On Friday, August 27, 2010, I-RICH organized and hosted Connecticut's first colloquium and workshop on Oceans and Human Health. The meeting was attended by over 60 scientists, managers, educators and undergraduate/graduate students from across the State and region.

The success of this meeting was due in part to the interactions that arose during the day between those working in academia, various State agencies and non-governmental organizations. To continue this exchange and foster future collaborations, the talks and information form the meeting have been posted below.

Meeting Goals: 1) Disseminate information about Connecticut’s I-RICH training consortium, 2) Foster scientific exchange and communication among scientists, managers, and educators who are involved in oceans-and-human-health (OHH) activities across the State and region, 3) Identify opportunities to enhance collaboration, integration and coordination among those involved in OHH activities, and 4) Discuss ways to better communicate OHH initiatives to the general public.

Note: no data or figures from the following talks should be used without consent of the authors.

1) Colloquium and Workshop Program

2) Contact Information for Registrants

a. Pathogen persistence: What is the role of organic aggregates in recreational waters? - Dr. Maille Lyons, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Marine Sciences
b. Reactive oxygen species are linked to the toxicity of Alexandrium sp. to protists - Dr. Hayley Skelton, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Marine Sciences
c. The impact of harmful algal blooms on aquatic animal and human health: An immunotoxicological risk assessment approach - Dr. Milton Levin, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science
d. Metabolic changes in Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries to survive the aphotic zone - Dr. M. Soledad Fuentes, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
e. Examining the uptake of manufactured nanoparticles by suspension-feeding bivalves - Mr. John Doyle, Doctoral Student, Department of Marine Sciences

a. NOAA, NMFS, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Milford Laboratory - Dr. Gary Wikfors, Biotechnology Branch Chief, and I-RICH PI
b. Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration - Dr. Tracy Romano, Senior Vice President, Research and Zoological Operations, and I-RICH PI
c. Connecticut Department of Public Health - Ms. Stacey Kinney, Supervising Microbiologist
d. UConn, Center for Public Health and Health Policy - Dr. Ann Ferris, Professor and Director
e. Ledge Light Health District - Mr. Stephen Mansfield, RS, MPH, Deputy Director of Health
f. Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture - Ms. Kristin Frank, Environmental Analyst II
g. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, CT Office - Ms. Melissa Ryan, Lead Program Instructor

a. Pathogens, diseases and seafood safety
b. Emerging and legacy toxicants, public health concerns and seafood safety
c. Harmful algal blooms and public health concerns
d. Climate change and health of marine ecosystems and humans