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Science and Policy Workshop

April 1 - 2, 2009



	Enlarge Image Jelena Puzic (Teck) and Roger Amato (MMS), participants at the science and policy workshop, examining a seafloor sulfide sample collected by Meg Tivey (WHOI). (Tom Kleindinst, WHOI)
	Enlarge Image Biology at the K Vent sulfide edifice at the East Pacific Rise (Photo through the porthole courtesy LADDER1 cruise science party and Alvin Group, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Workshop Objectives
Deep-Sea Mining of Seafloor Massive Sulfides: A Reality for Science and Society in the 21st Century

Our main objective is:
- To bring together natural and social scientists, policy makers, and commercial interests to inform each other about the issues involved in deep-sea mining of seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits.

Objectives with focus on science:
- To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and research results for scientists and students of all disciplines (biological, chemical, geological) investigating the formation, preservation, and distribution of SMS deposits;
- To promote active collaborations among scientists of different disciplines and nationalities examining SMS;
- To assess gaps in our scientific knowledge of SMS.

Objectives with focus on policy:
- To provide the scientific, economic, legal, and political background for the policy discussion and public forum to be held on the second day (April 2);
- To provide a summary of our discussion for several upcoming events, including the ICES Symposium on issues confronting the deep oceans in April 2009, the International Marine Conservation Congress in May 2009, and the ISA Annual Session in May/June 2009.

Organizing Committee
- Maurice Tivey (WHOI, USA), Chair of InterRidge Working Group on Seafloor Mineralization, mtivey@whoi.edu, +1 508 289-2265

- Georgy Cherkashov (Russia), Yves Fouquet (France), Mark Hannington (Canada), Yasuhiro Kato (Japan), Jonguk Kim (Korea), Lisa Levin (USA), Rachel Mills (UK), K.A. Kamesh Raju (India), Xuefa Shi (China), Ingunn Thorseth (Norway), and Cindy Van Dover (USA), members of the InterRidge Working Group on Seafloor Mineralization

- Chris German (WHOI, USA) and Paul Tyler (NOC, UK), Co-Chairs of the ChEss (Chemosynthetic Ecosystems) project of the Census of Marine Life

- Jian Lin (WHOI, USA), InterRidge Chair

- Porter Hoagland (Senior Research Specialist, Marine Policy Center, WHOI, USA)

Sponsors

Our science and policy workshop is made possible by our sponsors, the ChEss (Chemosynthetic Ecosystems) project of the Census of Marine Life, InterRidge, Ridge 2000, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), including the Deep Ocean Exploration Institute at WHOI.

Contact
Workshop Coordinator:
Dr. Stace Beaulieu
InterRidge Coordinator
coordinator@interridge.org
+1 508 289-3821

Last updated: July 21, 2009