Make a rain barrel in Daphne

December 13, 2013 from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, in partnership with the Coastal Alabama Clean Water Partnership and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, will hold a rain barrel workshop from 3 p.m.- 5 p.m., Friday, Dec.13, at Daphne City Hall, 1705 Main St., in Daphne.

Workshop participants will construct a rain barrel that will allow them to harvest rainwater for gardens, landscaping or other uses. They also will learn how to install the rain barrels at their homes.

Interested individuals must pre-register with the Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center office by Thursday, Dec. 12. The registration fee for the workshop is $40 and includes all materials required to construct a rain barrel.

For more information or to register, contact Christian Miller, extension specialist with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and the Auburn Marine Center, at 251-438-5690 or Christian@auburn.edu.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference

January 26, 2014 - January 29, 2014 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Special Opportunity for Teachers: Coastal Concerns for Clinicians

February 8, 2014 from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

This opportunity for teachers will look at flesh eating bacteria, parasites, viruses, harmful algae and other water-borne threats to humans. You will learn about their occurrence in local waters, methods to culture and study them in the lab, and treatment protocols. This Saturday morning workshop is designed for medical professionals, but we encourage well-prepared science teachers to attend. 

See replicas of Columbus ships

February 8, 2014 - February 9, 2014 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

See the Columbus ships at the St. Margaret’s Catholic Church Dock. The Niña and Pinta tour together as a new and enhanced "sailing museum," for the purpose of educating the public and school children on the ‘caravel’ a Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many early explorers to discover the world. 

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets: $5

Invasive Plant Atlas Volunteer Training Workshop

February 19, 2014 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

An invasive species workshop will be conducted on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014, at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the workshop, participants will learn to identify 40 different invasive plant species, how to use The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth webpage and database, and early detection and rapid response steps for reporting and managing invasive plants. The data for this website is primarily input by volunteers and is used to target the management of these invasive species.   

The workshop will be taught Dr. John Madsen of the Geosystems Research Institute and Dr. Victor Maddox, Department of Plant and Soil Science, both at Mississippi State University.  Workshop partners include the Mississippi Master Naturalist Program, Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium.        

To register, please email Dr. Chris Boyd at cboyd@ext.msstate.edu or call 228-546-1025 by Feb. 10, 2014 (space is limited). There is no cost to participate in the workshop, only a desire to learn more about invasive plants and a willingness to be a part of the solution. In addition each participant will be provided lunch, a training manual, species fact sheets, and identification cards for the 40 species. For additional information about IPAMS, visit their website at http://www.gri.msstate.edu/ipams. 

See workshop flier.

Oil Spill Science Update

February 21, 2014 - February 22, 2014 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

This teacher professional development opportunity will teach you what the role of science is during an environmental emergency. What have scientists learned since the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill? How can you share this with your students?  You will consider how science expands knowledge and how the body of knowledge has changed since the 2010 oil spill.

Celebrate the Gulf

April 5, 2014 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Come out and enjoy this unique education event. This event publicizes activities related to the wise use, preservation or conservation of our valuable aquatic and marine resources. Visit over 25 exhibits that highlight the benefits of a healthy Gulf of Mexico.  Touch tanks, live animals, Raptor Road Show/Birds of Prey, plus fishing rodeo for youth, 12 and under. Come join us and Celebrate the Gulf where there is fun for everyone. 

Pass Christian War Memorial Park, Pass Christian, MS

Climate Outreach Community of Practice Annual Meeting

April 07, 2014 - April 9, 2014 from 1:00 pm - 12:00 pm

Please join us for an exciting agenda, awards reception, and partnership-building opportunity at this year's Climate Outreach Community of Practice meeting. We are pleased the City of Orange Beach has graciously offered to host the 5th annual event.

http://masgc.org/news/article/climate-outreach-community-of-practice-to-meet-in-april

http://masgc.org/climate-outreach-community-of-practice/summary

April 7-9, 2014

Monday after lunch through Wednesday at noon

Orange Beach Event Center
4671 Wharf Parkway
Orange Beach, AL 36561

Earth Day Mobile Bay 2014

April 19, 2014 from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Location: Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope, AL

Admission: Free

The Mobile Bay area celebration of Earth Day is inspired by the worldwide and national Earth Day, which promotes environmental citizenship and steers environmental awareness around the world.    

Direct marketing of aquaculture products in Alabama

April 22, 2014 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

This workshop for aquaculture producers in Alabama will look at ways to diversify aquaculture businesses with direct marketing. Topics will include information on regulatory oversight, personal and business liability, and various methords for direct marketing aquaculture products. Speakers will include representatives from the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Remote broadcast locations include:

Alabama Fish Farming Center, 529 S. Centreville St., Greensboro, AL, 334-624-4016 

Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, 150 Agassiz St., Dauphin Island, AL, 251-861-3018

Delta Woods & Water Expo

April 24, 2014 - April 26, 2014 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

Second Annual Deep-C ROV Competition

April 25, 2014 - April 27, 2014 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cocktails with the Critters

May 1, 2014 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Cocktails with Critters, the major fundraiser for the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation, will be Thursday, May 1, from 6:00 pm till 9:00 pm at the Bluegill Restaurant on the Causeway. This will be an exciting evening overlooking Mobile Bay. Entertainment will be provided by the lively inspired sounds of Delta Reign. For those seeking more thrills, there will be a fantastic silent auction. The Bluegill Restaurant is pulling out all the stops and will be serving fabulous and tasty hors d’oeuvres along with wine and beer. A cash bar will also be available.   

To Buy Tickets: Individual tickets are available from the Foundation office, by calling 251-605-6624.                                        

Living Shorelines for Coastal Protection in Alabama and Mississippi Workshop

May 29, 2014 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

This workshop is for shoreline contractors, engineering firms, waterfront homeowners, researchers and others who are interested in learning more about the status of living shoreline installations in Mississippi and Alabama.

Learn firsthand from homeowners, researchers and permitting agencies about the following:
• Status of living shoreline research projects
• Project showcase
• Meeting the needs of homeowners
• Legal concerns for contractors
• Permitting living shorelines
• Homeowner handbooks and contractor technical bulletins

Vendors will be on hand to discuss products.

Registration is free and required. Registration deadline is May 22.

Click here to register.

Social Media Tips for Direct Marketing Aquaculture Products Webinar

June 19, 2014 from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Please join us for a webinar, “Social Media Tips for Direct Marketing Aquaculture Products,” on June 19, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. The webinar will provide information on how to use social media to sell aquaculture products directly to customers, including a discussion on legal issues to consider. Speakers will include Maggie Lawrence from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Will Wilkins from the Mississippi Law Research Institute. The webinar will be hosted by the National Sea Grant Law Center and the National Agricultural Law Center, in collaboration with the University of Illinois Extension; Auburn University School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences; the Aquaculture and Fisheries Business Institute; Alabama Cooperative Extension System; and Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center.

View flyer

Seafood Savvy

July 15, 2014 from 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

The Fourth Seafood Savvy, a new series of quarterly educational events focusing on all aspects of Gulf seafood, will be held Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at the Windmill Market in downtown Fairhope, Alabama.

Seafood Savvy brings consumers together with the scientists, fishermen, processors and chefs who are experts about a particular species of Gulf seafood for a fun and informative evening. Each quarterly event focuses on a different species, with this installment focusing on locally caught Shrimp!

The event will be free to the public in the hopes that anyone interested in learning more can attend and come away with a new appreciation and understanding of the bounty of our local waters.

Seafood can often be difficult to source, intimidating to prepare and challenging to catch. Seafood Savvy will demystify local aquatic creatures, one at a time! Our fourth event will feature an overview of the ins and outs of the Shrimp species by Marine Biologist Dr. Bill Walton of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, followed by a look at the shrimper's perspective with Rosa Zirlott of the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama. Beth Walton of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium will discuss ways to help connect consumers with local fishermen, farmers and restaurants. Following this, Chef Chris Ranicheck of The Noble South in Mobile will show the guests his favorite ways to prepare Shrimp, and guests will have the opportunity to try his delicious dishes for themselves.

Seafood Savvy is organized and sponsored by the Windmill Market, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission and Missississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Additional support for this event is provided by The Noble South and Organized Seafood Association of Alabama.

Complimentary light hors d’oeuvres provided by Sweet Olive Bakery & Café
Cash bar: beer and wine

Alabama Working Waterfront Coalition Meeting

July 30, 2014 from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

The Alabama Working Waterfront Coalition (AWWC) will hold a meeting at 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 30, at the Killian Room at the International Trade Center at 250 North Water St., in Mobile, Alabama. 

The agenda will include:

• Review and adoption of AWWC bylaws
• Election of AWWC Board of Directors
• Update on Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s Coastal Marine Spatial Planning
• Presentation on State of Alabama’s strategic plan with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Please let Kristen O’Keefe know if you will be attending, and if you will be bringing someone with you.  You can contact her by phone at her office: 251-438-5690, cell: 407-748-6087, or by email at kokeefe@auburn.edu. 

Tips for Direct Marketing Aquaculture Products at Alabama Farmers Markets

August 21, 2014 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Urban Planning for Headwater Wetlands and Coastal Water Quality

October 17, 2014 from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Solving for Seafood Sustainability = People + Planet + Profit #S3P3

October 31, 2014 from 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm

A one-day invitation-only symposium organized by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and hosted by Dauphin Island Sea Lab, as a kick-off event for the Seafood, Science & Celebrity weekend on Dauphin Island

https://masgc.org/assets/images/Solving_for_Seafood_Sustainability_Final2.pdf

Objectives:

1) Challenge the audience to broaden the definition of sustainable seafood, to include the environment, the economy and the culture, often referred to as people, planet, profit.
2) Increase understanding of domestic fisheries management and aquaculture.
3) Increase awareness of sourcing and traceability.
4) Encourage more complete utilization of seafood resources.
5) Increase awareness of seafood sustainability efforts in the Gulf of Mexico

Audience: We expect the audience to include food industry members (chefs, wholesalers, etc.), some commercial fishermen, media, scientists and general public

Sessions – Each session will be 1 hour, with a series of short (5-10 minutes each), thought-provoking presentations by the speakers/panelists, followed by up to 15 minutes of dialogue with the audience (with discussion prompted by moderator/facilitator), and time left for summary statements and concluding thoughts.

