CLARIFICATION..............................
(THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC WORKSHOP.............MEDIA AND GUESTS ARE INVITED AT 9 TO 10:30 AND 3:15 FOR OPENING PRESENTATIONS AND CLOSING REMARKS (ASK AT THE GATE FOR DIRECTIONS). THE SCIENTISTS ARE HAVING A CLOSED SESSION THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: see below
RED TIDE FORUM THIS Friday, OCT. 17 AT FGCU
Scientists Gather to Discuss Red Tide and SW Florida Community Needs
Estero, FL (October 13, 2003) - Scientists from Federal, state, private and local institutions will gather on Friday, October 17th, 9 a.m., at Florida Gulf Coast University to discuss how current red tide research can be furthered to better meet the needs of the Southwest Florida Community.
Issues such as public health, causes, influencing factors, monitoring and forecasting, and education will be addressed at the upcoming workshop.
Local community leaders, Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah, Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta, and Estero Chamber of Commerce President Meg Judge, previously met with representatives from the scientific community to express their concerns regarding red tide and its impact on Southwest Florida communities.
From that meeting came the impetus to bring researchers together to foster improved collaboration and to discuss what more could be done to assist political leaders and community citizens that are dealing with the impacts of red tide events.
The red tide workshop is being organized by representatives from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and Mote Marine Laboratory, and hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University. Press are invited to attend the opening presentations by local community leaders, federal and state representatives (9am to 10:30am) and for concluding remarks and interviews (3:15pm).