Second Announcement

Second Symposium on Harmful Marine Algae in the U.S.

December 9-13, 2003

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Sponsored by: the U.S. National Office for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algae
with funding by
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research Coastal Ocean Program (NOAA/CSCOR/COP)

Symposium Director: Donald M. Anderson
Symposium Coordinator: Judy Kleindinst

This is the second of a series of biannual meetings intended to provide a forum for scientific exchange and technical communication on all aspects of marine and estuarine HAB research in the United States. The format will include oral presentations, poster sessions, and discussion groups. One plenary session (Wednesday morning, December 10th) will be devoted to a review of the U.S. National Plan for Marine Biotoxins and Harmful Algae and plans for a workshop to update this important guidance document. We welcome suggestions for evening discussion group topics and volunteers to organize and lead these discussions.

Due to facility restrictions and the desire to have a productive meeting, the number of participants will be limited, with preference given to scientists working on United States marine and estuarine HAB issues*. Therefore, please register for this symposium as soon as possible, but no later than September 15, 2003. A late fee will be assessed for registrations received after this date. Even with this deadline, we may have more interested participants than space will allow. Accordingly, registration forms will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. You are, therefore, urged to register immediately. If you delay, there is no guarantee that we can accept your registration, even if it arrives before the deadline. Registration fees will be $110.00 for regular participants and $55.00 for students. The student fee will be waived for those giving oral or poster presentations. We anticipate obtaining some external funds to use for student and Postdoc travel awards and will provide updates through the symposium website. Those interested should apply before September 15, 2003 - please follow the link to the Travel Awards section.

The Symposium will be held at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Housing and meals will also be provided at this facility. As space is limited, registrants are encouraged to double-up and share rooms, although a limited number of single rooms may be available. The MBL provides free Internet hookups in each room and telephones in most. If you do not wish to stay at the MBL, we can provide you with information on hotels in the nearby area, but you will need to arrange your own transportation to the symposium each day (a distance of 3-4 miles). You may want to sign up for the meal plan (including social hours) at the MBL. Those wishing to bring spouses or other accompanying persons should check with Judy Kleindinst (see contact information below) about space availability and arrangement for meals.

The formal program will begin on Tuesday morning, December 9th and end officially on Saturday afternoon, December 13th. A full dinner will be served Saturday evening and participants are welcome to stay over, particularly if this reduces airfare. Saturday afternoon is being kept open so that participants can plan individual or group meetings that take advantage of the presence of HAB researchers from throughout the country. These ad hoc meetings might be for planning proposals, writing papers, or just informal discussions. The organization of the meetings will be the responsibility of the participants wishing to hold them, but rooms and other facilities will be provided upon request.

We expect that most participants will arrive Monday evening, December 8th. A reception is planned for that evening, and a lobster dinner for Friday evening.

If you wish to give an oral or poster presentation, please submit an abstract form by August 12, 2003. Please note that we will only be able to approve one first-authored presentation from each person (e.g., either an oral presentation or poster). The abstract submission and registration forms may be downloaded from this website or may be obtained via e-mail, mail or FAX, by contacting Judy Kleindinst at (508) 289-2745 or jkleindinst@whoi.edu. *Registrations from "non-US workers" will be placed on a waiting list and accepted on a space-available basis.

Steering Committee:

Don Anderson	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole
V. Monica Bricelj	Institute for Marine Biosciences, National Research Council, Halifax, NS
Sue Banahan	NOAA, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD
Quay Dortch	NOAA, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD
Pat Glibert	University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD
John Ramsdell	NOAA, National Ocean Service, Charleston, SC
Kevin Sellner	Chesapeake Research Consortium, Edgewater, MD
Sandy Shumway	University of Connecticut, Groton, CT
Karen Steidinger	Florida Marine Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL
Vera Trainer	NWFSC/National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA
Tracy Villareal	The University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX