Deakin University’s expertise in the marine and coastal fields was highlighted at the Coast to Coast 2016 conference in Melbourne.
The Coast to Coast conferences are held every second year under the auspices of the Australian Coastal Society and are designed for people interested in or working in the field of coastal and marine research, planning, management, education, resource use and policy.
Associate Professor Geoff Wescott is a member of Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences and is also President of the Australian Coastal Society. He says Deakin was well represented at the conference.
‘Academics from Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences presented a number of papers, including spectacular plenary papers from Dr Daniel Ierodiaconou on marine habitat mapping and Dr Peter Macreadie on blue carbon. Dr Paul Carnell presented two excellent papers on blue carbon as well,’ Associate Professor Wescott said.
Associate Professor Wescott also presented, chairing the expert panel in a plenary session on Victoria’s new Marine and Coastal Act consultation paper. He and Dr Ierodiaconou and Dr Macreadie also joined separate panels to discuss coastal policy development in Australia and the future of blue carbon. The conference also saw the official launch of Associate Professor Wescott’s new book Big, Bold and Blue: Lessons from Australia’s Marine Protected Areas, co-edited with James Fitzsimons from The Nature Conservancy.
‘Deakin has a very strong presence in the marine and coastal field whether in pure and applied science or policy and planning and this really showed in Melbourne,’ Associate Professor Wescott said.
Coast to Coast 2016 was hosted by the Victorian Coastal Council from 29 August to 1 September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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