Agenda

3 PM – Welcome – Chef Chris Hastings, Hot & Hot Fish Club

3:10 - Introductions, Ground Rules and Goals – Bill Walton

3:15 PM - Busting Fish Myths – A session focused on common misperceptions about fisheries, understanding what is required of US seafood producers and expanding the concept of sustainability, with the speakers joined by panelists Sam Wilding (Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program) and Chris Blankenship (Director, Alabama Marine Resources Division and Chair of Alabama Gulf Seafood Marketing Program).

• Dr. LaDon Swann, Director, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Broadening definition of sustainability to include ‘three legs of the stool’
• Dr. Olaf Jensen, Assistant Professor, IMCS, Rutgers University Addressing common misperceptions about fish stocks
• Laurel Bryant, FishWatch Understanding US fisheries and what that means about sustainability
• Julianna Mullen, Audubon G.U.L.F Tailoring approaches to unique ecosystems

 4:15 PM - Farming the Sea: a Blue-Green Solution – This session will be dedicated to taking another look at the need for aquaculture and the opportunities that aquaculture provides to increase sustainability broadly

• Dr. Bob Rheault, East Coast Shellfish Growers Association How shellfish aquaculture benefits the public
• Brian Kingzett, Global Aquaculture Alliance Feeding 9 billion people with long-term sustainability
• Dr. Bill Walton, AUSFAAS/ACES/DISL Oyster farming keeping people working on the water in the US South
• Dr. Michael Rust, NOAA Office of Aquaculture  What have we learned from 40 years of growing fish in pens and how can we apply it in the Gulf of Mexico?

5:15 PM Dinner on site

6:00 PM - Sourcing: Knowing and Going to the Source – A session about the importance of knowing the source (traceability) and the relationship between the producers and the consumers

• TJ Tate, Gulf Wild Gulf Wild program
• Michael Dimin, Sea to Table Successes and challenges at Sea to Table, and the need to support fish, fishermen, and fishing communities
• Alex Miller, Gulf Trace Gulf Trace and the importance of traceability to sustainability

7:00 PM - Nose to Tail from the Ocean – A session about underutilized species (fish, seaweeds, oyster drills, etc.)

• Jim Gossen, Gulf Seafood Institute Total Catch program
• Chef Ryan Prewitt, Peche Cobia – an underappreciated fish
• Chef Chris Sherrill, Florabama Yacht Club Lionfish - eating the problem

Seafood Savvy: Local Fish

January 13, 2015 from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The fifth Seafood Savvy, a new series of quarterly educational events focusing on all aspects of Gulf seafood, will be held Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at the Windmill Market in downtown Fairhope, Alabama.

Seafood Savvy brings consumers together with the scientists, fishermen, processors and chefs who are experts about a particular species of Gulf seafood for a fun and informative evening. Each quarterly event focuses on a different species, with this installment focusing on locally caught fish!

The event will be free to the public in the hopes that anyone interested in learning more can attend and come away with a new appreciation and understanding of the bounty of our local waters.

Seafood can often be difficult to source, intimidating to prepare and challenging to catch. Seafood Savvy demystifies local aquatic creatures, one at a time. Our fifth event will focus on Gulf seafood with presentations by local chefs, fishermen, producers and more. Join the discussion with Susan Boggs of Reel Surprise Charters and SanRoc Cay Marina, Marine Biologist Dr. Bill Walton, Chef Markus Haeusler of Saltwater Grill at The Grand Hotel and more!

Seafood Savvy is organized and sponsored by the Windmill Market, Saltwater Grill, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission, Auburn University Marine Extension & Research Center and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. 

See event flier

Workshop on Invasive Species and Habitat Preservation on Dauphin Island

January 21, 2015 from 11:30 am - 3:00 pm

Creating a Successful Program for Public Information CRS Training Workshop

January 22, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where:  USFWS Bayou Lacombe Center, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, 61389 Hwy 434, Lacombe, LA 70445

What:  French Wetmore of French & Associates will lead a locally tailored training workshop focused on developing a successful Program for Public Information under the 2013 CRS Coordinators Manual.

Note:  This workshop is not open to the general public.

Working Waterfront Values Listening Session

January 27, 2015 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium is sponsoring a project through Mississippi State University that will share how you value our working waterfront with our local cities and counties for future planning.

Dr. Jason Gordon, leader of this project, invites you to share your working waterfront values. "There has been a lot of talk about working coastal waterfronts. However, we do not have a good understanding about the public values of working waterfronts and associated trade offs between development and open space preservation. I am working with the University of South Alabama, Auburn, and Jackson State University on a research project funded by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium that looks at how coastal residents value working waterfronts, and how this factors into planning and zoning decisions in Mississippi and Alabama communities. Our research consists of several steps, including a mail survey and economic analyses. We are starting by listening to stakeholder groups during several meetings held along the coast. Ultimately, we will use the information to develop a toolbox for local planners, developers, elected officials, and others to make better coastal planning decisions.

We will hold a listening session on January 27 at 10am at the Port Authority in Mobile (Killian Room, 250 N. Water Street, Mobile).

This is an open session, so feel free to share this with anyone else who might be interested. To RSVP with Dr. Gordon: 

Phone: (662) 325-8851 

Email: Jg966@msstate.edu

Science Cafe at GCRL

January 27, 2015 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Science Cafe is a national program designed to allow those from all backgrounds to learn about timely scientific issues in a relaxed and social setting. The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory's Science Cafe events are held in the Dining Hall at GCRL's East Beach site. Science Cafe events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments are served. Come join the fun and learn at the same time.

Mississippi Wildlife – Giving life a second chance.

Alison Sharpe is a decedent of England she came to the US when she was 15 years old. She has always had a great admiration for animals, especially the wildlife. She moved to Mississippi about 25 years ago and started the Wildlife Care and Rescue Center (WCRC) in 1994. She worked at the GCRL, J.L. Scott Marine Education Center for 11 years as a Marine Education Specialist. She now works full time as a Veterinarian Technician and is the Director of the WCRC.

Alison will speak about the rehabilitation of native wildlife and migratory birds, the challenges wildlife species face, and how each seasons brings new challenges. She will also describe the work of the Wildlife Care and Rescue Center.

Coffee provided by Coffee Fusion, cookies provided by GCRL's Gunter Library

science.cafe.sharpe.flyer

Pre-proposal deadline for 2016-18 research funding cycle

February 3, 2015 from 4:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Preproposals are due to our office at 4 p.m.

GOMA Resilience PIT Meeting

February 04, 2015 - February 6, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) Coastal Community Resilience (CCR) Team will hold its annual Winter Meeting this year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on February 4-6, 2015. Team members will get updates on current and ongoing projects. In addition there will be a strategic planning session to discuss the Team Focus Areas and Actions in preparation for the 2015 GOMA Blueprint.

Registration is free. Meeting agenda will be posted soon on www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org website as well as an email blast will be sent to team members. If you know of someone that might be interested in learning more about the GOMA Coastal Community Resilience Team, please forward them the registration link and agenda.

A block of rooms have been reserved for this event. Room rate is $109, plus 13% hotel tax totaling $123.17 per night. Hotel accommodations include complimentary buffet breakfast, parking and wireless/wired internet.

When booking hotel stay, please reference group name “CCR Winter Meeting 2015” .The Cook Hotel and Conference Center is located on the Louisiana State University Campus at 3848 West Lakeshore Drive in Baton Rouge, LA 70808.

Reservation can be made either by calling (225) 383-2665 or online at http://www.thecookhotel.com.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please email Kristen Holley at kristen.holley@dmr.ms.gov.

ACCESS Alabama’s Marine Mammals

February 6, 2015 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Presenter: JoAnn Moody

Alabama’s Marine Mammals—Dauphin Island Sea Lab

9-10 a.m. (Grades 9-12) 10-11 a.m. (Grades 4-8) 

Description: Did you know the endangered West Indian manatee is Alabama's state marine mammal? Or that bottlenose dolphins use echolocation to hunt their prey? Or even that you can help the scientists learn more about manatees? Join the crew from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to hear more about these amazing marine mammals and see what scientists are learning about them. Suitable audience: content is directly aligned with 6th, 7th and 9th grade science biology classes; however, other middle school students and high school marine biology, aquascience, environmental science, botany and zoology classes may find content relevant.

To participate you will need videoconferencing equipment and an external IP address. Please click here to sign up your school. 

Pascagoula Super Saturday

February 7, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Mobile County Science Fair

February 10, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

ACCESS Turtle Tracks

February 13, 2015 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Presenter: Joan Turner 

Turtle Tracks—Dauphin Island Sea Lab 

How Do We Explore? Part II

February 28, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

ACCESS Sharks & Rays

March 9, 2015 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Presenter: 

Sharks and Rays—Dauphin Island Sea Lab 

9-10 a.m. (Grades 9-12) 10-11 a.m. (Grades 4-8) 
 
Description: More details to come.
 
To participate you will need videoconferencing equipment and an external IP address. Please click here to sign up your school. 

Alabama Master Naturalist Program – Alabama’s Coastal Waters

March 12, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Alabama Master Naturalist (AMN) program is a new statewide program whose goal is to help promote awareness, understanding, and respect of Alabama’s natural world among Alabama’s citizens and visitors. In addition, the AMN program will also develop a statewide corps of well-informed volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Click here for more information.

Orange Beach Festival of Art

March 14, 2015 - March 15, 2015 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

The Orange Beach Festival of Art is a juried fine arts event held every year at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach and the Waterfront Park. For 40 years, the Festival of Art has been our island's first rite of spring. It is a celebration of visual, performing, musical and culinary arts. With more than 100 artists working in a dazzling variety of medias, festival-goers always have plenty to see, hear, touch, taste and experience. Click here for more information.

The Festival of Art is a completely FREE festival. 
Public parking is located at The Wharf. Shuttles will be provided by BRATS at a rate of $2 to and from the Festival. 
NO public parking will be available on site.

Festival Hours:
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm 

Oil Spill Science Seminar: Five years later, what have we learned?

March 18, 2015 from 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm

In this seminar, which is free and open to the public, scientists will present the latest fisheries-related research about the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and dispersant application on Gulf of Mexico habitats, communities, and individual species.

Speakers will include:

• Dr. Steven Murawski, a fisheries biologist and marine ecologist from the University of South Florida and former director of scientific programs and chief science advisor for NOAA Fisheries Service, will talk about health and contamination in Gulf fish. He will also talk about the impacts the oil spill had on the food web and fish populations.

• Dr. Ken Heck, chair of University Programs at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and a professor of marine science at the University of South Alabama, will discuss the impacts of the oil spill on animals inhabiting wetlands of the Alabama coast, as well as its effects on individual fish and their northern Gulf populations.

• Dr. Mandy Joye, a biogeochemist and microbial ecologist with the Department of Marine Sciences at University of Georgia, will talk about dispersants and their impacts on the food web and open ocean and coastal ecosystems.

• Dr. Tracey Sutton, an oceanic ecologist and Associate Professor at the Nova Southern University Oceanographic Center, will talk about NOAA's sampling program shortly after the oil spill which studied offshore pelagic fishes (including juvenile reef fishes), shrimps, and squids.

There will also be a short facilitated discussion to determine what questions are still unknown and to identify future research priorities. The results of the discussion will be shared with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, which is investing $500 million in oil spill-related research over a 10-year period.

To register: If you would like to attend this seminar, it is free and open to the public. We encourage you to reserve a seat by registering at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/fisheriesoilspillseminar.

The seminar will be held in conjunction with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting, which has many other events and a registration fee. If you would like to attend the other events at the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting, please be sure to register.

Sea Grant is organizing and leading the seminar as part of the new Oil Spill Outreach Science Program. If you have any questions about this seminar, please contact Larissa Graham with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant at Larissa.Graham@auburn.edu or 251-348-5436.

Environmental Education Association of Alabama annual conference

March 19, 2015 - March 21, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

2015 Conference 

Join us in 2015 at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana!

The theme for our upcoming conference is “Alabama’s Biodiversity: It’s in our hands!” We’re looking forward to another great conference with keynote speaker Dr. Scot Duncan of Birmingham Southern University. Our presentations and field trips will highlight our state’s amazing biodiversity. We hope to see you there! 

Registration is now open! Click here for the download: Conference Registration Brochure.

For more information click here.

Climate Change Adaptation Workshop

March 27, 2015 from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Professional development workshop to focus on planning for resiliency

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program and the Mississippi Chapter of the American Planning Association are co-sponsoring a professional development workshop on resiliency planning for city planners, floodplain managers and other government professionals on March 27, 2015, at the Biloxi Visitors Center. This hands-on, comprehensive workshop will offer participants the opportunity to learn more about the tools available to coastal communities to address sea level rise, manage stormwater impacts and enhance costal resiliency. 

A diverse array of speakers will discuss some of the current science, share information on and offer ideas on enhancing your community’s resiliency to changing environments. Organizers have applied for AICP, CFM, CLE accreditation for this workshop.

Please click here for more information.

Alabama State Science & Engineering Fair

April 3, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The College of Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is pleased to host the  61st Annual North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NARSEF). NARSEF is a scientific competition for students in grades five through twelve. The purpose of the fair is to offer an opportunity for students to showcase their independent research to the public and compete scholastically with their peers. NARSEF is dedicated to promoting the interest in science exploration in today’s youth. Performing independent research, in the terms of a science fair project, stimulates interest in students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The interest in these areas is important because they have been recognized as crucial knowledge attributes for the next generation.

For more information click here. 

Climate Change, Community Resilience, and Restoration in the Gulf of Mexico

April 10, 2015 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Many restoration planning documents and programs in the Gulf of Mexico highlight the need to address climate change impacts as part of the restoration framework. While precedent exists on how to integrate climate change into restoration decision-making, many post-Deepwater Horizon restoration projects fail to adequately address climate change impacts. At the same time, coastal communities in the Gulf of Mexico region are both on the front line of climate impacts, as well as the ones hit hardest by the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. This webinar will bring together a panel of experts to discuss the complex intersection of climate change, community resilience and Gulf of Mexico restoration, focusing on the challenges of and opportunities for creating restoration projects that both incorporate climate change considerations and are responsive to the needs of coastal communities.

RSVP: click here

PANELISTS:

Dr. Kathryn Mengerink (Director, Ocean Program, Environmental Law Institute) Overview of Gulf Restoration Programs

Dr. Robert Twilley (Executive Director, Louisiana Sea Grant) Ecosystem Adaptation Climate Change Impacts on the Gulf Coast and Restoration Efforts

Jonathan Porthouse,(Senior Manager, Coastal Habitat Restoration, Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund) Integrating Climate Change Impacts into Restoration Planning and Projects

Colette Pichon Battle, (Executive Director, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy) Climate Impacts on Communities  and Options for Response

Dr. Tracie Sempier (Coastal Storms Outreach Coordinator, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant) Climate Change Decision-Making by Coastal Communities

MODERATOR:

Andrew Shepard, Florida Institute of Oceanography, Gulf of Mexico University Research Collaborative

Discovery Day at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab

April 11, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

This fun-filled family event includes a huge variety of environmentally-themed children’s activities; Open House at the Research Facilities of the DISL where the public can interact with marine scientists and graduate students to explore their ongoing research projects; and free children’s admission to the Estuarium, the aquarium at the Sea Lab. Bring your cameras for photo ops with Smokey the Bear and the Azalea Trail Maids! Admission to all activities is free (except for reduced adult Estuarium admission), and educational fun is bountiful at this popular annual event.

Admission: Free children's and reduced aquarium admission

For more information visit: http://estuarium.disl.org/

Rain barrel workshop in Mobile

April 11, 2015 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, in partnership with the Coastal Alabama Clean Water Partnership and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, will hold a rain barrel workshop from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 11, at Jon Archer Agricultural Center, 1070 Schillinger Road N., Mobile, AL 36608

Workshop participants will learn about important water quality and conservation issues and practical measures they can take to reduce their impact on coastal Alabama’s water resources. During the workshop, they will construct a rain barrel that will allow them to harvest rainwater for gardens, landscaping or other uses. They also will learn how to install the rain barrels at their homes.

To attend the workshop, interested individuals must pre-register with the Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center office. The registration fee for the workshop is $40 and includes all materials required to construct a rain barrel.

For more information or to register, contact Christian Miller, extension specialist with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and the Auburn Marine Center, at 251-438-5690 or Christian@auburn.edu.

Northern Gulf Coast Regional ROV Competition

April 17, 2015 - April 19, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Northern Gulf Coast regional ROV competition is taking place at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The MATE competition challenges K-12, community college, and university students from all over the world to design and build ROVs to tackle missions modeled after scenarios from the ocean workplace. The competition’s class structure of beginner, intermediate, and advanced complements the education pipeline by providing students with the opportunity to build upon their skills – and the application of those skills – as they engineer increasingly more complex ROVs for increasingly more complex mission tasks.

The MATE competition requires students to think of themselves as “entrepreneurs” and transform their teams into companies that manufacture, market, and sell “products.” In addition to engineering their ROVs, the students are required to prepare technical reports, poster displays, and engineering presentations that are delivered to working professionals who serve as competition judges.

Other MATE underwater robotics educational products include:

Underwater Robotics: Science, Design and Fabrication
Knowledge and Skill Guidelines for prospective ROV professionals
Curriculum and videos
Workshops for teachers and students
Internships for college students
All levels of DIY Kits and free open source plans
Microcontrollers for thrusters and sensors
And much more!

If you have not already read the registration instructions, please click here before proceeding. Contact Rachel Gamble, the Northern Gulf Coast regional coordinator, if you have any questions or concerns.  

ACCESS Amazing Animal Adaptations

April 22, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Delta Woods & Waters

April 23, 2015 - April 24, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Bay Minette First Friday Family Fun Night

May 1, 2015 from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Environmental Studies Center Spring Open House

May 2, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Creek Fest for 3 Mile Creek

May 9, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

ACCESS Coastal Plants of Alabama

May 13, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Gulf of Mexico Climate Outreach Community of Practice

May 19, 2015 - May 21, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Save the Date!

The Gulf of Mexico Climate Outreach Community of Practice is pleased to announce the 6th Annual Meeting May 19-21, 2015 in St. Pete Beach, Florida! 

Your conference planning committee is hard at work, developing a timely and thought-provoking agenda. Anticipated registration fee is $100; online registration will be announced soon. Day visitor parking is complimentary for CoP Meeting attendees and is based on availability.

Hotel information: http://www.sirata.com/

Oil Spill Seminar

May 20, 2015 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Understanding the toxicity of oil and dispersant mixtures, and the development of alternative dispersants

Free and open to the public

Organized by

Louisiana Sea Grant

Hosted by

Sierra Club – Acadian Group and University of Louisiana at Lafayette Anthropology Society

Date and Time

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Room 117 Mouton Hall
Lafayette, LA 70504
 

A video recording will be available online after the seminar at: http://gulfseagrant.org/oilspilloutreach

You can watch and participate LIVE via real-time streaming, call the toll-free number for audio 

For visuals: http://connect.lsu.edu/r56t18i5ti0/

For audio:

Conference Number(s): 1-877-276-4201 toll-free

Participant Code: 088413#

Please be kind - Mute your phone during the seminar itself

Speakers

Dr. Christopher Green (LSU AgCenter)

Dr. Andrew Nyman (LSU AgCenter)

Dr. Emily Maung-Douglass (Louisiana Sea Grant/LSU)

In 2010, the Macondo wellhead released an estimated 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, making the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill one of the largest oil disasters on record. More than 1.84 million gallons of the dispersant Corexit were used in response.

In this seminar, which is free and open to the public, scientists will present published research regarding the DWH oil spill. The effects of oil-dispersant mixtures on aquatic life and research into bacteria-based dispersants will be discussed. A brief history of dispersants and the impacts of oil and dispersants in near-shore environments will also be given. Q & A period and an audience input session will follow the presentations. 

Questions? Contact Emily Maung-Douglass: edouglass@lsu.edu / (225) 578-9926 

Kids Day in Bienville

June 4, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Kids Day in Bienville

June 11, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Economics of Working Waterfronts in Alabama

June 11, 2015 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Presented by Auburn University

Orange Beach Adult Activity Center

Working waterfronts are an important economic driver in Alabama.  Whether they are water-dependent, like commercial fishing boats and boat building, or enhanced by the waterfront, like net repair and restaurants, these businesses play a vital role in our economy and Alabama way of life.

This presentation will detail results from two studies conducted by researchers from Auburn University in coastal Alabama and Mississippi.  Results presented will include:

• Working waterfront trends and economic impacts
• Tourists’ willingness to pay for coastal amenities and coastal improvements
• Tourists’ perceptions of Alabama seafood
• The economic impacts of working waterfronts and seafood perceptions
• How you can access and use this data to help you make decisions

Please plan to join us for this valuable information.  R.S.V.P. to jody.thompson@auburn.edu

This workshop is sponsored by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Auburn University Marine Extension and Research Center, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Watershed Education using Bivalves

June 14, 2015 - June 18, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Teacher Workshop - BWET 

Discovery Hall Programs strives to provide current and relevant continuing education opportunities for teachers and informal educators through hands-on workshops. These programs range from single-day to five-day residential workshops, all on the beautiful Dauphin Island Sea Lab campus. Current research is presented, along with fun and engaging lesson plans and activities to take back to the classroom. Hands-on experiences, both in the field and on the water, give teachers a valuable front-row seat to topics and ideas they can then present to students. All workshops are created with Alabama Course of Study standards, Ocean Literacy Principles, and Climate Literacy Principles in mind, ensuring that they remain relevant to educators’ teaching needs. In addition to new lesson ideas for students, DHP workshops provide important professional development hours for maintaining teacher certification, as well as select workshops offering graduate credit for educators pursuing advanced degrees. 

Bay Voyager

June 14, 2015 - June 19, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Overnight Camp

Kids Day in Bienville

June 18, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

BayMobile outreach event.

Fins, Fishes & Fisheries

June 21, 2015 - June 25, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Teacher Workshop

Discovery Hall Programs strives to provide current and relevant continuing education opportunities for teachers and informal educators through hands-on workshops. These programs range from single-day to five-day residential workshops, all on the beautiful Dauphin Island Sea Lab campus. Current research is presented, along with fun and engaging lesson plans and activities to take back to the classroom. Hands-on experiences, both in the field and on the water, give teachers a valuable front-row seat to topics and ideas they can then present to students. All workshops are created with Alabama Course of Study standards, Ocean Literacy Principles, and Climate Literacy Principles in mind, ensuring that they remain relevant to educators’ teaching needs. In addition to new lesson ideas for students, DHP workshops provide important professional development hours for maintaining teacher certification, as well as select workshops offering graduate credit for educators pursuing advanced degrees. 

Deadline for Registration: Workshop is FULL. You may still complete the registration form for a space on the waiting list.

Tuition: Tuition: $100 registration fee, refundable upon completion of workshop (workshop tuition, meals and housing is FREE)

*3 graduate credits available through UWA. Additional tuition applies.* 

Marine Science

June 21, 2015 - July 17, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

A 4-week class for high school students.

Adam James and Lissa James Monberg of Hama Hama Oyster Company

June 24, 2015 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

WHAT: Adam and Lissa James will be sharing their family’s success story of Hama Hama Oyster Company in Lilliwaup, WA.  This is a great example for local Gulf seafood businesses to learn from.

WHEN:  Wednesday, June 24^th  from 5:30 – 6:30 PM

WHERE:  Bass Pro Shops, 20000 Bass Pro Drive, Spanish Fort 36527

You MUST register to reserve your space:

Please call or email  Beth Walton  at 251-438-5690  or 251-654-5989 bethanyw@auburn.edu

Supported by: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Auburn University Marine Extension Program, Alabama MarketMaker, Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission

There will be beverages and snacks provided.

For more information, please visit: http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/oyster-heaven-hama-hama-hits-upon-a-tasty-business-model/

MATE International ROV Competition

June 25, 2015 - June 27, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

2015 MATE COMPETITION: SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE ARCTIC
The MATE international ROV competition heads back to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

2015 COMPETITION MISSION BRIEFING

FINAL RESULTS FROM THE 2014 International Compettion!

The 2014 international competition video is here!

Small Town, Big Heart - Video from the 2014 international competition

Video Featuring the MATE Shedd Midwest Regional ROV Competition

A network of 20+ regional contests will feed into the international event. Click here to find the MATE regional event near you! 

National Marine Educator’s annual conference

June 28, 2015 - June 28, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

NMEA 2015 Conference

You are invited to join an exciting and dynamic group of educators at the NMEA 2015 National Conference in scenic,historic downtown Newport, Rhode Island!  Formal and informal marine educators from across the U.S. and around the world will come together to help promote the mission of "making known the world of water, both fresh and salt.”  NMEA 2015 is proudly being hosted by the Southeastern New England Marine Educators (SENEME). 

The conference will be held June 29 through July 2 at the Newport Marriott, right in the middle of downtown Newport. Sessions and plenaries will include speakers that draw from around New England and beyond through our rich connection to the sea. An impressive variety of Field trips have been planned.  You can choose to go on a two hour boat ride and learn about Project Oceanology's Enviro-Lab, or on a two day exploration adventure to Block Island.  

CRS for Your Community: Guidance and Incentives to Enter and Succeed in the Community Rating System

July 1, 2015 from 8:00 am - 1:30 pm

Join us for this informative, interactive workshop and learn the steps needed to join and succeed in the Community Rating System (CRS). Find out how Alabama communities are benefitting from membership and integrating CRS into community administration and planning. 

Leave with a better understanding of the advantages communities gain by participating in CRS and in CRS User Groups with other coastal cities and counties. Share your CRS successes and challenges. Identify resources and other assistance that will help you complete the CRS membership process. Bring specific questions about the application process for your community and about your needs related to implementing CRS. 

Who: Floodplain managers, elected officials, building officials, planners and planning commissions 

Registration: Click on this link and enter your information.

When: Wednesday, July 1, 2015, 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

Survivor: Dauphin Island

July 3, 2015 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Program Cost: $50 per student (parent attendance is permitted, but not required)

Age Group: 9 to 11 year olds

Recommended Attire: Comfortable clothes/shoes and a swimsuit.

See more at: http://www.disl.org/educational-programs/onsite-programs-k-12/summer-programs/day-camps/survivor-dauphin-island#sthash.NtN8KTa0.dpuf

Download Application Form

Gulf Island Journey

July 05, 2015 - July 10, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Gulf Island Journey, for rising 7th - 9th grade students.

**2015 Dates:** May 31 - June 5, June 7 - 12, July 5 - 10, July 26 - 31

*Program Cost:* $550 (includes meals, housing, and tuition)

During the Summer, the Discovery Hall Programs offers week-long camps to middle school students. During this time, students live on campus and participate in marine related, field-based activities on Dauphin Island, allowing them to experience life on a barrier island. The program is designed to encourage students' interest in science and enhance their understanding of the marine environment.

OVERVIEW

The middle school summer camp is a fun-filled week, introducing the student to the marine environment through field activities.

Activities include:

• Set up a salt water aquarium
• Tour of Shell Mounds and Fort Gaines
• Marsh Trip - put out crab traps, seining, etc
• Estuarium
• Visit Sand Island
• Maritime forest
• Trawling on R/V Alabama Discovery
• Plankton activity/ seining
• Fishing on pier/ Beach combing
• Edible lab

Students will also choose from the following activities:

• Arts and crafts
• Volleyball
• Soccer
• Basketball
• Shopping
• Pool
• Games in the dorm or classroom
• Seining at Sea Lab beach

For further information please contact, DHP Registrar, Sara Johnson (251) 861-2141 x 7515

Technology in Marine Sciences: Remotely operated vehicles

July 12, 2015 - July 16, 2015 from 9:50 am - 9:50 am

Deadline for Registration: Workshop is FULL. 

You may still complete the registration form for a space on the waiting list.

Tuition: No cost. Restricted to teachers from the Florida panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Download 2015 Application

Are you a middle or high school teacher? Do you teach environmental science, marine science, engineering, physics or physical science? This may be just the workshop for you! Teachers will learn about ROVs, remotely operated vehicles, and how they are used to explore, research, and work in ocean waters too deep or dangerous for humans. Fun field experiences include a trip aboard the R/V Alabama-Discovery and seeing a fully functional ROV at work. Teachers will be provided with ROV materials to take back to their school, where they will assemble a team of students to build and improve a basic ROV. Teams will return to the Sea Lab in the spring for an ROV competition! Two teachers per school required, and must have administrative support for team component.

Oceans Alive

July 17, 2015 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Day Camp

Oceans Alive!, for 5 - 8 year-olds.

The Gulf of Mexico offers a wealth of material for developing minds and curious senses in "Ocean's Alive," a half-day adventure for children ages 5-8 and their parents/grandparents. Combining arts and crafts with a beach walk adventure, the educators at the Sea Lab usher children and adults into a deeper appreciation of the marvelous Alabama coast. Lessons in marine biology, ecology and zoology are introduced in hands-on activities so fun, your children will discover that learning can be a blast!

Barrier Island Explorer

July 19, 2015 - July 22, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Barrier Island Explorer, for rising 5th - 6th grade students. 

*2015 Dates:* June 7 - 10, July 19 - 22, July 26 - 29

*All sessions are FULL. You may submit the registration form for a space on the waiting list.*

Program Cost: $360 (includes meals, housing, and tuition)

This three-night camp is specially designed for rising 5th-6th grade students (ages 10-12). Campers will experience many of the wonders of the Gulf Coast region, in a fun and unique sleep-away setting. Go trawling aboard the Sea Lab's research vessel the Alabama Discovery, get wet at the beaches and marshes of Dauphin Island, learn first-hand what's in the water, build and fly your very own kite and do some fun group activities too, all with members of our regular staff of marine educators. Stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, make great friends and enjoy evening fun with your counselors.

Bellingrath Gulf Discovery Day

July 22, 2015 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Where: Bellingrath Gardens and Home

9 a.m. to noon

Admission: $12.50 for adults, $7 for children ages 5-12; no charge for ages 4 and under. Fees for the cruise with Delta Safaris are $ 8 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-12.

Oil Spill Science Seminar: Impacts of Oil on FL Coastal Habitats

July 22, 2015 from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Please join the Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the oil spill seminar: Impacts of Oil on Coastal Habitats. Scientists will be sharing their work on the effects of oil on salt marshes, wetlands, mangroves, and beaches. View the flyer.

Speakers include:

• Patricia (Soupy) Dalyander, Research Oceanographer, USGS
• Mike McCoy, Assistant Professor of Ecology, East Carolina University
• Ed Proffitt, Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University
• Jacqueline Michel, NOAA, Research Planning, Inc.

Registration: This seminar is offered at no cost.  To save your seat, you must register here.

Questions? Contact Monica Wilson with Florida Sea Grant by email or by phone: 727-553-3516.

Register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/coastalimpacts

Art-Sea Discovery

July 24, 2015 from 8:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Day camp

Art-Sea Discovery, for 8 - 13 year-olds.

