Conference Workshops

We are delighted to share with you the conference workshops of Global Coral Reef Week 2020. 

These workshops will be virtually available from July 1st to July 14th. Participate in a workshop by watching the video and following the activity prompts either independently or with a group of colleagues.    

​

Creative Approaches to Solving the Climate Crisis

          led by Chelsie Counsell

     As coral reef scientists, we are intimately familiar with the high cost of not addressing the climate crisis. Many of us have seen our favorite reef bleach; we have noticed the reef substrate becoming more crumbly. It is all to easy to find ourselves in a place of despair, or to wait for others to solve this global problem. I think it is time to take a different approach. As people who study, manage, and care deeply about coral reefs, we have an opportunity to lead by example through designing, developing, and implementing creative new ways to achieve our personal and professional goals with dramatically reduced carbon emissions. Take time to re-imagine various aspects of your life. Do not allow the way it has always been to slow you down. Evaluate the goals of an activity and with an open mind, re-design the approach, think of something better. Our actions can and will transform the world. By helping guide societal change, we may even be able to save coral reefs. This workshop will be pre-recorded with an introduction from Dr. Chelsie Counsell, then there will be a few guided activity breaks that can be done independently or in small groups as is possible, followed by a brief wrap up segment.

​

SCTLD Observer Training Workshop

          led by Alizee Zimmermann, FL Sea Grant, University of Florida, and Andy Bruckner

     Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has been affecting the coral reefs of Florida since 2014 and has, over the past several years, started making its way through the Caribbean region. Unfortunately, the impact of SCTLD is large. Affecting 22+ species of stony corals, affecting 60-100% of species-specific colonies and having an 80%+ entire colony mortality rate, this disease has already seen up to 30% coral cover loss in Florida and Mexico. This 4 part work shop is designed to help citizen scientists learn how to identify 14 of the most common susceptible coral species found in the Turks & Caicos Islands (applicable to wider region as well). Part 1 is a brief introduction to SCTLD and reef monitoring. Part 2 focuses on identification of the 14  coral species. Part 3 looks at diagnostic differentiation and what to think about while in the field. Part 4 talks about the Roving Diver Survey monitoring method. With limited personnel and funding, organizations such as the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund can benefit from citizen scientist involvement. This is especially true with outbreaks such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Being able to quickly assimilate data on the presence and spread of SCTLD on a given reef tract will help pave the way for potential treatment and intervention.

​