Media

HKU to hold Interdisciplinary symposium on Ocean Acidification and Climate Change

10 Dec 2012

 

Climate Change and Ocean Acidification (OA) are threatening coastal organisms, aquaculture and fisheries. A Multidisciplinary Team Approach is required to evaluate these impacts and to understand the mechanisms and physiological processes behind these impacts. The lack of multidisciplinary team work, especially in Asia, is limiting factor which hinders a better understanding of the devastating climate change associated impacts.

The School of Biological Sciences and the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) of the University of Hong Kong will hold a four-day symposium tomorrow (December 11 to 14) to gather researchers from all over the world to discuss a wide variety of topics on climate change and ocean acidification. They will also seek to form an "International and Multidisciplinary Group for OA Research".

In the symposium, the latest findings on acidification of Hong Kong waters and its impact on marine ecology will be released. Dr Gao Yongli of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) will release his research findings on the relation of OA and the partial pressure of CO₂ in HK waters. In Hong Kong, there are a number of small coral communities, particularly in eastern waters, ocean acidification (OA) has been affecting the ecological systems and the organisms there, causing disruption to marine life including coral degradation. Dr Gao will discuss the matter in the morning session on Ocean Acidification on December 12 (Wednesday).

Opening ceremony

Date: December 11, 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 4:30pm
Venue: 14 Fl., KK Leung Building, HKU

Forum and discussion (December 12 to 14)

Date: December 12, 2012 (Wednesday)
Time: 9am (Discussion topic: Ocean Acidification)
Venue: T6, 1 Fl.; Meng Wah Complex, HKU

For the detailed programme, please visit: http://www.biosch.hku.hk/ecology/isoacc/index.htm, or contact HKU School of Biological Science at Tel: 2299 0633.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk ; or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk.