AIMS Media alert

March 6, 2008

All media are invited to visit AIMS on Tuesday 11 March to meet scientists participating in a workshop on the growing issue of ocean acidification.

The consequences of increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have already been seen in, for example, the coral bleaching that has afflicted the Great Barrier Reef in recent years.

A subtle but potentially more serious effect of climate change is arising as the oceans absorb much of the extra atmospheric carbon dioxide. This is making the oceans more acidic and will reduce the ability of marine organisms to form their skeletons and shells.

AIMS has assembled some prominent national and international experts who will be at the Institute’s headquarters at Cape Ferguson near Townsville 11-14 March to discuss research directions over the coming years as this phenomenon develops.

Please come to AIMS at 10am on Tuesday 11 March 2008 to meet with AIMS scientists and their colleagues from other research organisations. Among the scientists present will be AIMS climate change team leader Dr Janice Lough, AIMS research manager Dr Lyndon Llewellyn, Dr Joanie Kleypas from the Institute for Study of Society and Environment in Boulder, Colorado and Dr Bronte Tilbrook from CSIRO Marine Laboratories in Hobart.

AIMS Townsville is located here.

Note that a public forum on acidification, hosted by AIMS, will be held at the Museum of Tropical Queensland, Flinders Street East, on Friday 14 March, 5-7pm. Media are also welcome to attend this event.

For further information, please contact:

Wendy Ellery, AIMS Media Liaison Phone: 07 4753 4409 Mobile: 0418 729 265 email: w.ellery@aims.gov.au