UWA Matariki Workshop- Marine Extremes

Matariki Workshop on ‘Marine Extremes’
4 – 5 December 2017
The University of Western Australia, Perth

Safe and healthy oceans are important for our economic, recreational and cultural activities as well as for biodiversity conservation. However, marine extremes such as storms, sea level rise, tsunamis, ocean acidification and marine heatwaves as well as extreme consequences of human activities such as pollution, over-exploitation and criminal activity are having noticeable impacts on the world’s oceans, coastlines and the actors dependent on them.

The Matariki Workshop on ‘Marine Extremes’ will bring together Matariki Network members who work on marine extremes to showcase their research. Throughout the event there will be frequent opportunities for dialogue and interaction amongst workshop participants and the Oceans Institute community at the University of Western Australia. The aim of the workshop is to explore opportunities for research collaboration across the Matariki network and across disciplines. Breaking down traditional research barriers will be key to safeguard ocean health, community development and blue economy initiatives in the future.

Senior academics, early career researchers and research students of each Matariki partner involved or interested in marine research have now been selected to join and present a paper on one of the following themes:

1. Safe Oceans
We rely on the oceans for a range of economic, recreational and cultural benefits; yet the oceans can also pose threats to lives and livelihoods, particularly during extreme events. This theme will explore the nature of marine extremes, their impact on infrastructure, economic activity, community structure, public health and cultural and Indigenous heritage as well as the resilience of human and natural environments to cope with marine extreme events.

2. Healthy Oceans
The oceans are increasingly under pressure from marine extremes and the cumulative impacts of human activity. This theme will explore the physical and biological consequences for the health of marine species, coastal and ocean ecosystems as well as the implications for human health. We also welcome contributions on ways to mitigate or adapt to marine extremes through government, industry and community led projects and management practices, involving scientific, technical, traditional and Indigenous knowledge as well as contributions that highlight the conflicting interests in coastal and ocean management.

3. Wealth from the Oceans
The blue economy offers potential wealth from the oceans through fisheries, energy, shipping, tourism and the utilisation of other marine resources. Under this theme we invite abstracts that explore potential threats and opportunities of these individual activities, as well as the blue economy agenda more broadly, in view of marine extremes. We particularly welcome contributions that highlight tensions and synergies between economic development initiatives, cultural assets and ecological values.

The programme for the workshop can be downloaded here: Matariki Workshop 4-5Dec – Program