Originally published in The Mason Gazette, May 28, 2009
Mason was the site of the first International Marine Conservation Congress held May 17-24. Registrants and participants, totaling 1,200 from all over the world, attended.
The event featured up to 15 simultaneous sessions, a three-day marine protected area management training course, more than 20 other events and the Second International Marine Protected Area Congress, the largest marine conservation conference ever held.
The event was sponsored by Mason’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) and developed under the auspices of the Society for Conservation Biology. Organizers were Chris Parsons, ESP, Marine Section president of the society; John Cigliano, Cedar Crest College; and Ellen Hines, San Francisco State University.
ESP faculty members Esther Peters and Dann Sklarew organized symposia and events and helped develop the scientific program. ESP chair Bob Jonas gave the welcoming speech and sponsored the event.
The following Mason community members assisted Parsons in organizing the event: Maureen Murphy, Events Management; Laura Van Slyke, Catering; Katheryn Patterson, MS student, ESP; Megan Draheim, PhD student, ESP; Lorelei Crerar, PhD student, ESP; Ashley Sitar-Gonzales, MAIS student, New Century College; and 21 other graduate and undergraduate students from the biology and ESP programs.
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