Join us for a one-day camp featuring exploration of Dauphin Island, its ecology and its wildlife, and art projects inspired by it! Campers will use their imaginations to interpret the surroundings they visit while on the island and create artistic pieces based on those observations. Everyone will take home their own artwork, as well as wonderful memories! Space is limited to 15 participants per session, so be sure to sign up early!

Survivor: Dauphin Island

July 31, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Survivor - Dauphin Island, for 9 - 11 year-olds.

2015 Dates: June 5, July 3, July 31

Program Cost: $50 per student (parent attendance is permitted, but not required)

Time: 10am - 4pm

Recommended attire: Comfortable clothes/shoes and a swimsuit.

Oceans Alive

August 3, 2015 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Oil Spill Science Seminar: Navigating Shifting Sands

August 5, 2015 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Navigating Shifting Sands: Oil on our beaches

August 5, 2015 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Join us for an oil spill science seminar focused on oil on our beaches. Scientists will be sharing their work to answer lingering questions about oil that washed up on Alabama and Florida beaches during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. View the flyer.

Speakers and topics will include:

• Scott Zengel, Research Planning Inc. – What happened during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
• Joel Hayworth, Auburn University – How did the oil spill impact beaches?
• Patricia (Soupy) Dalyander, US Geological Survey – How does oil off of our beaches move around?
• Prabhakar Clement, Auburn University – How do we know where the oil is from and how long will it take to break down?
• Patricia Sobecky, University of Alabama – What microbes are on tar balls?
• Markus Huettel, Florida State University – What is the fate of oil buried in Pensacola Beach sands?

Registration: This seminar is free and lunch will be provided. If you would like lunch, you must register.

Questions? Contact Larissa Graham with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant by email or 251-348-5436.

Register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/shiftingsands

Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill to Gulf Wetlands

August 11, 2015 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Scientists will present published work regarding the impacts of Deepwater Horizon to Gulf wetlands. Specific topics covered will include ecosystem effects, impacts to marsh life, and shoreline response and restoration. View the flyer.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Eugene Turner (LSU/CWC) – Ecosystem Effects
• Dr. Brian Roberts (LUMCON/CWC) – Ecosystem Effects
• Dr. Deepak Mishra (UGA) – Restoration/Resiliency
• Dr. Scott Zengel (Research Planning, Inc./NOAA) – Restoration

Q & A period and an audience input session will follow the presentations. While registration is required, this workshop is free.

Registration: This seminar is free and lunch will be provided. If you would like lunch, you must register.

Questions? Contact Emily Maung-Douglass with Louisiana Sea Grant by email or 225-578-9926.

Register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9KGCSJK

Gulf of Mexico Regional Sea Grant Meeting

October 19, 2015 - October 21, 2015 from 6:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Meeting Goals

The 2015 Gulf of Mexico Regional Meeting gives faculty and staff from the four Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant programs the opportunity to discuss regional priorities and strengthen partnerships on current and future activities. By adopting best practices from other programs and coordinating activities, individuals and programs alike can become more effective at targeting programming and efficient in their use of program resources.

Specifically, the meeting will enable participants the chance to:

• Develop strategies for Sea Grant staff to jointly work together on regional topics
• Facilitate networking across the four Gulf Sea Grant programs
• Learn about activities being conducted by Sea Grant colleagues working on similar issues
• Identify challenges to working regionally across programs, and share strategies to overcome those challenges

Oil Spill Science Seminar: Healthy Gulf Seafood

November 18, 2015 from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

• How did agencies test seafood during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
• How do fish and other animals break down oil and other contaminants?
• How are scientists monitoring seafood to keep consumers safe?

• Gary Shigenaka, NOAA – Overview of the oil spill and seafood testing
• Gina Ylitalo, NOAA – Results of federal and state seafood testing programs
• Mark Wilson, Tulane – Results of seafood testing programs in at-risk communities
• Benjamin Dubansky, University of North Texas – How fish use genes to break down oil
• Susan Snyder, University of South Florida – How fish use organs to break down oil
• Ruth Carmichael, Dauphin Island Sea Lab – How oysters break down oil

Community Rating System: Reduce the risk - Increase the savings

January 7, 2016 from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Floodplain Managers and partners from their communities who are interested in learning more about the Community Rating System (CRS).

Federal and State Emergency Management Representa-tives will provide information relating to:

• The Community Rating System (CRS)
• The benefits of being in the CRS
• The challenges of joining and answers to questions related to the CRS
• Resources that can help your community join the CRS
• Understand the CRS recertification process
• Tools and available resources to help communities implement the CRS program

Register here.

Registration deadline is Jan. 15, 2016.

Standardizing Sea-Level Scenarios for Gulf of Mexico Projects

February 11, 2016 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

The Northern Gulf of Mexico Sentinel Site Cooperative is happy to announce the first webinar in the webinar/workshop series "Standardizing Sea-Level Scenarios for Gulf of Mexico Projects."

Very often projects involving sea-level rise start out with the same question - how much sea-level rise and by when? Often the processes of determining which scenarios takes a great deal of time. Additionally, different projects settle on different scenarios making it difficult to compare results between projects.  The Cooperative partners have identified addressing this issue as a priority goal for 2016.

The Cooperative would like to invite experts in SLR and those who frequently work on SLR projects in the Gulf to come to collaborate in identifying recommended scenarios.  The goal is a suite of recommended scenarios for use across a variety of projects as well as a brief user guide to encourage their use on the Gulf Coast.

This process will take time and instead of dealing with such a large issue with such a large group in one meeting, we are planning a series of webinars and workshops.  The first webinar will happen in February 11th at 10 am CST and it will be a background/kick off webinar addressing the series goals and outlining national, regional, and local scenarios. 

Click here for series agenda.

Click here for Webinar One agenda.

Chilling with your chums: How did the oil spill impact Gulf fisheries?

April 6, 2016 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

DeWitt Room
Doubletree, 6505 Interstate Highway 35-N, Austin, TX

Oil Spill Science Seminar: Where Did The Oil Go?

April 14, 2016 from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Please join the Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant Oil Spill Outreach Team for the oil spill seminar: Where did the oil go? The seminar will be held at NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center in Mobile, AL. Can’t make it? Presentations will be streamed live.

Click here or on the link above to learn more.

Oil Spill Science Seminar: Sharing Gulf Science Discoveries for Management

June 14, 2016 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The oil spill science outreach team will be sharing the latest science discoveries that are applicable for managers. Topics will include impacts to water resources, habitats, wildlife and fisheries, and coastal resilience. Oil spill science educational resources and access to raw data and publications will also be shared. View the flyer.

Presenters include:
Stephen Sempier, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant – Overview
Monica Wilson, Florida Sea Grant – Movement of oil and dispersants
Emily Maung-Douglass, Louisiana Sea Grant – Impact of oil and dispersants
Larissa Graham, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant – Impact to habitats
Christine Hale, Texas Sea Grant – Impact to wildlife and fisheries

Attend in person:

Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SharingGulfScience

Note: This is a pre-conference seminar for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) All-Hands meeting. Participants are welcome to just attend this seminar if they would like. If you would like to attend the GOMA meeting, you must register for that meeting through their Website (link here).

Listen online: 

First, join our WebEx meeting –
https://masgc.webex.com/masgc/j.php?MTID=m35bd16406bf56c780e7c1603e4e22805
Meeting password (if needed): oilspill

Then, join by phone –
Number: 1-888-848-0190
Code: 8096626#

Building resilient communities: Lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

September 27, 2016 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tuesday, September 27, 2016 – 9 AM to 4PM (in-person registration starts at 8:30AM)
Hardy Hall, The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus (map)
730 E. Beach Blvd., Long Beach, MS

Attend IN-PERSON or WATCH ONLINE
Registration is FREE & includes lunch – Register here

During this seminar, researchers and panelists will identify traits that made communities more resilient after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, discuss programs and resources that are available to communities, and share lessons learned in overcoming disasters and identify ways to strengthen resiliency.

Speakers will include:

• Dr. David Abramson, NYU (Topic: Physical, economic, social, and political capitals and how they tie into individual and community resilience)
• Dr. Duane Gill, Oklahoma State (Topic: Compensation process and impacts to resilience)
• Dr. Katie Cherry, Lousiana State University (Topic: The role of religion, social support, networks, optimism, and hope in recovery)
• Lauren Weathers, University of Mississippi (Topic: Meaning, Resilience, and Traumatic Stress after Deepwater Horizon)
• Dr. Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, University of South Alabama (Topic: Perceived resilience after Deepwater Horizon)

Panelists will include:

• Ayanna V. Buckner, Gulf Region Health Outreach Program
• Melissa Finucane, Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Consortium for Resilient Gulf Communities
• Janel Lowman, Coastal Resource & Resiliency Center
• Dan Hahn, Community Organizations Active in Disasters
• Elizabeth Tatum, US Coast Guard
• Sharon Gauthe, Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing
• Thoa Vu, Coalition for Vietnamese-American Fisherfolks & families
• Emily Blewjas, Bayou Clinic
• Robert Turpin, Escambia County Marine Resources Division

View the flyer – click here 
View the full draft agenda – click here

TO REGISTER
Interested in attending either in-person or via live-streaming over the web? Please take a moment to register for what is sure to be a great FREE seminar that includes lunch for in-person attendees. To register, click here. 

LIVE-STREAMING information:
Can’t make it in person? Consider attending online. On the day of the seminar, sit back, relax, and watch from our guest speakers from the comfort of your office or home.

Here’s how:

1, Join WebEx by clicking on the following link: https://masgc.webex.com/masgc/j.php?MTID=m86e9333a36874b7c432bf81f33a70cec

2. Call into our toll-free line:
number: 1-888-848-0190/code: 8096626#

Questions? For more details, please contact Larissa Graham by email or phone: 251-348-5436.

Oil Spill Science & Information Needs for Gulf & Caribbean Regional Stakeholders

November 8, 2016 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 from 2-3 p.m.
Westin Resort, Grand Cayman (room TBD)
To register: Click here

This is a special workshop at the Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute 69th annual conference. Note: Participants must also register with GCFI. Visit the conference website for more information: http://www.gcfi.org/Conferences/69th/GrandCayman_en.html

The GCFI annual conference is an ideal platform for the exchange of science and discussion of ideas, and offers an opportunity to reinforce regional collaboration on a variety of environmental and social issues.  This workshop will bring together GCFI attendees and interested local and regional stakeholders to discuss information needs on the topic of regional connectivity and oil spills. Emerging science and information about oil spills is pertinent to multiple Gulf and Caribbean countries, as energy infrastructure develops throughout the region. Sea Grant aims to collect information needs, questions, topics of interest, and issues related to oil spills, from participants at this workshop.  Information collected will be the basis for development of future outreach products for distribution to participants at the workshop and to audiences across the region. Participants will have the opportunity to have their voice heard, to ask questions, and to provide input on informational products and programs that would be most useful to them.  With this input, Sea Grant address identified needs and continue to support multi-national collaboration across the region.

