WESTPAC 9th International Scientific Symposium

22-25 April 2014, Nha Trang, Vietnam

 

Upon the kind offer of the Government of Vietnam, the WESTPAC 9th International Scientific Symposium entitled “A Healthy Ocean for Prosperity in the Western Pacific: Scientific Challenges and Possible Solutions” will be hosted by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), and organized by the Institute of Oceanography, VAST; National IOC Committee for Vietnam and IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC).

 

Objectives

The objectives of the Symposium are to bring together marine scientists, particularly young scientists, with a view to examining the achievements in marine sciences over the last 25 years, advancing marine scientific knowledge, and catalyzing multi- and cross-disciplinary collaboration towards the improvement in management practices and decision-making processes for sharing the wealth of the ocean to benefit all.

Sessions

All sessions are open to all participants, and will focus around three main themes: (1) Understanding Ocean Processes in the Indo-Pacific Region; (2) Ensuring Marine Biodiversity, Food Safety and Security; and (3) Maintenance of Ocean Health.

Understanding Ocean Processes in the Indo-Pacific Region
● Role of the Indo-Pacific Ocean in regional climate change and variability
● Status, trends and effects of climate, natural disturbances and anthropogenic stressors on ocean ecosystems 
● Risk/vulnerability assessment on coastal sea-level related hazards focusing on sea level rise, storm surges and coastal erosion 
● Sediment source-to-sink process in the Western Pacific  

Ensuring Marine Biodiversity, Food Safety and Security 
● Status, trends of marine biodiversity and productivity (including marine endangered species, invasive species, etc.) 
● Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture 
● Toxic marine organisms and seafood safety  

Maintenance of Ocean Health 
● Changing ocean biogeochemistry and its ecosystem impact (particularly nutrient supply and cycles, hypoxia, POPs and heavy metals) 
● Ocean acidification and its effects on marine ecosystems 
● Harmful algal blooms 
● Restoration and conservation of marine ecosystems 
● Remote sensing in integrated coastal and marine management

Cross-cutting and Emerging Issues 
● Development and demonstration of ocean forecasting system 
● Technical and technological developments, and data management in coastal and open ocean observations 
● Marine renewable energy 
● Good practices in, and lessons learnt from capacity development for marine science and ocean governance   

Moreover, one Senior Officials Forum is being planned in view of the importance of engaging governmental officials in charge of marine science, observation and capacity building

Keynote Addresses

● Achievements and perspectives of marine science in the region 
● Climate change and variability and its related disasters in the region 
● Climate and anthropogenic impacts to and resilience of ecosystems in the region 
● Latest scientific advances and innovations in ocean observations techniques 
● Impacts on the ocean and coasts following the 2011 Japan Tsunami 
● Marine processes and resource management towards sustaining marine biodiversity and food security

Important Deadlines 
30 October 2013: Early registration
30 November 2013: 
Abstract submission and financial support application
31 December 2013: 
Notification of abstract acceptance and financial support grant
15 January 2014: 
Confirmation of participation by paper presenters

Registration & Fee
All registration fees will be used to cover meals, reception and printing materials. To plan our events more efficiently, interested participants are encouraged to pre-register as early as possible via our Online Pre/Registration and Payment Form at:http://www.vnio.org.vn/9thwestpacsymp

	USD
Early registration:	100
Early registration for Students:	50
Registration after 30/10/2013:	150
Students:	80
Spouse:	50

Travel & Accommodation
More detailed information concerning travel and transportation can be found in the symposium website:www.vnio.org.vn/9thwestpacsymp.

Financial Support
Financial support will be available for a limited number of participants, especially for young scientists and students from developing countries in the WESTPAC region.

Contact Address

Local Secretariat for the WESTPAC 9th International Scientific Symposium
Mrs. Do Minh Thu
Institute of Oceanography
01 Cau Da, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam
Tel: (84-58) 3590035
Fax: (84-58) 3590034
Email: dmthu.io@gmail.com   

and/or

IOC Regional Office for the Western Pacific 
Ms. Nachapa Saransuth
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
Tel: +66 2 1411288
Fax: +66 2 1439245
Email: snachapa@gmail.com;n.saransuth@unesco.org

 

Following by:

http://www.vnio.org.vn/9thwestpacsymp/Home.aspx

Oceanology International China 2013

• Oceanology International is pleased to launch a new event in China, where new opportunities wait to be explored.
  
  Developed with government and industry associations,Oceanology International China will be a unique forum for connecting with this country’s growing offshore energy and marine industries. 
  
  Join us on 3-5 September at the INTEX, Shanghai to meet Chinese buyers, industry professionals and government officials and gain an edge into this rapidly developing market.

   

  A free-to-attend technical programme will take place alongsde the exhibition and will be opened by a keynote session, featuring:
• 
• • OI 13 floor plan_130725_outgoing.pdfView the Oceanology International China website
  • Download the OI China brochure
  • Download the booking form
  • Download the floor plan

  Opportunities for International Exhibitors

   A UKTI TAP grant of £3,000 is available for UK companies to exhibit on the SMI/UK Pavilion at Oceanology International China. 
  UK companies can apply directly on the Society of Maritime Industries website.

  A USA Pavilion is being organised in partnership with the U.S. Commercial Service. US companies can contact Ray Filbert, E: rfilbert@reedexpo.com and T: +1 203 840 5821 for more details.

• Why China?

