Aquarium of the Pacific hosts Student Ocean Conference November 14-15, 2002

On November 14 and 15, 2002, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California hosted the ninth in a national series of Student Ocean Conferences sponsored by the National Geographic Education Foundation, Sustainable Seas Expeditions and Coastal America at Coastal America's Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers. The two-day conference, "Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Ocean and Coastal Challenges," brought together 100 high school students and 15 teachers from Southern California to examine multiple uses of the oceans and coasts, and impacts of those uses. They focused on problems and solutions involving the open ocean, rocky shores, sandy beaches, tide pools and wetlands. Federal, state and local government experts, as well as citizen groups and private sector representatives participated in the field trips, and the panel and break-out group discussions. The participants also heard an inspiring talk from Dr. Sylvia Earle, Explorer-in-Residence of the National Geographic. Finally, the students wrapped up the conference by making recommendations to policy makers on how to deal with the challenges facing our oceans and coasts.

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