Awards Dinner

Thursday 9th May
Held at Waterfront Pavillion room at 7:30pm (arrive at 7pm to start mingling!)
An alternate drop, set menu will be served

Workshops

PAPER PUBLISHING WORKSHOP

Delivered by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies as part of their National Student Mentoring Day.
The workshop is directed at early career scientists interested in learning how to navigate the publication process. The workshop will be hosted by Professor Josh Cinner.
Thursday 10th May, from 8:30am to 4:30pm in the Kallatina Room.
More details here

DATA WORKSHOP

Delivered by Craig Steinberg from AIMS and IMOS
The focus of the workshop is to assist the scientific community to discover, access, download, use and understand the potential of the data being collected by a number of agencies on and around Coral Reefs. This includes IMOS and AIMS long term monitoring environmental and ecological data sets.
Thursday 10th May, from 8am to 11:30am in the Waterfront Pavillion.
More details here

Presenter Information

Oral presentations

Presentation time slots are 15 minutes, please plan to speak 12-13 minutes giving time for questions following.
Please arrive at your session at least 5 min before it begins to meet the chair.
You will be able to load your presentation on the first morning from 7:00-8:15 am, Wednesday May 8th. Presentations can also be loaded during the first 15 minutes of each break during the conference. Please load your presentation in the break before the session prior to your own session at the VERY LATEST. So, if you are speaking after lunch, please load by morning tea that day.
There will be several concurrent sessions so please note in which room you will present.

Posters

Posters should be no larger than a standard large poster – 61 x 91 cm
The CSIRO poster session will start at 6pm on Wednesday 8^th
If you are presenting a poster, please arrive with plenty of time before the opening on Wednesday May 8th to hang your poster.
During the session stand by your poster to discuss your work.
Drinks and antipasto platters will be served
Posters will be on display in throughout the conference.

Tangalooma Resort & venues

Tangalooma Island Resort is located in Moreton island, only a 75-minute catamaran cruise from Brisbane. Please access their website for information on services & facilities, dining options, maps, an a complete guide of things to do.

Conference Rooms

The following rooms will be used throughout the conference.

Wheelhouse Room (map #3; upstairs): Welcome Dinner
Waterfront Pavillion (map #10): Keynotes talks, Delegate talks, Awards Dinner, Data workshop
Kallatina Room (map #18): Delegate talks, CoE publishing workshop
Wadsworth Room (map #5): Delegate talks

*Catering during the conference will include morning and afternoon tea served in a seated/undercover area out the front of building 3, and sit down lunches will be served in the Waterfront Pavillion (map #10)

Resort accomodation

All bookings received through our wesbite have been confirmed with the Tangalooma Resort. Please direct any queries or issues to conference organiser Dr Selina Ward.

Ferry Transfers

Ferries depart Brisbane from the Tangalooma Wharf located at 220 Holt Street, Pinkenba QLD 4008 (Brisbane Wharf). All ferry bookings received through our wesbite have been confirmed. Please direct any queries or issues to conference organiser Dr Selina Ward.

Carbon footprint

The ACRS makes every effort to reduce the carbon footprint of their conferences.

As with previous years, we have made all our information available electronically including the call for papers, registration, travel award applications, photo competition entry and information on workshops. Some copies of the program will be printed on recycled stock and we provide a full list of abstracts on our conference app.
No disposables will be used during the catering and water stations will be provided. As such it would be wise to bring a water bottle and keep cup. Our meal choices for catering are considered with our carbon footprint in mind.
We encourage those of you who have not done so already to offset your flights to the conference as well.

Conference Sponsors

The Australian Coral Reef Society would like to thank the sponsors of the conference for their generous support

Student Presentation Prizes

The Australian Coral Reef Society would like to thank sponsors for their generous donations