Conference 2/5-8: 2018 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference

Abt Associates staff will participate in the 2018 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference. The conference brings together experts who are interested in improving society's ability to understand the Gulf of Mexico, from its ecosystem to its people, and ensure the region's long-term health and resiliency. This year's theme is “Response, Restoration, and Resiliency in the Gulf,” and it looks at how fundamental science helps to restore and maintain Gulf ecosystem integrity, educate on response strategies, and strengthen resilience.

Abt staff will participate in three presentations:

Monday, Feb. 5, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Workshop--W-008: Recent Advances in Estimating and Measuring Oil Slick Thickness
Abt participants: Jeff Morris and Heather Forth

The workshop is intended to bring together responders, assessors, and researchers from agencies, academia and oil spill industry who are advancing in situ and remote oil characterization tools and methods. Heather Forth will  present research on method development and validation of two oil slick thickness measurement techniques. As a panelist, Jeff Morris will share Abt's perspective on the importance and usefulness of quantifying surface oil presence and thickness while conducting natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) work.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 9:45 - 10:00 a.m.
Photoperiod, Exposure Duration, Timing, and Latent Mortality: Effects of Photo-induced Toxicity on Aquatic Organisms
K. Bridges, L. Sweet, J. Gnau, M. Krasnec, M. Gielazyn, J. Morris, J. Stieglitz, D. Benetti, M. Grosell, A. Roberts

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Poster Number 125: Oil Slick Thickness Measurement With a Novel Mechanical Sampler
O. Garcia, G. Graettinger, L. DiPinto, D. Garcia, H. Forth, D. Han, C. Hu, J. Morris, V. Kourafalou, S. Sun

When: Feb. 5-8, 2018

Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Orleans

For more information, visit the conference website.

Learn more about Abt's work in environment.