FUTURE OF OCEANS Lecture Series: "What Eelgrass and Other Marine Vegetation Can Tell Us about the Future of the Ocean"

Dr. Ronald Thom
Staff Scientist Emeritus
Marine Sciences Lab,
Pacific Northwest National Lab

Sunday, January 10

3 pm

via ZOOM

Lecture is FREE

 

Our lecture series, The Future of Oceans, draws on the commitment of professional researchers and educators across all academic spectrums to help define and inspire the health of our oceans.

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center continues the lecture series by welcoming Dr. Ronald Thom, Staff Scientist Emeritus of the Marine Sciences Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab.

Using eelgrass as an indicator, the presentation will evaluate the theme of net ecosystem improvement (NEI) in the face of historical, present and future threats such as climate change on the ocean ecosystem. The presentation will cover topics including conservation, restoration, resilience and an evidence-based analysis of cumulative effects of multiple actions on ecosystem condition.  

Dr. Thom has conducted applied monitoring and research in coastal and estuarine ecosystems since 1971. His research includes coastal ecosystem restoration; adaptive management of restored systems; benthic primary production; ecosystem monitoring; climate change and adaptation; carbon storage in restored coastal systems, and ecology of fisheries resources. Ron has led, or shared leadership of, approximately 200 multidisciplinary projects. He has worked on ecological systems in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Nebraska, and Alabama. Ron was invited to China and South Korea several times to collaborate with scientists there on estuarine restoration. He served on the National Academy of Sciences committee on monitoring the recovery of the Gulf coast following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He has published ~100 peer reviewed papers including five invited book chapters, and hundreds of technical reports and conference abstracts. He is Staff Scientist Emeritus at the Marine Sciences Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, Sequim, WA. Ron is immediate past president of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, served as a Governor’s appointee to the Northwest Straits Commission for six years, and presently is the Senior Science Advisor to the Puget Sound Partnership.