Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium, to be held Thursday, October 26, 2023 from 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM.
The 2023 event will be broadcast live over Zoom from the Hyatt Chesapeake in Cambridge, MD.
The Chesapeake Oyster Alliance with support from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is assembling an all-star lineup of oyster experts, post-docs, faculty, and industry practitioners for the 2023 Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium. Multiple panel discussions featuring over 20 speakers are intended to offer succinct presentations and ample Q&A around each topic. The Symposium will also feature a round of lightning-talks by young scientists and early career professionals (attendees may self-select to present when they register).
The Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium unites the fields of oyster restoration, aquaculture, and science to explore the potential for accelerating and maximizing the ecological and economic gains obtainable in each area.
The Symposium will be focused on emerging science and innovative approaches to advance the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay, but we welcome attendees from all locations.
Topics to include:
- Emerging Technology and Techniques in Aquaculture and Restoration
- Optimizing Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Yields
- Advances in Oyster Monitoring
- Gaps and Future Needs in Oyster Research
- Lightning Round of Current Oyster Graduate Studies*
- The Future of Oyster Restoration, Aquaculture, and Research in the Bay
- And more!
*Graduate students who are interested in presenting during the 5-7 minute Lightning Round can sign up during registration.
The Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium is presented by the many partners of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance with support from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Questions can be directed to Tanner Council.
Past Events
2022
The Chesapeake Oyster Alliance assembled an all-star lineup of oyster experts, academic faculty, and industry practitioners for its 2022 Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium, held Thursday, September 29th on Zoom, broadcast from the beautiful Tides Inn in Irvington, VA, a generous host and valued COA Partner.
Four panel discussions featuring over 20 speakers offered succinct presentations and ample Q&A around each topic. The Symposium also featured a round of lightning-talks by young scientists and early career professionals.
2021
The inaugural Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium held on June 3, 2021 was a virtual gathering of 319 early career professionals, graduate students, researchers, restoration experts, and aquaculturalists from eight countries. The Symposium focused on emerging science and innovative approaches to advance the oyster population of Chesapeake Bay.
The Symposium featured more than 20 speakers across several panels structured around the following themes, a space for graduate students to share their work with the audience, as well as a casual happy hour for networking and camaraderie.
Links to replays of the introduction and various panels are availble on the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's YouTube channel's COSS playlist.
Materials
Panels
Panel 1: The Return of the Bay Oyster—Challenges and Opportunities
A discussion of opportunities for growth in the world of Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration and aquaculture.
Speakers for this panel included Bruce Vogt (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]), Stephanie Westby (NOAA), Karen Hudson (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), Ward Slacum (Oyster Recovery Partnership), Joe Rieger (Elizabeth River Project).
Panel 2: Leveraging Oyster Ecosystem Services to Accelerate Oyster Recovery
This panel examined the many co-benefits of oyster reefs, including living breakwaters and coastal resilience. Panelists also discussed oyster aquaculture water quality research and nitrogen removal.
Speakers for this panel included Allison Colden (Chesapeake Bay Foundation), Scott Knoche, (Morgan State University/PEARL), Matt Gray (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science), Lisa Kellogg (Virginia Institute of Marine Science), and Jeff Cornwell (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science).
Panel 3: Emerging Technologies in Aquaculture and Restoration
New and emerging technologies can improve efficiency and increase success in oyster aquaculture and restoration. Presentations in the panel included solar powered floating aquaculture technology, monitoring reefs using video, sonar, and acoustic equipment, and more.
Speakers for this panel included Jay Lazar (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Brad King (Marine Science Foundation), Steve Pattison (Solar Oysters), Martin Kepinski-Kozaczek (Northrop Grumman), Allison Tracy (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center).
Panel 4: Synthesis Discussion: The Future of Oysters in Chesapeake Bay
Join Andrew Lacatell (The Nature Conservancy), Zachary Greenberg (Pew Charitable Trusts), Andrew Button (Virginia Marine Resources Commission), Angela Sowers (US Army Corps of Engineers), Chris Moore (Chesapeake Bay Foundation), Sean Corson (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and Imani Black (Minorities in Agriculture) as they discuss the future of oyster recovery in Chesapeake Bay.
Lightning Talks
We also hosted a series of lightning talks from a wide range of researchers to further showcase the veritable cornucopia of exciting work being done in the world of oyster restoration and aquaculture. Moderated by Sierra Hildebrandt, (Hampton University).
The Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium is presented by the partners of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance and is supported by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.