Battelle and Collaborative Institute for Oceans, Climate, and Security Announce Conference

Battelle and the Collaborative Institute for Oceans, Climate, and Security (CIOCS) at the University of Massachusetts Boston announced today that they have teamed up to host the first ever Global Conference on Oceans, Climate, and Security (GCOCS) in May 2012.

The three-day conference, expected to be a bi-annual signature event for CIOCS, will convene May 21-23, 2012 in Boston with the primary goal of addressing the impact of climate change on our ocean systems and the consequent impact on human security and national security.

The announcement comes after the university’s Collaborative Institute for Oceans, Climate, and Security and Battelle, the world’s largest independent research and development organization, formed an exploratory alliance in June 2010.

The conference aims to bring people from across disciplines to take part in a vital and ongoing dialogue addressing the potential impact of changing climate to national security and the vital role oceans play. Direct threats may include ocean acidification and warming, melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels.

Goals of the Global Conference on Oceans, Climate, and Security include:

• Raising the awareness level of the threat of climate change to our oceans and the consequent threat to our human and national security
• Identifying and prioritizing the knowledge gaps in science and technology which inhibit understanding, response and adaptation to future threats
• Generating comprehensive human security policy and governance recommendations reflecting the climate, ocean and security continuum

Attendees from around the world will explore complex, cross-sector topics through hands-on and interactive events such as multi-disciplinary plenary and World Café sessions to fully address the interconnectedness of climate change, our oceans and the state of our security.

For more information on the first ever Global Conference on Oceans, Climate, and Security visit www.gcocs.org.

About the Collaborative Institute for Oceans, Climate, and Security at UMass Boston
The Collaborative Institute, a public-private “think tank” founded at UMass Boston, aims to work with key influencers and decision makers to strengthen the understanding of the human and national security implications of changing oceans and climates, and inform policy decisions through the application of sound scientific research and technology, demonstrated through place-based pilot projects. It accomplishes these goals by designing and participating in strategic convenings and communications, by researching and developing technologies to inform place-based pilots, and by educating stakeholders on the complex interdependencies of oceans, climate, and human security. To learn more about the Collaborative Institute, visit www.umb.edu/ciocs.

About Battelle
As the world’s largest independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management, National Security, Energy Technology and Health and Life Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $6.5 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 20,400 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories. Battelle also is one of the nation’s leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science and math education. To learn more about Battelle, visit www.battelle.org.

Tags: security, global, climate, ciocs, ocean, battelle