Gulf-Alaska Knowledge Exchange: Oil Spill Response, Transformative Recovery, and Proactive Preparedness
The Gulf-Alaska Knowledge Exchange Workshop series will hold the final of three workshops in Washington, D.C. on March 25th & 26th, 2025. The workshop will have an overarching goal of learning from and applying past oil spill experiences to future spills. Speakers representing community organizations, agencies, industry, academia, and indigenous communities will provide context for the rich discussion by all participants in the workshop. Participation is open to all interested parties, and there will be a virtual attendance option.
Use the link at the end of this article to register for virtual or in-person attendance. In-person registration will close on March 18th at 11:59 PM EST; virtual registration will remain open throughout the event.
The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are the two spills of record in the United States that resulted in detrimental and long-lasting environmental, economic, and societal impacts for both regions. In recognition of this shared history, the Gulf Research Program (GRP) will host a workshop series to bring together representatives from both regions to share experiences, knowledge, strategies, and best practices to help prepare for and recover from potential future spills. This effort is in accord with GRP’s settlement agreement language which refers to reducing risk of future harm to people, the environment, and the economy due to oil spills as a “national priority.”
An ad-hoc committee will plan up to three workshops that engage researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders from both regions. The specific workshop topics will be developed by the planning committee to ensure they are relevant and beneficial to stakeholders from the two regions, while also being consistent with GRP’s mission and purpose. Topics may include but are not limited to the restoration of oil-afflicted ecosystems, particularly those that support species of commercial, recreational, and cultural value; how climate change impacts could exacerbate oil spills; and potential impacts of oil spills on local communities. Potential questions that could be addressed in these workshops include:
• What strategies are most effective for long-term ecosystem and socioeconomic recovery from the dual effects of oil spills and climate change?
• What strategies can be implemented to increase the resiliency of ecosystems that support species of commercial, recreational, and cultural value?
• In what ways can community-focused research improve the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of long-term oil spill recovery and climate adaptation efforts?
Workshop proceedings will be published in accordance with NASEM’s standard policies and procedures.
Workshop 3 Gulf-Alaska Knowledge Exchange: Oil Spill Response, Transformative Recovery, and Proactive Preparedness
For more information contact Jennifer Cohen at [email protected]