TO REGISTER
Interested in attending either in-person or via live-streaming over the web? Please take a moment to register for what is sure to be a great FREE seminar that includes lunch for in-person attendees. To register, click here. 

For more information: Contact Christine Hale, oil spill science outreach specialist, with Texas Sea Grant at (361) 825-6215 or by email.

Exploring the intersection between oil spill science and response

February 6, 2017 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

This workshop will allow local scientists working on oil spill research and local emergency responders to clearly communicate their needs and form partnerships. Scientists will share peer reviewed research results that can be applied to response and responders will share response priorities.

Goals and objectives of this workshop include:

Discuss the challenges in researcher and responder collaboration.
Discuss how to get involved with response.
Discuss tools and documents that would be useful for researchers and responders.
Discuss how researchers can get involved in response planning and how their research results can be incorporated into future responses.

This workshop is free and open to the public. It is being held in conjunction with the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference, but workshop attendees do NOT need to register for the conference. Please visit our webpage for more information and to register: http://gulfseagrant.org/oil-spill-science-workshop-exploring-the-intersection-between-oil-spill-science-and-response/ Questions about the workshop? Please contact Monica Wilson with UF/IFAS Sea Grant via email or at (727) 553-3516.

We are continuously working to deliver peer-reviewed science to you. Contact your local Sea Grant Oil Spill Science Outreach Specialist for more information: http://gulfseagrant.org/oilspilloutreach/contact-a-member-of-the-oil-spill-outreach-project/

The ABCs of Community Flood Mitigation: From CRS to the PPI

August 11, 2017 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Responding to oil spills: Coastal wetland habitats

October 26, 2017 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Researchers and emergency responders will gather to explain how science is currently incorporated into response efforts and to discuss ways this process may be improved. It will be the first of three Responding to oil spills seminars—the others will focus on nearshore and beach habitats and on offshore response techniques. A live, interactive webcast will be available for those who cannot attend in person. To learn more or register for this seminar, go to https://gulfseagrant.org/responding-to-oil-spills-coastal-wetland-habitats/.

Mississippi Coastal Cleanup

November 18, 2017 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to participate in the 29th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup that will be held from 8-11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. With 50 sites across Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties, volunteers will remove tons of trash, including plastic bottles, abandoned fishing gear and food wrappers.

Volunteers will be provided with cleanup supplies and are encouraged to wear hats and closed-toe shoes. They should also bring water, sunscreen, gloves and insect repellent. Volunteers will receive a free lunch after the cleanup.

Registration is available online at www.mscoastalcleanup.org. For more information, contact Mandy Sartain at amanda.sartain@msstate.edu or 228-546-1025.

Gulf Coast Outpost Business Summit

November 29, 2017 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sentinel Site Cooperative Partner Workshop

November 30, 2017 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Climate and Resilience Community of Practice Annual Meeting

April 30, 2018 - May 1, 2018 from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Find details here.

Technology used to study oil spills, Part 2

August 29, 2018 from 9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Are you curious about the technology used by scientists during and after the Deepwater Horzion oil spill? The follow up to 2016’s popular seminar Technology and Deepwater Horizon, this seminar will highlight specialized equipment used to study oil spills, including aerostats, drifters, unmanned surface vehicles, and others. Attendees will also have an opportunity to tour the newly-opened Gulf Coast Research Lab Marine Education Center.

Guest speakers include:

• In Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System (ISIIS) – Adam Greer (University of Southern Mississippi)
• Saildrone – Samira Daneshgar-Asl (Florida State University)
• Areostat (helium-filled balloon) – Brian Gullett (Environmental Protection Agency)
• Ocean Weather Lab – Brooke Jones (University of Southern Mississippi)
• Drifters – Guillaume Novelli (University of Miami)
• Surveillance used to support oil spill response – Kevin Hoskins (Marine Spill Response Corporation)
• Drones – Oscar Garcia-Pineda (WaterMapping)

Interested in attending either in-person or via live-streaming over the web? Please take a moment to register for what is sure to be a great FREE seminar!

Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TechnologyII 

To join via webinar, click the following link: https://masgc.webex.com/masgc/j.php?MTID=m71ef43263a1fc8922701e4649960f4f5
Dial-in Number: 1-888-848-0190
Participant Pin: 2966075#

Call for Abstracts deadline

August 31, 2018 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Alabama-Mississippi Bays & Bayous Symposium is a biennial event held alternately in Alabama and Mississippi to provide an opportunity for the community to learn about the state of our coastal environment. The symposium will provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information and experiences relating to water quality; habitat management; living resources; resilient communities; and oil spill research, recovery and restoration for the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Scientists, resource managers, elected officials or agency representatives, community action group members, industry representatives and others are invited to highlight their efforts and accomplishments through oral presentations, individually or in group sessions, or poster presentations at the Alabama-Mississippi Bays and Bayous Symposium 2018.

Sea Grant Week 2018

September 16, 2018 - September 21, 2018 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

Thriving in uncertain times

Living shorelines and Master Naturalists

November 6, 2018 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Eric Sparks will talk about living shorelines and the Mississippi Master Naturalist Program.

Marine Education Center Tour: Keepting it Green and Resilient

November 7, 2018 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chris Snyder, director of The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab’s Marine Education Center and a member of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Education Team, will give a tour of the education center’s new facility that opened earlier this year in Ocean Springs. 

Tour the brand-new Marine Education Center! This facility showcases sustainable construction that demonstrates how everyone can conserve coastal resources through responsible decision making.

You will learn how sustainable design techniques, green infrastructure and site management have created buildings that are in harmony with their coastal environment. 

The teaching complex is an important education tool that is appropriate to the landscape, resilient and built with environmentally sustainable materials and systems.

Interactive Teen Science Café: Microplastics

November 8, 2018 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Mandy Sartain, an extension program assistant with Mississippi State University and a member of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Outreach Team, coordinates the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup and helps lead a Gulfwide microplastics citizen science outreach and monitoring project. She also works to raise awareness about microplastics in the Gulf.

Middle school and high school students are invited to join Mandy for an interactive lesson on microplastics. 

Microplastics are small plastic particles or fragments that are causing some big problems in our marine environment.

Participants will get the chance to sort water and sand samples to determine if they contain microplastics that can be seen by the naked eye or only under a microscope!

Staff retreat

November 14, 2018 - November 16, 2018 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

Teacher Workshop: Building a Drifter

January 28, 2019 from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm

Join the Sea Lab team for this STEM workshop to explore drifters, their construction, deployment, and applications; and to explore using drifters to track trash through watersheds.

We’ll build model drifters, explore a series of lesson plans focused on drifters, watersheds, and the problem of debris in local waters; and discuss opportunities for students to work with DISL on a drifter deployment in Mobile Bay.

Read the flyer.

MASGC 4-year review

March 12, 2019 - March 14, 2019 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

Program review

Teacher Workshop: Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAA

March 23, 2019 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Educators are invited to join NOAA OER staff to learn more about the importance of ocean exploration, current exploration technologies, and recent deep-sea discoveries. This full day Professional Development workshop will introduce standards-based, hands-on activities and other resources that guide classroom teaching and learning. Ocean health, unique underwater habitats, underwater mapping and remotely-operated vehicles are just a few of the topics to be addressed.

Registration is required and space is limited. Educators will receive the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection Volume 1: Why Do We Explore? and Volume 2: How Do We Explore?, additional resources, a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation, continental breakfast, lunch, admission to the aquarium, parking and a $75 stipend.

Registration deadline:March 1, 2019.

Contact Sara Johnson for information: sejohnson@disl.org or (251) 861-2141 ext: 7515

Read the flyer.

Living Shorelines Workshop

March 29, 2019 from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Attention marine contractors, landscapers and consultants: a living shorelines workshop is planned for Friday, March 29, at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Moss Point, Mississippi.

Workshop organizers and attendees will briefly discuss design, permitting considerations and cost estimates of living shorelines. They will also introduce free resources, such as people and videos, that can help get people familiar with these types of projects. View flier here.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, click here to register.

Science Café: Researching the health of oyster reefs in Mississippi

April 9, 2019 from 6:30 pm - 7:30 am

Interested in Mississippi’s oyster population?

Join us at the Hancock County Historical Society for an interactive presentation by student and faculty researchers from The University of Mississippi. They will talk about an upcoming field study concerning oyster reef health in the Bay of St. Louis and the Mississippi Sound. In the study, they willcompare environmental conditions and oyster populations at various sites and try to determine the potential impact of stressors on oyster health. 

Project team members will provide an overview of their study, why it was funded, the research questions they are hoping to answer, the equipment they’ll be using and the locations of their research sites.

Following the presentation, participants will be able to ask questions about the study and provide feedback to the project team about site locations and other considerations.

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Gulf of Alliance All Hands

June 10, 2019 - June 13, 2019 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

Details here.

Workshop: Preparing for harmful algal blooms in coastal Alabama and Mississippi

June 13, 2019 from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and the National Centers for Environmental Information are hosting a half-day workshop about harmful algal blooms (HABs) from 1-4:30 p.m., Thursday, June 13, at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center in Mobile, Alabama.

Sessions at the “Preparing for harmful algal blooms in coastal Alabama and Mississippi” workshop will address the concerns of natural resource managers, commercial fishers, shellfish growers and harvesters, and tourism professionals. Speakers will discuss forecasting capacity and limitations, regulatory and legislative processes, and impacts to local communities and tourism.

Impacts of oil spills on estuaries

July 1, 2019 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Join us to learn more about the impacts of oil on marine estuaries. Our speakers will cover multiple topics from estuarine dynamics, phytoplankton, submerged aquatic vegetation, and fish. It’s sure to be a great day of learning.

