The NCRI’s Executive Director Dr. Dodge is chair of the local organizing committee of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, which will be held July 7 to 11, 2008, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The 11th ICRS is the world’s largest meeting of coral reef scientists, managers, students and conservationists, and it is also the keystone event of IYOR 2008.

The IYOR 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and the threats to their sustainability. The IYOR also aims to motivate people to take action to protect coral reefs.

The ICRS takes place every four years, and this July marks the first time it has been held on the U.S. mainland in 30 years. Total attendance is expected to be more than 2,500, making this the largest ICRS gathering in history. In the past the ICRS has been held in Okinawa, Japan (2004); Bali, Indonesia (2000) and in Panama City, Panama (1996).

United under the central theme “Reefs of the Future,” the 11th ICRS will highlight the role of all coral reef stakeholders in preserving reefs for the future. Today’s actions directly impact the future of coral reefs. The solutions rest in the hands of scientists, managers and conservationists who can contribute the best knowledge and information to ensure future generations have coral reefs to study and to sustainably use and enjoy.

The 11th ICRS is co-hosted by NOAA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. For more information, or to register for the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, visit www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs/. And for additional information regarding the IYOR 2008, visit www.iyor.org/.