New England Aquarium/MIT -- Plan to listen to reports of the Monterey conference Thursday evening focusing on national issues, and break into working groups Friday morning to explore the implications for MA and New England: have all key issues been identified; what are the implications of the proposed issue specific recommendations; are their regional issues likely to be addressed by an integrated ocean strategy and policies; what actions should be taken at the regional level to implement the issue-specific recommendations and the integrated oceanstrategy and proposed policies. Will cover the Friday plenary and the President's speech.
For more information contact Susan Gedutis or Sue Knapp at (617) 973-5222.

National Aquarium in Baltimore -- Invited regional experts will listen to the Thursday plenary, and in a Friday program will provide their spin on the national issues. They will also cover the Friday plenary Session and the President's speech. Panelists confirmed include Robert Costanza (U MD Economist) and Jane Nashida (Secretary of Environment.) The Governor is a maybe, as is Tyundi Agardi, marine ecologist.
For more information contact Kim Morris Zarneke at (410) 576-4207.

NOAA Coastal Services Center - Sending a letter to all people on the S.C. list of names supplied by Coastal America, informing them that the NOC will be downlinked on Friday at their site (Will tape both sessions for later use). No formal program.
For more information contact Donna McCaskill at (843) 740-1272.

The Florida Aquarium - Thursday plenary will be taped and viewed Friday morning, the Friday plenary will be shown live. A program has been organized which is open to undergraduate and graduate school students, high school, and middle school students. Participants will be shown both sessions, and are also going to be organized into discussion groups much like the format of the New England Aquarium, and will discuss local issues, and propose solutions. They will then come together for a summary session.
For more information contact Sue-Ellen Richardson at (813) 273-4049.

Texas State Aquarium/Texas A&M - Will downlink the Thursday program, and will be showing it to two university classes and assorted community drop-ins.
For more information contact Shannon Mayo at (512) 881-1321.

California Science Center / University of Southern California Sea Grant - Downlink both Thursday and Friday sessions. The program is still in the planning process, however the intent is to have a panel of speakers to react to the downlink, and also to interact with the audience which will be comprised of invitees from the environmental community, government agencies, universities, "guests" of the Science Center, and is also trying to get local Congressional representation. An additional Thursday program will focus upon grade school children. Staff will take them through some of the standing exhibits, and provide special hands-on activities, and hopefully have press coverage of that.
For more information contact Jamie Wesson at (213) 744-7446.

Hatfield Marine Science Center -- The panel prior to the thursday plenary will be chaired by John Byrne. The broadcasts will be shown in the auditorium on both days, and the Center will send out news releases to invite the general public. The panel will consist of 8 people, will meet on Thursday, and the discussion will focus on sustainable ocean resources, research, and education.
For more information contact Vicki Osis at (541) 867-0159.

Alaska SeaLife Center -- Developing program.

Smithsonian Institution (Baird Auditorium).Will cover the Thurs. (4:30 - 7:00 pm EDT) session. They are also going to produce a 7 minute video based on footage from their oceans exhibits, past to future, which it plans to show at it's program and potentially at the registration desks in Monterey (still under discussion). It may be able to produce a more in depth video later which could be shared with the learning centers. The Thurs. program beginning at 4:30 EDT would permit any attending members of Congress, and Federal Principals to speak, and would include a panel discussion on the issues. They have expressed interest in getting a range of stakeholders to participate.
For more information contact Ann Burrola at (202) 786-2464.

Coastal America Contacts

Barbara Elkus
Phone: (202) 401-9923
Fax: (202) 401-9821
email: elkus@fas.usda.gov

Craig Smith
Phone: (202) 401-9808
Fax: (202) 401-9821
email: smithc@fas.usda.gov