Guest speakers include the following researchers:

• Brian Dzwonkowski – Assistant Professor, University of South Alabama
• James Pinckney – Director of Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, University of South Carolina
• Charles Martin – Research Assistant Professor, University of Florida IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station
• Ben Dubansky – Adjunct Professor, University of North Texas
• Jill Awkerman – Research Ecologist, Environmental Protection Agency

July Coastal Cleanup Event

July 27, 2019 from 8:00 am - 9:00 am

The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program (MSCCP) is calling all volunteers to action. Once a month, the MSCCP hosts a beach cleanup at various locations across the coastal counties (Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties). 

The July cleanup will be at Ken Combs Pier in Gulfport.

Discuss water issues with a scientist

July 30, 2019 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Lunch and Learn: Sea-level rise resources

August 12, 2019 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Do you think about sea-level rise and increased flooding when planning and designing projects?

Incorporating sea-level rise into planning and design is getting increasingly more common, but knowing and being able to use the tools and information available can be difficult and frustrating.

Join us as we show you what's out there and feel more comfortable and confident using sea-level rise resources. Lunch is provided!

In this brief lunch session, Cooperative staff will distill the available information down to some of the most critical tools, demonstrate how they fit together, provide examples from real-world planning and restoration design, and provide resources to find and integrate additional sea-level rise and climate change tools.

Examples of resources and topics that will be covered include:

1. Accessing locally-specific sea-level rise projections from the Fourth National Climate Assessment. 
2. How to maximize the value of the related exceedance probabilities.
3. How to identify a project-specific sea-level rise planning range.
4. How to access the data layers from dynamic modeling of future storm surge with sea-level rise.
5. How to put all of these resources together.

See event flier.

Register for the event.

You can also email the Northern Gulf Sentinel Site Cooperative with any questions.

Five Feet High and Rising

August 27, 2019 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

In this Science Café, Adam Boyette, a Ph.D. candidate at The University of Southern Mississippi, will talk about the history of the Bonnet Carré Spillway and will highlight some of the ecological impacts on our coastal and marine resources due to Mississippi River-borne flood waters. View flier.

Sea Stars Camp

September 20, 2019 - September 22, 2019 from 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

This three-day buddy camp at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is designed for students with special needs and their guardians to explore the Gulf of Mexico. Come discover the marine habitats on and around Dauphin Island by boat and bus, including Mobile Bay, the salt marsh and the beach.

For more information email seastars@disl.org, call 251-861-2141 ext. 7515 or visit disl.org/dhp/sea-stars-camp.

See flier.

Alabama Coastal Cleanup

September 21, 2019 from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Join us for the 32^nd Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 21 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and help us  "Get the Trash out of the Splash"!  To find a cleanup zone near you in Mobile or Baldwin County, check the event website: www.AlabamaCoastalCleanup.com.

Lunch and Learn: Sea-level rise resources

September 23, 2019 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Do you think about sea-level rise and increased flooding when planning and designing projects?

Incorporating sea-level rise into planning and design is getting increasingly more common, but knowing and being able to use the tools and information available can be difficult and frustrating.

Join us as we show you what's out there and feel more comfortable and confident using sea-level rise resources. Lunch is provided!

In this brief lunch session, Northern Gulf of Mexico Sentinel Site Cooperative staff will distill the available information down to some of the most critical tools, demonstrate how they fit together, provide examples from real-world planning and restoration design, and provide resources to find and integrate additional sea-level rise and climate change tools.

Examples of resources and topics that will be covered include:

• Accessing locally-specific sea-level rise projections from the Fourth National Climate Assessment. 
• How to maximize the value of the related exceedance probabilities.
• How to identify a project-specific sea-level rise planning range.
• How to access the data layers from dynamic modeling of future storm surge with sea-level rise.
• How to put all of these resources together.

See event flier.

Register for the event.

You can also email the Northern Gulf Sentinel Site Cooperative with any questions.

Environmental Studies Center Open House

November 3, 2019 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

The Environmental Studies Center, located at 6101 Girby Road in Mobile, AL, will hold its annual Fall Open House on Saturday, November 3 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The public is welcome to tour the grounds, view wildlife of the area, participate in scavenger hunts and experience educational outreach programs.

There will also be local craft vendors on site as well as food trucks to enjoy. Everyone is welcome to attend.

10th US HAB Symposium: Stakeholders, scientists and community meeting

November 6, 2019 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Autumn in the Northern Gulf of Mexico can be a wonderful time of year, but it is also when harmful algal blooms (HABs), particularly red tides, are likely to enter our area. These toxic phytoplankton blooms grow quickly under the right conditions and have the potential to effects the health of marine life and humans living on nearby shores. HAB events can close fisheries and deter tourists, impacting localities economically in many ways.

For that reason, the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab, in partnership with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, are hosting a free two-hour stakeholder discussion session at the upcoming 10th US HAB symposium being held at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama, on from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, in the Ballroom.

This session will allow commercial and recreational fishers, shellfish growers and harvesters, tourism professionals, natural resource managers and others the opportunity to share their concerns about HABs and to hear from scientists on the forefront of current research. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to help prioritize research projects in our area of the Gulf and provide valuable feedback to session leaders about existing needs for HAB preparation and recovery in our coastal communities. Input and questions gathered during the session will be compiled into a post-session summary document for distribution to session participants, local government officials and policymakers.

To learn more about the session and view a draft agenda, visit the U.S. HAB symposium website.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions (Melissa Partyka or Alison Robertson) about this stakeholder session or with any other questions related to this important topic. Please share this message with anyone you think would benefit from attending this event.

The purpose of this session is to:

• Allow stakeholders to share their concerns about HABs.
• Hear from scientists studying HABs in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.
• Discuss priorities and needs of stakeholders to prepare for and recover from HABs.
• Prioritize research to be conducted in the future.

Tentative Agenda:

4:00: Greetings and introductions - Alison Robertson, DISL

4:10: Panelist self-introductions and stories - Panelists, TBD

4:40: Facilitated Q&A with panelists and audience - Alison Robertson, DISL and Missy Partyka, Sea Grant

5:30: Next steps, identifying needs moving forward - Alison Robertson, DISL and Missy Partyka, Sea Grant

5:50: Final thoughts, adjourn - Alison Robertson, DISL

Oyster social to follow at Big Beach Brewing Company 6:30-8 p.m.

Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAA

November 15, 2019 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Educators are invited to join NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research staff to learn more about the importance of ocean exploration, current exploration technologies and recent deep-sea discoveries during the “Exploring the Deep Ocean with NOAA” professional development workshop.

This full-day workshop will introduce standards-based, hands-on activities and other resources that guide classroom teaching and learning. Ocean health, unique underwater habitats, underwater mapping and remotely-operated vehicles are just a few of the topics. Registration is required, and space is limited. Educators will receive the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection, additional resources, a NOAA Ocean Exploration Certificate of Participation, continental breakfast, lunch, parking and a $75 stipend.

Registration deadline is Nov. 1.

See flier.

Coast Watershed Game Pilot Workshop (New Orleans)

February 18, 2020 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Formal and informal educators, extension professionals, formal and informal teachers, and other coastal and water professionals who address water quality and community resilience challenges in their work are invited to attend this Coast Watershed Game pilot workshop.

The purpose of this workshop is to familiarize participants with the new draft Coast models for both the Local Leader and the Classroom versions of the game and solicit feedback to guide revisions. 

Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Please indicate any dietary restrictions in the registration form.

Coast Watershed Game Pilot Workshop (Mobile)

February 19, 2020 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Formal and informal educators, extension professionals, formal and informal teachers, and other coastal and water professionals who address water quality and community resilience challenges in their work are invited to attend this Coast Watershed Game pilot workshop.

The purpose of this workshop is to familiarize participants with the new draft Coast models for both the Local Leader and the Classroom versions of the game and solicit feedback to guide revisions. 

Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Please indicate any dietary restrictions in the registration form.

Mardi Gras Cleanup Krewe

February 25, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Plastic Free Gulf Coast and the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program will roll in this year's Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with their Cleanup Krewe.
 
The Cleanup Krewe is welcoming volunteers to help build its float using common marine debris items, donate float construction materials (wood, marine debris, paint, etc.) and collect trash along the Biloxi parade route.
 
The krewe plans to spend three to five days constructing the float. The first construction day will be in the afternoon on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m. until noon, At the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi. 

Volunteers walking in the parade must attend a meeting in February. Details will be announced at a later date.

The Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade rolls at 1 p.m. on Mardi Gras Day.
 
For more details or to join the Cleanup Krewe, contact Mandy Sartain, Mississippi Coastal Cleanup coordinator, at amanda.sartain@msstate.edu or 228-546-1020.

See flier.
 

Monthly Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Event

March 21, 2020 from 8:00 am - 9:30 am

The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program is hosting this cleanup at Point Park in Pascagoula.

Environmental Studies Center Spring Open House

March 21, 2020 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Mobile County Public Schools' Environmental Studies Center will hold its annual spring Open House from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.

The theme is one of environmental awareness and is “Loving our Coast the Most!”

The event will showcase all of the ways the community can promote healthy coastal ecosystems. Several environmental organizations across the area will share environmental information and activities with the public. Typically, well over 1,000 guests visit the campus during the open house.

If your organization would like to particpate with a booth at the event, please RSVP by March 2. See flier.

Smart Home America and the value of more resilient building standards

June 26, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Staff from Smart Home America and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium will provide an overview of FORTIFIED building standards and discuss the value of pre-disaster planning and mitigation during a webinar from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26.

The webinar will be the first event in a series devoted to examining different policy questions and concerns associated with coastal resilience.

Register here.

Hurricanes and Global Warming

July 16, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Part of the "Fast and Easy CEUs: Coastal Resilience" webinar series, this training will be led by Dr. Christopher Landsea, the Branch Chief with the National Hurricane Center's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch. 

Landsea will discuss how a changing climate affects hurricane formation and intensity, with a focus on the Gulf of Mexico region. He will also discuss the timeline for when we could see impacts to storms. Landsea will also share tips on what planners, floodplain managers, emergency managers, etc., should be thinking about and/or doing to better prepare for changing conditions.

This training is eligible for AICP and ASFPM CEUs. Participants should indicate during registration if they would like one or both.

Register here (free): https://bit.ly/HurricanesnClimate

Flier

Every snow often oil, microbes and sediment get together and sink, a seminar on marine snow

July 22, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

The Sea Grant oil spill science outreach team continues its summer programming with three new webinars, available via Zoom or Facebook Live on the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium’s page. Speakers, topics and registration information can be found in the links below, along with presentation videos from earlier installments of series events. Those registered will receive a reminder email an hour before starting time with links to either platform.

