Research in Oceans and Human Health (OHH) concerns the present, future, and potential effects of oceanic processes and marine organisms on human health and wellbeing. These effects often reflect complex processes whose elucidation requires an integration of information and knowledge from the biomedical, physical, and social sciences. The unresolved impacts of global climate change, coastal development, and intercontinental dispersal of harmful organisms all present tremendous challenges. Of growing concern are the human health impacts from exposure to known threats that are increasingly ubiquitous in marine ecosystems, in particular: heavy metals, marine toxins, pathogens and synthetic organic chemicals. However, OHH also encompasses bio-molecular exploration of marine organisms. In particular, marine microbes are recognized as a largely unexploited resource for pharmacological and biotechnological development. The discovery of new bioactive compounds and elucidation of their natural synthesis complements investigations of allelochemical synthesis in coral reef fauna, harmful algae and others.

The Gordon Research Seminar in OHH will provide a venue for young researchers to meet others with similar interest in integrating research across diverse disciplines. Students and post-docs attending the GRS will benefit from mentoring by recognized leaders in OHH fields, including: algal and microbial biology, epidemiology and public health, marine natural products, molecular biology, oceanography, toxicology, and others. The GRS seeks to attract new OHH scientists from diverse scientific backgrounds who are at a critical juncture in their career development. The seminar will be an opportunity to interact with leaders in OHH, both at the GRS-OHH meeting and at the subsequent Gordon Research Conference. The aim of the event is to provide a non-threatening forum for young scientists to present and discuss their findings in both oral presentations and poster sessions, and to form new interdisciplinary collaborations for future research.

Mentors:

• Dr. Lora Fleming (University of Miami)
• Dr. Edward Laws (Hawaii OHH Center)
• Dr. Micaela Parker (University of Washington)
• Dr. Paul Sandifer (Hollings Marine Laboratory)
• Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele (University of Miami)
• Dr. John Stegeman (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)