Second Virginia Marine Debris Summit 

This statewide Summit is sponsored by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program with funding from the NOAA Office for Coastal Management and with support from our partners: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Clean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University, Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Sea Grant and Virginia Clean Marina Program, Virginia Aquarium, Keep Norfolk Beautiful, and the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

SUMMIT GOALS

The goal of this summit is to inspire and empower our partners in marine debris reduction. 

Summit attendees will receive updates on current marine debris science and trends and will explore techniques and tools effective in enhancing knowledge, changing behavior and influencing policies that reduce marine debris. 

Attendees will depart with increased capacity to help accomplish the goals of the Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan.

The summit will also engage Mid-Atlantic partners and explore regional efforts to reduce the sources and impacts of marine debris.

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SPEAKERS

David K. Paylor, Director, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality - Keynote Address

Laura McKay, Program Manager, Virginia Coastal Zone Management - Leadership in Marine Debris: Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program & Partners

Ruling Robot Falcons (Ethan Burks, Luke Marston, and Joshua Nichols) Young Scientists: Up to a Marine Debris Challenge

Katie Register, Executive Director, Clean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University - The Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan: A Cleaner Ocean Through Leadership, Prevention, Interception, Innovation, and Removal

Jason Rolfe, Southeast and Caribbean Regional Coordinator, NOAA Marine Debris Program - Planning for Success: Regional Efforts, Disaster Marine Debris, and Abandoned/Derelict Vessels

Alison Hammer Weingast, NOAA Marine Debris Program Deputy Director - Communication & Outreach: Raising Awareness About Marine Debris Before Legislative Solutions Are Pursued

Erin Ling, Program Coordinator, Virginia Household Water Quality Program, Biological Systems Engineering Department, Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extensio - Overview of Social Marketing

Steve Raabe, OpinionWorks - Social Marketing Research in Action

John Deuel, GreenQuest, LLC - Reducing Cigarette Litter by Speaking Smokers' Language: Methods and Results of the Hampton Roads Cigarette Litter Prevention Project

Kirk J. Havens, PhD., Director, Coastal Watersheds Program and Asst. Director, Center for Coastal Resources Management, Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Taking Aim: Making Shotgun Wads That Won't Last Forever

Irene Frentz, District 4 Resource Specialist, Virginia State Parks, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation - Helping Park Guests Consider Consequences of Balloon and Sky Lantern Releases

Karen Forget, Executive Director, Lynnhaven Now - Incentives That Influence Daily Habits: The Pearl Home & Pearl School Reward Programs

Pam Northam, Pearl Home and Pearl Faith Coordinator, Lynnhaven Now - Pearls of Faith: Engaging the Faith Communities in Stewardship

Christina Trapani, Independent Marine Debris Researcher - Keeping it Beachy Clean: Engaging Beach Visitors through Local Partnerships in a Resort Community

LeAnne Astin, Fairfax Co - Community Awareness and Engagement: Making The Stormwater Connection

Jenna Jambeck, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, University of Georgia - Citizen Science & data collection: tracking tools – standardize data collection

Nick Mallos, Director, Trash Free Seas Program, Ocean Conservancy - Ecological Threats Posed by the Most Persistent Items of Trash

Eben Schwartz, Marine Debris and Public Outreach Manager, California Coastal Commission New Stormwater Permit Requirements: Motivating Cities to Take Action to Reduce Marine Debris

Andrew Scheld, PhD, Assistant Professor, Fisheries Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Economic Impacts of Derelict Crab Pots 

Robert C. Hale, PhD, Professor of Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science - Microplastics and Human Health: Searching for Links

Denice Wardrop, PhD, Senior Scientist & Professor of Geography and Ecology and Director, Sustainability Institute, Pennsylvania State University - Findings from the Chesapeake Bay Commission’s review on microplastics and standards of biodegradability

Chelsea M. Rochman, Ph.D., Marine Ecologist/Ecotoxicologist, Aquatic Health Program, University of California Davis

Ann Swanson, Exec. Director, Chesapeake Bay Commission - Process of Crafting Bills: Words Matter

Karl Blankenship, Bay Journal - Engaging a Wider Audience Panel 

Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, Executive Director, Elizabeth River Project - Engaging a Wider Audience Panel

Leslie Middletown, Journalist/Writer - Engaging a Wider Audience Panel

Click here to open a new web window to view and download a detailed agenda.

REGISTRATION / PAYMENT

STEP 1: COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION FORM - click on the link below: 

Link to Registration Form

STEP 2: PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE.  

Early Bird Registration ($60) closes February 5 at 5 PM

Regular Registration ($75) closes February 29, 5 PM 

Student Registration ($30) closes February 29, 5 PM

The registration fee covers participation in all sessions on March 7, 8 & 9; lunches on Tuesday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 9; and, two receptions - the evening of Monday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 9.

TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD (Visa or Master Card ONLY) - click on the link below:  

https://studentaccounts.longwood.edu/C20122_ustores/web/
Click on "Clean VA Waterways". You do not have to become a
“Registered User.” Choose the “Continue Unregistered” button. 

TO PAY BY CHECK, make check payable to “Longwood University (CVW)". IMPORTANT: In the Memo line write “Virginia Marine Debris Summit and name of attendee(s)".  

Mail check to:
Cashiers Office
Longwood University
201 High Street 
Farmville, VA  23909 

Once we have received your payment, you will be added to the Summit participation list.  We cannot accept payment at the door.  If you have any questions, please contact Clean Virginia Waterways at cleanva@longwood.edu or 434-395-2602.

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Substitutions/Refunds/Cancellations

After you've paid for the event, if you later need to cancel, you must request the refund IN WRITING by sending an e-mail to cleanva@longwood.edu, whether you paid by credit card or check. In the e-mail 'Subject' line, enter "Refund Request for Summit," and in the BODY of your message be sure to include your name, address, contact telephone number and a reason for the refund request. Deadline for refunds: Friday, February 19, 5 PM. Substitutions are allowed; please put your substitution request in writing, providing the names and addresses for the person who is canceling as well as the person who will be attending.