Mark your calendars for these webinars:

Wednesday, July 22, 1-2:30 pm CDT/2-3:30 EDT: Every snow often oil, microbes, and sediment get together and sink, a seminar on marine snow: https://gulfseagrant.org/every-snow-often-oil-microbes-and-sediment-get-together-and-sink/

Oysters: Adapting to a changing Gulf

July 27, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

The Sea Grant oil spill science outreach team continues its summer programming with three new webinars, available via Zoom or Facebook Live on the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium’s page. Speakers, topics and registration information can be found in the links below, along with presentation videos from earlier installments of series events. Those registered will receive a reminder email an hour before starting time with links to either platform.

Mark your calendars for these webinars:

July 27, 1-2:30 pm CDT/2-3:30 EDT: Increasing resilience of wild and farmed oysters before, during, and after an oil spill, the second installment in the series Oysters: Adapting to a changing Gulf: https://gulfseagrant.org/oilspilloutreach/presentations/oysters-adapting-to-a-changing-gulf/

Environmental Justice

July 28, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Part of the "Fast and easy CUEs coastal resilience webinar series," this webinar on Environmental Justice will discuss outcomes of litigation on the environmental justice landscape regarding flooding, built and policy solutions to environmental justice issues regarding flooding and how to advance social and relational skills to promote climate resilience. 

Details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/environmental-justice-tickets-110998776328?aff=FlyerEnviroJustice

AICP and ASFPM CEUs are available - register in advance.

The Fast and Easy CEUs is hosted by MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium, NOAA, Weeks Bay NERR, Grand Bay NERR, Gulf of Mexico Climate and Resilience Community of Practice, and South Alabama Flood Engagement Team (SAFE-T).

Impacts of oil spills on water quality

July 30, 2020 from 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

The Sea Grant oil spill science outreach team continues its summer programming with three new webinars, available via Zoom or Facebook Live on the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium’s page. Speakers, topics and registration information can be found in the links below, along with presentation videos from earlier installments of series events. Those registered will receive a reminder email an hour before starting time with links to either platform.

Mark your calendars for these webinars:

July 30, 2-3:30 pm CDT/3-4:30 EDT: Impacts of oil spills on water quality, the second installment in the series Detecting the true, potential, and perceived impacts to human health following an oil spill: https://gulfseagrant.org/oilspilloutreach/presentations/webinar-series-detecting-the-true-potential-and-perceived-impacts-to-human-health-following-an-oil-spill/

Impacts of dispersants on human health webinar

August 27, 2020 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

"Impacts of dispersants on human health" is the third installment of the webinar series "Detecting the true, potential, and perceived impacts to human health following an oil spill." This broadcast will also run concurrently on the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Facebook page.

Find out more 

Community Spotlight: Apalachicola and Sarasota

September 10, 2020 from 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm

In this Climate and Resilience Community of Practice webinar, two communities will share their stories of tackling climate resilience. We will kick off by announcing the Spirit of Community Award winners!

The Climate and Resilience Community of Practice annually awards to one individual and one community the Spirit of Community Award. Even though we are not having an in-person meeting this year we still wanted to recognize those in the Gulf undertaking resilient actions.

We will have a short award ceremony at the beginning of this webinar to announce the winners and acknowledge their achievements.

In this month’s Climate and Resilience Community of Practice webinar, Florida Sea Grant will showcase community projects from two Gulf Coast cities: Sarasota and Apalachicola. Jeff Vredenburg of the City of Sarasota will present “Developing Unified Climate Change Education for the Sarasota-Manatee Region.” Cindy Clark, City of Apalachicola, will share “Achieving Resilience through Hazard Mitigation: Applying Mitigation Measures to Apalachicola's Vulnerable Historic and Economically Significant Resources.”

The Climate and Resilience Community of Practice annually awards to one individual and one community the Spirit of Community Award. We will have a short award ceremony at the beginning of this webinar to announce the winners and acknowledge their achievements.

Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020
1 p.m. CDT
For more information, contact: Armando Ubeda 

To register: https://bit.ly/3hG7ncM

Bays and Bayous Symposium 2020

December 01, 2020 - December 3, 2020 from 12:00 pm - 12:00 pm

The 2020 Bays and Bayous Symposium will be held Dec. 1-3 at the Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. The theme for the 2020 event is "Sound Science, Sound Policy: A 2020 Vision for the Future." Bays and Bayous will begin at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 1, and end at noon on Thursday, Dec. 3.

The symposium will focus on (but is not limited to) coastal science research, education and outreach in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Scientists from universities, NGOs and government agencies will share their research findings at the event, and leaders from coastal municipalities will showcase their resilience and conservation efforts. Educators and extension professionals also will present their research and successful outreach efforts.

Tides of Change

November 18, 2021 from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Join us for interactive tables, activities and the premier of the "Tides of Change" short film. Food, fun and excitement. Free event and raffle. View flier.

4 p.m.: Festivities start.

5:30 p.m.: Film showing.

7 p.m.: Event ends.

50th Anniversary Reception

November 3, 2022 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Our 50th anniversary reception at the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab will take place on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 6-8 p.m. at the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The reception will include seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. The event is free, but you must RSVP. Registration closes Oct. 7.

50th Anniversary Reception

November 17, 2022 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Our 50th anniversary reception at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi, Mississippi, will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 6-8 p.m. The reception will include seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. The event is free, but you must RSVP. Registration closes Oct. 7.

Bays and Bayous Symposium 2023

January 24, 2023 - January 25, 2023 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

More details

Current and Future Flood Risk Training

January 11, 2024 from 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Understand the effects of climate on flood hazards and planning strategies to address flood risk.

One-Year Anniversary Event: Selma, Alabama

January 13, 2024 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Following the tormdo of Jan. 12, 2023, the Natuional Weather Service invites the community of Selma to a one-year anniversary event. Various agencies (including Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant) will be in attendance with preparedness items for free. Tell your story, learn, prepare, and enjoy some refreshments. ArtsRevive will unveil a mosaic dedicated to those impacted by the tornado.

Weather Wise Training

January 18, 2024 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Learn the latest research on severe weather hazards and how to best protect people and property.

Weather Wise Training

January 23, 2024 from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Learn the latest research on severe weather hazards and how to best protect people and property.

So You Want to Be an Oyster Farmer?

February 5, 2024 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

What: So you Want to Be an Oyster Farmer?

Where: Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Shelby Center, 101 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island, AL 36528

When:  9 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5.

Why: If you have ever wondered what commercial oyster farming is all about, then this is the workshop you might be interested in attending. We will cover all of the basics and fundamentals for starting and operating a commercial oyster farm in Mississippi or Alabama.

Who: This workshop is open to the public and anyone interested in commercial oyster farming.

How to register: Please email Rusty Grice at rtg0010@auburn.edu for more information and to save a seat. This is a free workshop and lunch will be provided.

Weather Wise Training - Yazoo City, MS

February 8, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Come prepared for hands-on activities. We will cover these topics:

• Essential weather symbols and types of severe weather.
• Actions you can take to protect yourself and your property.
• Basic first aid and equipment safety so you can help in times of trouble Weather Wise Training.
• Options for seeking shelter.

This training is free of charge and light refreshments are provided. 

See flier.

Registration site.

Weather Wise Training - Goodman, MS

February 8, 2024 from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Come prepared for hands-on activities. We will cover these topics:

• Essential weather symbols and types of severe weather.
• Actions you can take to protect yourself and your property.
• Basic first aid and equipment safety so you can help in times of trouble Weather Wise Training.
• Options for seeking shelter.

Register.

View flier.

Resilient Building Standards & FORTIFIED Training

February 15, 2024 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Discussion around tested mitigation policies and techniques that produce safer and more resilient structures, such as the FORTIFIED Home building standard.

Register

Weather Wise Training - Canton, MS

February 20, 2024 from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Come prepared for hands-on activities. We will cover these topics:

• Essential weather symbols and types of severe weather.
• Actions you can take to protect yourself and your property.
• Basic first aid and equipment safety so you can help in times of trouble Weather Wise Training.
• Options for seeking shelter.

This training is free of charge and light refreshments are provided. 

See flier.

Register.

Resilient Building Standards & FORTIFIED

February 26, 2024 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Discussion around tested mitigation policies and techniques that produce safer and more resilient structures, such as the FORTIFIED Home building standard. Register

Weather Wise Training - Flora, MS

February 27, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Come prepared for hands-on activities. We will cover these topics:

• Essential weather symbols and types of severe weather.
• Actions you can take to protect yourself and your property.
• Basic first aid and equipment safety so you can help in times of trouble Weather Wise Training.
• Options for seeking shelter.

Register.

View flier.

Weather Wise Training - Pearl, MS

February 29, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Come prepared for hands-on activities. We will cover these topics:

• Essential weather symbols and types of severe weather.
• Actions you can take to protect yourself and your property.
• Basic first aid and equipment safety so you can help in times of trouble Weather Wise Training.
• Options for seeking shelter.

This training is free of charge and light refreshments are provided. 

See flier. 

Register.

Environmental Fair and Open House

March 16, 2024 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Tour the grounds, walk the trails and visit with resident animals at Mobile Public Schools' Environmental Studies Center. This event will feature animals and exhibits from local non-profits and environmental organizations!

Raptor Road Show: 12:00 p.m.

Admission is $3 per person (cash or check preferred.), and children under 2 get in free. 

All proceeds go to the care of the animals housed at the Environmental Studies Center! Park at Burns Middle School (6175 Girby Road) and ride the shuttle to the Environmental Studies Center. 

Weather Wise Training - Carthage, MS

March 16, 2024 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Come prepared for hands-on activities. We will cover these topics:

• Essential weather symbols and types of severe weather.
• Actions you can take to protect yourself and your property.
• Basic first aid and equipment safety so you can help in times of trouble Weather Wise Training.
• Options for seeking shelter.

Register.

View flier.

Weather Wise Training - Raymond, MS

April 17, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Come prepared for hands-on activities. We will cover these topics:

• Essential weather symbols and types of severe weather.
• Actions you can take to protect yourself and your property.
• Basic first aid and equipment safety so you can help in times of trouble Weather Wise Training.
• Options for seeking shelter.

Register.

View flier.

Gulf of Mexico Climate and Resilience Community of Practice Annual Meeting

April 23, 2024 - April 25, 2024 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm

Moss Point, Mississippi

Sea Grant Week 2024

August 18, 2024 - August 22, 2024 from 12:00 am - 12:00 pm