2 nd Announcement: Call for Registration and Abstracts. Due March 4, 2008.

The 22nd NorthWest Algal Symposium (NWAS) will meet on the weekend of April 4th-6th, 2008 at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, Oregon. Directions for how to get there are given on their website. OIMB is the marine lab of the University of Oregon, and it was founded in 1924. It is situated next to Cape Arago, Sunset Bay and the South Sough National Estuarine Research Reserve, some of the most beautiful marine and estuarine habitats on the Oregon coast. This small but well equipped campus in picturesque surroundings will provide an ideal setting for this years NWAS meeting.

We invite oral and poster presentations on any aspect of macro or microalgal research, and this year we particularly welcome talks on seagrasses. Long term algal aficionados and novices alike are encouraged to participate. Graduate students will be able to compete for the best student poster and best oral presentation.

The symposium will provide an excellent forum for us to exchange of information and ideas in a relaxed and informal setting, but we have also scheduled some special talks. Our after Banquet Speaker will be Distinguished Professor Pat Wheeler speaking on The Arctic Ocean: Early Explorations, Recent Studies of Algal Production, and Disappearance of the Arctic Ice Cap .

Registration and Abstract forms for the meeting are available now available

The preliminary Symposium schedule is as follows: (DH=Dining Hall, BH=Boat House)

April 4, Friday:

1 -3 pm: Kayaking trip (meet at 1:00 pm. in the parking lot outside the DH).

3-7 pm: Registration in the DH

7-10 pm: Poster Session and Mixer in the DH

April 5, Saturday

7-8 am: Breakfast in the DH

8-noon: Talks in the BH

Noon-1:30pm: Lunch in the DH

1:30- 5:00 pm: Talks in the BH

5:00 5:30 pm: Business Meeting in the BH

6:30 pm: Mixer in the DH

7:00 -11:00 pm: Banquet, Guest Lecture, and Auction in the DH

April 6, Sunday

6-8 am: Early Bird Field Trip (meet at 6 am in the DH parking lot)

8-9 am: Breakfast in the DH

9am-noon: Conclusion of Talks in the BH

Checkout

April 7, Monday

6:30-9am: Post Meeting Intertidal Trip

Abstracts, Talks, and Posters:

Abstract forms are available on the NWAS wesbsite and are due March 4.

Talks: These will be 12 minutes with 3 minutes for questions. Bring your talk on a jump drive for projection on a PC computer. .

Posters: Poster size is limited to XX inches by XX inches: Please set up your posters during the Registration time period so they are available for the Friday night viewing

Housing: OIMB has excellent dormitory (1-2 people/room) and housing facilities located on campus. These will be available for our use, but we must bring our own linens/sleeping bags and towels. The shared cottages also have cooking facilities. Reserve your room or cottage on the Registration Form. If you want more privacy, Capt. Johns Motel (1-541- ) is located within walking distance of the meeting. You must make your own reservations for this Motel

Food: Registration Fees will cover all food during the meeting, including tips. We have contracted with a Premier service group an excellent catering company in Coos Bay, for our evening meals and drinks . We will use the OIMB kitchen staff for breakfasts and lunch. Some UO classes will be occurring during our meeting, and these students will be eating at earlier times in the Dining Hall. Please stick to the scheduled times for our meals so that we dont confuse the caterers.

Field Trips:

Three field trips have been planned: A Pre-meeting Kyaking Trip in South Slough, an Early Bird Mid-Meeting Intertidaling and Plankton Tow Trip, and a Post-meeting Low Intertidal Trip. All are free, but your own transportation and housing must be suppled.
1. Pre-meeting Kyaking Trip in South Slough (limited to 15 people) meet friday 1:30 at outside dining hall.
South Slough interpretive centre and there will be an opportunity to view their new exhibits.
2. Early Bird Mid-Meeting Intertidal and Plankton Towing Field Trip. Sunday, April 6. 6-8 am.
Tide: -0.7 feet at 7:08 am, Site: Sunset Beach, just north of Cape Arago.
Meet at 6 am at the OIMB cafeteria parking lot. We will use our own cars to make the short trip to the site. Limited macroalgal collecting will be allowed, and we will make a plankton tow. Intertidalers please bring boots, rain gear, and your own collecting, pressing and preserving supplies, including plant presses if necessary. We have rented a lab and microscopes at OIMB where you will be able to examine your collections and press & preserve algae.
3. Post Meeting Low Intertidal Trip. Monday, April 7. 6:30 - 9 am.
Tide: -1.3 feet at 7:54 am. Site: South Cove at Cape Arago.
Meet at 6:30 am in the OIMB cafeterial parking lot. Transportation is by private car. Please bring intertidaling supplies mentioned above. If necessary, we will rent a lab for sorting and pressing for a few hours after we return from this trip. This trip will require staying Sunday night in the dormitories as noted on the registration forms. If you wish to stay longer than this, arrangements can be made through OIMB. The low tide sequence peaks on Tuesday morning at -1.8 feet. This is the first daytime low tide sequence of the year so expect some beautiful seaweeds.

Merchandise: One last announcement will be distributed via e-mail

Auction: Please bring any algal or seagrass memorabilia that you can for our auction. This has helped us to fund graduate student travel in the past and to keep NWAS afloat. We look forward to an enthusiastic session with lots of interesting items.

Business Meeting: We are looking for volunteers to host the next NWAS. If you can, bring the details of your offer to the business meeting & sign up on the Registration Form.

More Information: Contact: Tim OHiggins ohiggins.tim@epa.gov Linda OHiggins Linda.ohiggins@noaa.gov or hansen.gayle@epa.gov. You can also write to: Tim OHiggins, US EPA, 2111 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365-5260

PLEASE POST OUR NWAS 2008 POSTERS ON YOUR DOOR AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE NWAS MEETING!.