Solving complex present and future ocean problems requires a wide range of leaders, from scientists to policy makers, to communicate their expertises effectively.  This multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving will be replicated at the 2018 MARINE colloquium where participants will be randomly selected to join in a discussion of one important topic that affects the field of ocean sciences.  These relatively broad topics range the span of social science to emerging technologies.

 

The goal of these flash discussions is to encourage developing ocean leaders to share their own ideas and personal experiences, learn from each other, and work towards problem solving as a community.

 

Flash Discussion topics will include:

1. Communication: Effective communication is essential to educating, engaging the public, making policy decisions, and networking/collaborating across fields.  This topic will facilitate a discussion of effective communication tools and how people have benefited or learned from experiences communicating across disciplines and fields.

2. Climate Change: It is difficult to think about natural systems without the influence of anthropogenic climate change.  This topic will explore how climate change influences your research and field of and brainstorm actions we can take to address these issues.

3. Advances in Technology: Technological advancement has revolutionized the way we conduct science, communicate, and educate.  This topic will engage a discussion of how you and others utilize technology in your field of study.

4. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: A diverse community of ocean leaders is required to solve and mitigate complex problems.  This session will allow you to freely share your own personal experiences of how diversity and inclusion have influenced your career path and how we can continue increasing diversity of the ocean field.

5. Social Science Intersection: Interdisciplinary research has enormous potential to assist in solving coastal and ocean environmental problems, yet there are many challenges to this kind of work. This session will allow you to share your experiences collaborating with scientists outside of your field of study, and consider how we might overcome some of the institutional and, perhaps, epistemological barriers that can impede successful collaboration between biophysical and social scientists.