Blog posts by Bill Dennison
RV Rachel Carson

Kayak and R/V Rachel Carson sampling reveals nutrient sources for Chincoteague Bay

Bill Dennison ·
14 January 2013
Learning Science | 

We held a Maryland Coastal Bays Science and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meeting at Horn Point Laboratory this past week. We had several notable scientific findings revealed at this STAC meeting. One of the pressing environmental issues that we have struggled with over the past several years has been the somewhat inexplicable degradation in water quality in Chincoteague Bay.

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Dougo answering questions during the discussion time.

Discussion following Michael Douglas seminar on Northern Australia and Chesapeake Bay: Worlds apart, similar challenges?

Bill Dennison ·
9 January 2013
Learning Science |     2 comments

This blog details the question and answer period from the seminar given by Michael Douglas of the Charles Darwin University, at the IAN Seminar Series on September 27, 2012. Dougo answering questions during the discussion time. • What is being done to prepare for the projected 7mm sea level rise per year? • People are very concerned about the floodplain areas. There are many case studies already, which allow us to show the public the need to act now.

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Michael Douglas and Samantha Setterfield at the EcoSummit in Columbus, Ohio

Establishing a Darwin-IAN approach: Charles Darwin University and the Integration and Application Network

Bill Dennison ·
9 January 2013
Environmental Literacy | Science Communication | Learning Science | 

We said good-bye to Drs. Michael Douglas (‘Dougo’) and Samantha Setterfield (‘Sam’) from Charles Darwin University in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia last week. Dougo and Sam joined the Integration and Application Network in August 2012 as part of their sabbatical. Dougo was in the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar and he and Sam spent a couple of months at Oregon State University before coming to Maryland.

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Caroline Wicks, Heath Kelsey, Russell Callender, Bill Dennison, and Ken Barton with a framed history of EcoCheck's first phase.

Ending a NOAA partnership and beginning a new EcoCheck chapter

Bill Dennison ·
3 January 2013
Environmental Report Cards | Science Communication | 

EcoCheck was formed in 2004 as a partnership between the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was created by Drs. Bill Dennison (UMCES) and Bob Wood (NOAA) to develop ecological forecasting and environmental reporting capacity in the Chesapeake Bay.

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and sustainable management of our precious rivers and watersheds.

International RiverFoundation remarks

Bill Dennison ·
2 January 2013
Environmental Literacy | Applying Science | 

One of my favorite things to do in the world is to share these stories of people on convergent journeys, journeys like the one you are on with the Willamette River. The International RiverFoundation (IRF) promotes river restoration, protection and sustainable management of rivers and watersheds. Our vision is a world in which the rivers and watersheds are healthy and sustainably managed.

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Coordinator, City of Portland Rivers Office.

Willamette Through Film festival

Bill Dennison ·
20 December 2012
Environmental Literacy | Learning Science | 

I attended the biennial Within Our Reach conference, held on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, Oregon. The conference kicked off with a film night, "Willamette Through Film". Three short films were shown in a chronological sequence. The first film from 1939 was sponsored by the Isaac Walton League. They didn't have enough money for a soundtrack so it was a silent film. But Dr. Stan Gregory from Oregon State University provided an entertaining running commentary.

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Audience at Within Our Reach conference in Corvallis, Oregon.

Within Our Reach conference

Bill Dennison ·
18 December 2012
Environmental Literacy | Applying Science |     1 comments

The 'Within Our Reach' conference held in Corvallis, Oregon and focused on the Willamette River, did several things extremely well. One thing was the 'book ending' of the science and technical aspects with more socially relevant aspects; the film night at the beginning and the poetic reflections of Kathleen Dean Moore at the end. Kathleen provided one of the most compelling verbal nature essays I have ever heard.

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Peter at his home in Maleny, QLD, working on the

Peter Oliver reflections

Bill Dennison ·
26 November 2012
   1 comments

The sad news that Dr. Peter Oliver passed away on 20 November 2012 arrived during our week of Thanksgiving. There was some solace in learning that after many months of medical insults (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc.), Peter’s last moments were not painful. We also can give thanks for having had the wonderful opportunity of working with Peter over the past 15 years.

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Peter Oliver's retirement lecture.

Peter Oliver's retirement lecture

Bill Dennison ·
24 August 2012

Dr. Peter Oliver gave his "Retirement Lecture" at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland, Australia on 23 August 2012. I provided the introduction to Peter's lecture and the text of that introduction is what comprises this blog post. Peter provided a thought provoking, funny and well delivered talk, with audience participation and interaction. He also sang songs, culminating in 'Dugong Rock'.

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