Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium

By Turnagain News Correspondent

The Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation would like to invite you to our fifth annual PWS Natural History Symposium on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. What started as an offering to summer guides has grown into a highly anticipated free community event. Join us in person at the Public Safety Building in Whittier or online for the latest in news and research from around PWS!

The theme for this year’s event is “Resilience: Perseverance and Tenacity in Prince William Sound.” The Symposium’s schedule includes a mix of returning speakers offering updates on staple topics such as landslides, glaciers, and land management news and first-time presenters focusing on cultural history, sea otters, and marine food webs. We look forward to hearing from speakers from Chugach Alaska Corporation, Chugach Regional Resources Commission, the Chugach National Forest, the Alaska SeaLife Center, the U.S. Geological Survey, PWS Science Center, PWS Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and more.

Participants are also welcome to join us in Whittier on Monday, May 15th for a couple of pre-Symposium activities. We have partnered with Lazy Otter Charters to offer a tour to Blackstone Bay designed as an immersive experience for guides and outdoor educators new to PWS or those looking to brush up on their knowledge in preparation for summer. Tickets ($130 each) and advanced booking are required for the tour (call 907-694-6887 to book).

Have you ever wondered how landslides in Prince William Sound could impact you? “Coffee with Scientists” at Lazy Otter Cafe from 5 to 7 PM on May 15th is a free opportunity to chat about landslide research and tsunami monitoring with USGS scientists. Complimentary coffee and tea will be provided.

The fifth annual PWS Natural History Symposium is made possible through the generosity of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, Chugach Alaska Corporation, and PWS Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, as well as the support of the City of Whittier, Chugach Schools, and many generous corporate and individual sponsors.

Register for the Symposium and find out more about opportunities to get involved with the Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation at princewilliamsound.org. And, if you can’t join us live on May 16th, be sure to check out our website in June, where videos of all sessions will be posted.

This story courtesy of PWSSF