The Virgin Islands Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR) invites the community to the first annual virtual conference titled “Connecting The Dots From Ridge To Reef,” from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. daily, on July 15 and 16. The conference, which will feature the new National Science Foundation-supported project “Ridge to Reef Processes and Interdependent Drivers of Small Island Resilience” will be a dynamic, interactive virtual event and an opportunity to learn more about the project’s goals, to meet the researchers and discover what has been accomplished so far.
Participants will have the opportunity to hear from keynote speakers including Dr. Sunshine Menenzes, clinical associate professor of Environmental Communication within the Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island and executive director of the Metcalf Institute, and Makeda M. Okolo, Southeast and Caribbean Regional lead for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) office for Coastal Management.
Also, participants will have the opportunity to “Meet the Scientist.” They will also be engaged in games, where they will have a chance to win prizes. Ridge to Reef is a five-year National Science Foundation grant awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands and hosted at the University of the Virgin Islands. The Project takes a detailed look at the connections between how what happens on land, the “ridge,” can impact what happens in the sea, the “reef”. We will also discuss how the project works to develop the next generation of Virgin Islanders who can ensure a resilient future for the Territory’s natural resources.
For more information about the conference and to register, visit http://viepscor.org.