  • China's most recent five-year plan - the 12th Five-Year Plan - was the first ever to include a dedicated chapter on marine development
  • China is firmly established among the ranks of preferred partners for nations wishing to conduct joint oceanography expeditions
  • The Chinese government boosted funding for oceanography, particularly in exploration, research and deep-sea technologies
  • Major marine science institutions award grants worth tens of millions of USD to lead studies into the geology and biology of key bodies of water like the South China Sea
  • An increasing number of state and academic bodies are throwing their full weight behind the exploration of marine science and technology innovation, marine industry development, marine environmental protection and regional economic cooperation

  Why Shanghai?

  • China's eastern seaboard is attracting significant amounts of state investment to set up a marine observatory network under the East China Sea near Xiaoqushan Island (Zhejiang Province)
  • Shanghai is home to some of China's most dense clusters of marine science an maritime academic institutions, research and commercial development hubs
  • Shanghai's surrounding areas, too, are riding the wave of economic awakening when it comes to the marine sector
  • Shanghai is home to a large batch of enterprises involved in the marine industry.

• Exhibitors that have already confirmed a stand include:

  • AML Oceanographic Ltd
  • AMS Systea
  • iXBlue
  • Kongsberg Maritime
  • Marine Electronics
  • Reson
  • Seabird
  • Ship Motion Control
  • Sonardyne Asia PTE
  • Teledyne Marine
  • Valeport Limited
  • Wildlife Acoustics

  View more confirmed exhibitors

• Who should exhibit?

  Biological Oceanography 
  Chemical Oceanography 
  Communication devices 
  Communications 
  Diving 
  Geophysics 
  Geotechnics 
  Hydrography survey 
  Metocean services 
  Navigation & positioning 
  Navigation devices 
  Physical Oceanography 
  Platforms: AUV, ROV, Buoys 
  Sampling devices 
  Sedimentology

  Who should visit?

  Academia 
  Aquaculture 
  Coastal engineering 
  Construction 
  Diving 
  Education 
  Engineering 
  Government 
  Harbours / Ports 
  Marine electrical/electronics 
  Marine environmental 
  Marine hardware 
  Marine security 
  Offshore oil and gas 
  Renewable energy 
  Research and development 
  Subsea engineering 
  Telecommunications 
  Transport and shipping

• Contact us

  To find out more and enquire about exhibiting at the event, please contact us:

  
  Kirsten Conlon, Key account manager
  Tel: +44 (0)208 439 8870
  Email: kirsten.conlon@reedexpo.co.uk

Following by http://www.oceanologyinternational.com/china

Severe subsidence due ground water pumping in southern Vietnam

Vietnam's southernmost province, Cà Mau, is in danger of sinking below sea level in the next few decades, unless drastic measures are taken urgently.  This warning was released last week by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in co-operation with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI).

- Our research shows that the main reason is over-exploitation of underground water, said Dr. Philos Kjell Karlsrud of NGI at a Workshop held on 19 June in Cân Tho, the largest city in the Mekong delta.

NGI has been conducting a study of possible causes of apparent land loss in the Cà Mau province since May 2012, at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cà Mau is shaped as a peninsula at the southern tip of the country, with more than 1.2 million inhabitants, covering an area of 4,350 square kilometers.

Satellite picture showing coastline in 1989, 1999 og 2012

NGI's interpretation of satellite photography data confirms that significant retreat of the coastline of 100 to 1400 m has occurred over the past 13 years. From the Vietnamese side, it was indicated that the causes of the land loss could be changes in sediment transport and erosion processes along the coastline, deterioration of the protecting Mangrove forest, and possibly sea level rise due to climate changes.

NGI's study has revealed however, that significant ground water pumping takes place in the province. Every day, approximately 370,000 cubic meters of water are pumped from 100,000 drilled wells in the Cà Mau province.  An upper capping soft clay layer effectively prevents natural recharge of ground water to the deeper aquifers from which the ground water pumping takes place. The ground water pumping therefore cause a reduction in pore pressures at the base of the soft clay layer, triggering significant consolidation settlements in the clay, and thereby subsidence or sinking of the ground surface.

The preliminary calculations done by NGI show that the subsidence may already have reached between 30 and 70 cm in Cà Mau. The subsidence may reach 80 to 150 cm within the next two decades, but will also continue to increase after that. Such subsidence induced by ground water pumping is a well known problem, and has already been experienced in many areas around the world. As examples, Karlsrud mentioned subsidence of up to about 1.5 m in the Bangkok metropolis, up to 2 m in Shanghai and 4m in parts of Jakarta.

¿Since the average surface of the Cà Mau province is only 1 to 1.5 meter above sea level, the consequences of such subsidence will be catastrophic, and make the province inhabitable within a few decades,¿ said Kjell Karlsrud. Future sea level rise due to climate changes will further enhance the problem, but the predicted sea level rise during this century is much smaller than the predicted subsidence due to ground water pumping. NGI warns that several provinces in the Mekong Delta region may be facing a similar risk of subsidence. Other studies have indicated that parts of Ho Chi Minh city is presently sinking 2-3 cm per year due to ground water pumping. 

To stop the subsidence or sinking of the ground surface, NGI has recommended the local authorities to stop or greatly reduce the present groundwater pumping, and find alternative ways of supplying pure water. One option could be to build water purification plants utilizing river water, and/or to collect pure rainwater in suitable storage facilities.

To verify the rate and extent of the predicted subsidence, NGI In cooperation with the local authorities have proposed to implement detailed site investigations to verify the general geologic conditions in the area, and to establish a monitoring program involving measurement of ground water pressures and surface settlements across the Ca Mau region. NGI hopes that this work can start later this year. "It is urgent that this issue is dealt in an expedient manner before the consequences become too serious", says Karlsrud.

 

Following http://www.ngi.no/