Overview of the March 2012 Kachemak Bay Science Conference

1. KACHEMAK BAY COMMUNITY
SCIENCE CONFERENCE 2012
“Healthy Bay = Vibrant Communities”
Homer, Alaska
March 8-10, 2012

2. Scope of the 2012 Science Conference
-Presentations on research, citizen science, and Local and Traditional
Knowledge (LTEK) projects on some aspect of the Kachemak Bay
ecosystem.
-Presentations can also include research being conducted elsewhere
that has strong linkages to the dynamics of the bay and our
communities.
-Research examples that highlight the interconnectedness of the
sustainability of the Bay with the health of its surrounding communities
are particularly desired.

3. Science Conference Audience
-Opportunity for researchers to present their findings to each other and
to the Kachemak Bay communities who depend upon the diversity of
the region’s resources.

4. Session Themes
Sessions:
Observing the Kachemak Bay Ecosystem [Friday afternoon, March 9th]
Presentations or posters that highlight the results of long-term monitoring
programs, recent directed research, and/or inter-related dynamics of the bay
ecology and Kachemak Bay communities are invited.
Managing the Kachemak Bay Ecosystem [Saturday morning, March 10th]
Presentations and posters that provide evidence of trends (and/or the various
magnitudes of change within the system) and policy transitions by agencies in the
region are invited.
Sustaining the Kachemak Bay Ecosystem [Saturday afternoon, March 10th]
Presentations and posters that highlight social implications to environmental
change are invited. We have a particular interest in research related to the social-
ecological system dynamics of climate science, coastal and watershed issues, and
public health.

5. http://kbayscience.org/

6. Conference Workshops
There are 2 workshops in conjunction
with the conference that focus on
enhancing science communication
within our communities:
• Thursday, March 8th workshop,
instructed by Nancy Baron
(COMPASS)
• targets scientists, media outlets, and
decision-makers
• Friday morning, March 9th
workshop, instructed by Marilyn
Sigman (COSEE)
• targets scientists and teachers