Environment

SBU hosting ‘State of the Bays’ seminar Friday

Professor Christopher Gobler will lead the Long Island Coastal Conservation and Research Alliance (Credit: Gordon M. Grant / Stony Brook University)
Professor Christopher Gobler will lead the Long Island Coastal Conservation and Research Alliance (Credit: Gordon M. Grant / Stony Brook University)

Experts at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences are taking a more integral role in combating pollution in Long Island coastal waters. 

SoMAS is launching the Long Island Coastal Conservation and Research Alliance, with a mission of engaging in research and monitoring to protect and restore Long Island’s coastal ecosystems.

Its first order of business is hosting a seminar free to the public on the “State of the Bays,” taking place at 7 p.m. today in Duke Lecture Hall at Stony Brook University’s Southampton Campus.

Researchers will focus on sharing research findings with public and local, town, county, state and federal government officials — providing them with the information needed to drive progress in addressing key coastal issues.

Christopher Gobler, local water quality expert and professor with the school, will be leading the alliance.

“LICCRA will assess coastal ecosystem issues from Merrick to Montauk, from Long Island Sound to Lake Ronkonkoma to Great South Bay, and, importantly, will function as an alliance,” Mr. Gobler said in a release about the alliance. “In that capacity, the Alliance will rapidly share and communicate its findings with the public and decision makers, so that the steps necessary to protect and conserve our coastal resources can be taken.”

Before and after Friday’s seminar, research scholars and graduate students will display posters based on recent research of Long Island’s coastal zones.

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