July 3-8, 2022
It was a long time coming, but thanks to the superhuman tenacity and skills of the ICRS 2022 Committee, lead by Professor Christian Wild of the University of Bremen, the 15th ICRS Symposium in Bremen was a huge leap forward for coral reef science, scientists, managers, and policymakers.
Here are just a few of the highlights:
Participation
– more than 1400 participants, and 270 virtual participants, representing more than 80 countries (this is the largest marine research conference ever held in Germany)
– 620 in person talks + 145 virtual talks
– 171 in person posters + 37 virtual posters
– 12 workshops
– 7 side-events
Special Events
Dr. Nancy Knowlton awarded ICRS Darwin Medal
This is the most prestigious ICRS honor awarded every four years, in recognition of a senior ICRS member for major scientific contributions throughout their career. As the 9th recipient, Nancy represents the first woman to receive the award. Her contributions throughout her career continue to influence how we all do our science. Congratulations – and thanks – to Dr. Knowlton, for your leadership and inspiration.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco awarded ICRS Honorary Membership
In recognition of his many years of support of the world’s oceans and coral reefs, ICRS was honored to present HSH Prince Albert II the prestigious ICRS Lifetime Honorary Membership. The status of lifetime Honorary Member is reserved for highly eminent individuals who have made major regional or global contributions to the cause of marine science, conservation, or management relevant to reefs and reef studies.
ICRS2022 Solutions Day
Tuesday at ICRS2022 (July 5) was designated “Solutions Day.” Amongst the events of the day, a Science-to-Policy Dialogue featured the document “Rebuilding Coral Reefs: A Decadal Grand Challenge,” and a discussion amongst both policymakers and scientists moderated by Dr. David Obura. If you missed it, please see the recording of the event.
The Dialog included these these esteemed panelists:
- Dr Abdulla Naseer (Minister of Environment, Maldives)
- Dr David Obura (CORDIO)
- H.H. Princess Mashael Saud Al-Shalan (Saudi Arabia and Aeon)
- Professor Nancy Knowlton (ICRS Darwin Medalist)
- Professor Andrea Grottoli (ICRS President)
- Professor Hans-Otto Pörtner (Lead of IPCC WG II reports)
- Dr Bettina Hoffmann (Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection in 2021) (remote attendance)
Carbon Neutrality
The ICRS2022 Organizers worked extremely hard to maintain carbon neutrality for both the 2021 and the 2022 events, and they successfully achieved their goal, as attested by the Climate Certificate. They’ve set the bar for minimizing the impact of ICRS events on climate and the environment. And we’re fully confident that the next ICRS Symposium will do the same.
Many thanks to the ICRS2021/2022 Organizers
We take this opportunity to thank the Organizers of the 14th and 15th ICRS Symposia. We give standing ovations to these committed, talented and persistent colleagues who enabled our coral reef community to renew our science and spirit on behalf of coral reefs. And they did it all, despite the many pandemic-related problems that had to be resolved.
Local Organizing Committee:
- Prof. Dr. Christian Wild (University of Bremen) – Conference Chairman
- Andrea Hess (Bremen Convention Bureau)
- Selma Mezger (University of Bremen)
- Svea Vollstedt (University of Bremen)
- Bianca Thobor (University of Bremen)
- Inae Kim-Frommherz (University of Bremen)
- Heinz Krimmer (University of Bremen)
- Davina Pick (Bremen Convention Bureau)
Organising Committee:
- Dr. Arjun Chennu (ZMT, Bremen)
- Dr. Thomas Felis (MARUM, Bremen)
- Dr. Sebastian Ferse (University of Bremen)
- Dr. Jasper de Goeij (University of Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Prof. Dr. Andrea Grottoli (The Ohio State University, USA)
- Dr. Andreas Haas (NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Netherlands)
- Dr. Carin Jantzen (SECORE International, Bremen)
- Dr. Joanie Kleypas (National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA)
- Prof. Dr. Agostino Merico (Jacobs University and ZMT, Bremen)
- Prof. Dr. Ronald Osinga (University of Wageningen, Netherlands)
- Dr. Götz Reinicke (German Oceanographic Museum Foundation)
- Prof. Dr. Claudio Richter (AWI Bremerhaven and University of Bremen)
- Prof. Dr. Peter Schupp (University of Oldenburg, Germany)
- Daniel Schürholz (MPI, Bremen)
- Prof. Dr. Christian Voolstra (University of Konstanz, Germany)
- Prof. Dr. Christian Wild (University of Bremen)
- Prof. Dr. Gert Wörheide (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany)
- Dr. Rita Kellner-Stoll (Kellner & Stoll Foundation, Bremen)
