About GeoHab
GEOHAB (Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping) is an international association of marine scientists studying biophysical (i.e. geologic and oceanographic) indicators of benthic habitats and ecosystems as proxies for biological communities and species diversity.
The GeoHab 2017 annual conference will be held for the first time in Nova Scotia, Canada at the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Waterfront Campus from Monday May 1 to Friday May 5 2017. We are pleased to invite you to come and join us in 2017.
The annual conference brings geologists, biologists, acousticians, statisticians, spatial analysts and environmental managers from around the world and provides a truly multidisciplinary forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas that underpin sustainable ocean management and mapping.
CONFERENCE
The conference houses an exhibition of industry technology and products used in the marine environmental community. Because of the relatively small number of delegates and focused topics, GeoHab conferences are organized as an informal, single-stream session, which encourages dialogue between delegates and exhibitors. #geohab2017
Students are encouraged to attend and grants are available.
GeoHab is now in its 16th year and has several publications (see a list of them here) based on work contributed by members, coordinated through annual meetings.
LOCATION
The 2017 GeoHab conference will take place in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada and will be hosted by the NSCC Waterfront Campus. The modern building is located on the shores of the historic Halifax Harbour.
Click for more on the NSCC Waterfront Campus
LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
• Craig Brown 2017 Co-Chair (Nova Scotia Community College, Canada)
• Brian Todd 2017 Co-Chair (Geological Survey of Canada, Canada)
• Beth McCormack (Nova Scotia Community College, Canada)
• Vicki Gazzola (Nova Scotia Community College, Canada)
• Myriam Lacharite (Nova Scotia Community College, Canada)
• Lindsay Gee (Acoustic Imaging, USA)
PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
Monday May 1: Registration Opens/ PreConference Workshop/ Ice Breaker Party
Tuesday May 2: Conference Oral & Poster Presentations
Wednesday May 3: Conference Oral & Poster Presentations/ Conference Dinner
Thursday May 4: Conference & GeoHab general meeting
Friday May 5: Field Trip to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in the Old Town of Lunenburg (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
For downloable Program, Timetable of Events or Circulars, click here
CONFERENCE DINNER
The 2017 GeoHab conference dinner will take place at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada. The Citadel’s star-shaped architecture is equally as impressive from the inside as it is out. Step back in time and learn what it was like for the soldiers and their families to live and work in this historic fort.
Click for more on the Halifax Citadel
GEOHAB SPONSORSHIP
GeoHab 2017 offers unique sponsorship opportunities that can be tailored for you. If you would like to discuss a package best suited to your requirements, or trade/exhibition booth, please contact any of the co-conveners of GeoHab 2017. Your input is welcomed and will ensure the ongoing success of this international forum. Funds obtained from sponsorships are also used to support students wishing to attend the GeoHab conference.
For more details on sponsorship, click here.
CONFERENCE THEMES
Mapping at high latitudes: This session will focus on mapping activities in the arctic and Antarctic, highlighting technical and logistical challenges of working in these environments, and presenting case studies
Methods, innovations and approaches to mapping marine habitats: This session will be a showcase of new ocean technologies, data processing methods and approaches for both the collection and processing of acoustic or biological data, and their incorporation into habitat maps.
Habitat mapping for conservation and management purposes: Habitat mapping provides marine decision makers with information to make more informed choices. This session will explore applications in ecosystem-based and integrated ocean management, marine reserve design and performance, risk assessment, fisheries and other aspects of marine spatial planning. Presentations from research, industry and management are welcome.
Shelf and deep-sea habitats: This session is going to include discussion of specific shelf and deep-sea habitats as well as how their fine-scale heterogeneity and specific characteristics may play an important role at broader scale.
Coastal and shallow water habitats: This session will have a particular focus on linking methodologies from terrestrial remote sensing (including the emergence of aerial drones) to shallow water environments.
Characterization of the Seabed for Environmental Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Development: This session will focus on the use of seafloor mapping technologies associated with marine renewable energy developments.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
• Craig Brown 2017 Co-Chair [Nova Scotia Community College, Canada]
• Brian Todd 2017 Co-Chair [Geological Survey of Canada, Canada]
• Tim Le Bas Past-Chair [National Oceanography Centre, UK]
• Guy Cochrane 2018 Chair [U.S. Geological Survey, USA]
• Gary Greene [Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, USA]
• Daniel Ierodiaconou [Deakin University, Australia]
• Aarno Kotilainen [Geological Survey of Finland, Finland]
• Andrea Fiorentino [Geological Survey of Italy-ISPRA, Italy]
• Margaret Dolan [Geological Survey of Norway, Norway]
• Heather Stewart [British Geological Survey, UK]
• Daria Ryabchuk [Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute, Russia]
• Geoffroy Lamarche [NIWA, New Zealand]
• Kim Picard [GeoScience Australia]