Program
Nov. 1, 2018
PDF Program Table (PDF ~ 200 kb)
Alphabetical list of Speakers and Sessions (PDF ~ 88 kb )
—Tuesday, Oct. 30 —
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Spinnaker and Harbor Rooms
*Full-day Short Courses: “Government Operation” from 8 a.m. until noon, and “Coastal Geology from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. PDH available. Part of the CCP certification program. Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.
* Separate fee, not included in conference registration
— Wednesday, Oct. 31 —
8 a.m.-noon ASBPA Board of Directors meeting – Galleon Room
10 a.m. Registration opens
1:00-5:30 p.m. — Plenary Session ● Grand Ballroom A
1:00 p.m. Welcome by Conference Co-chairs, Cris Weber, Reuben Trevino, and Ashley Judith
1:10 p.m. Welcome and introductions – Tony Pratt, ASPBA President
1:20 p.m. Welcome – Mayor James Yarbough, City of Galveston
1:30 p.m. “Texas Coastal Management” – David Green, Deputy Director of Coastal Resources, Texas General Land Office
2:00 p.m. “The challenge of turning science into policy and positive action” – Larry McKinney, Ph.D., Executive Director, Harte Research Institute
Dr. McKinney received his doctorate from Texas A&M University in 1976. His conservation passion and scientific focus is the Gulf of Mexico. From its deepest depths to coastal seagrass meadows, wetlands and coral reefs across the Gulf’s USA, Mexico and Cuba waters, McKinney has explored and studied the world’s ninth largest water body for almost fifty years. McKinney is the Executive Director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, leading an interdisciplinary team that integrates science, policy and socio-economic expertise to assure an economically and environmentally sustainable Gulf of Mexico. He is also Executiver Director of Texas OneGulf, one of six Gulf Centers of Excellence. Dr. McKinney has chaired: the Ecosystem Assessment and Integration Team of the Gulf Alliance, the Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Committee, and the Texas Sea Grant Science Advisory Committee. He has been a member of NASA’s SSC Applied Sciences Steering Committee and board member and past president of the Texas Academy of Sciences. Dr. McKinney recently chaired the National Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management. During his 25 years at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department he directed complex interdisciplinary programs, including water, environmental protection, endangered species and education programs. He also oversaw all aquatic programs and directly led the marine fisheries program. He was TPWD’s first state trustee for natural resources and helped built the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) program for the state. Under his guidance more than 10,000 acres of wetlands were restored and one the largest NRDA restorations (Lavaca Bay) ever attempted was completed. He served as Chair of the EPA Science Advisory Committee for the Gulf of Mexico Program and directed oil spill response for TPWD. Dr. McKinney developed successful adaptive regulatory processes for regulation of coastal shrimp farms, management of invasive aquatic vegetation; and, development of offshore aquaculture.
2:30-3:00 p.m. — Networking Break ● Prefunction
3:00 p.m. “UK coastal risk management: ordinary, extreme, long-term”– Jonathan Simm, Chief Technical Director (Resilience), HR Wallingford
Dr Jonathan Simm is Chief Technical Director for Resilience at UK-based research and consultancy organisation HR Wallingford, with responsibilities in such areas as performance, risk, materials and sustainability. He joined HR Wallingford 26 years ago after an early career working with consulting engineers on coastal engineering and maritime works. Jonathan now leads research programmes at HR Wallingford, particularly in the areas of flood and coastal risk management. He was Technical Lead for the International Levee Handbook and is currently working on the International Guidelines for the use of Natural and Nature based Features (on which there are three parallel sessions at this conference.) Jonathan chairs national and international committees and visits the US regularly. His passion is translating research and innovation into policy and practice.
3:30 p.m. “Coastal Policy” – Edmond Russo Jr., Ph.D., Deputy District Engineer for Programs and Project Management, USACE Galveston District
Edmond J. Russo Jr., Ph.D., P.E., D.CE, D.NE, D.WRE, serves as the deputy district engineer for Programs and Project Management for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, a position he assumed January 2014. A 24-year Corps veteran, Russo oversees concept to delivery of projects and services in an area spanning 50,000 square miles of the Texas coast from Louisiana to Mexico, encompassing 16 congressional districts, valued at approximately $350 million annually to sustain navigation economics that are vital to the nation, while managing coastal risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, regulatory functions, emergency operations, military construction and international and interagency services mission areas.
4:00 p.m. ASBPA Annual Membership meeting – Elections and resources for members, 2019 Coastal Summit Preview
5-7 p.m. Opening reception and Poster Session ● Prefunction
Opening reception sponsored by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock and Poster Session sponsored by the City of South Padre Island
7:30 p.m. Networking Hour sponsored by the Students and New Professionals (all are invited and welcome)
— Thursday, Nov. 1 —
7:30-8:00 a.m. Continental breakfast ● Prefunction
Concurrent sessions rooms are as follows:
A – Yacht
B – Galleon 1
C – Galleon 2
D – Galleon 3
E – Clipper
F – Harbor
G – Spinnaker