‘Young guns’ of coral reef research head downunder

A worldwide network of the next generation of leading coral reef scientists and managers is set to meet for the first time at The University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane on December 10-14, 2007.

Sponsored by the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management Program (CRTR), the Leadership Forum will attract 55 postgraduate and postdoctoral students in coral reef studies from 20 countries.

The students will be joined by internationally-renowned coral reef scientists and managers and together they will build the students’ understanding of a wide range of issues surrounding coral reef ecosystems.

“These future leaders in coral reef science will hone their leadership skills and learn how to increase their influence among networks that manage and set policy for coral reefs worldwide,” said Professor Paul Greenfield, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UQ, a key partner in the CRTR Program.

“One of the major goals of the CRTR Program is to build the scientific capacity and knowledge necessary to give coastal managers and policy-makers the information they need to sustain the world’s coral reefs.”

The CRTR Program sponsors or associates with more than 55 students in coral reef studies worldwide. Students from Mexico, The Philippines, Cuba, Tanzania, Kenya, USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Colombia, Venezuela, Palau, Thailand, Canada, Costa Rica, Belize and Guatemala will attend the event.

The CRTR Program is a leading international coral reef research initiative that provides a coordinated approach to credible, factual and scientifically-proven knowledge for improved coral reef management. The CRTR Program is a partnership between the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, UQ, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and about 40 research institutions and other third-parties around the world.

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