Seminars and workshops

Each seminar page contains information about the event’s agenda and speakers and, where available, pictures and presentation videos. Click the seminar links to learn more. To view all oil spill science products by topic, click the icons below.

Marine mammals: Reflections on new research after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
December 8, 2021

Three experts on marine mammals updated listeners on ongoing research into oil spill impacts and recovery strategies moving forward.

Focus on Louisiana – Part Deux 
January 28, 2021

Experts shared their knowledge, experiences, and insights regarding how Louisiana’s unique culture and cultural resources can be impacted by oil spills and some ways that these facets can be preserved and protected.

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative decade of discovery state showcases – A series of events in each Gulf state to celebrate GoMRI’s contributions to science and more.

Focus on Louisiana: Oil spills 
September 23, 2020
Experts provided insights into Deepwater Horizon oil spill’s impacts to Louisiana – specifically on human communities, wetland plants and fish – as well paths forward into the future.

Oysters: Adapting to a changing Gulf, a three-part series

  1. The role of oysters in our estuarine ecosystem and the threats facing them – June 26, 2020
  2. Increasing resilience of wild and farmed oysters before, during, and after an oil spill – July 27, 2020
  3. How oil spill response decisions affect oysters –  September 14, 2020

Detecting the true, potential, and perceived impacts to human health following an oil spill, a three-part series

  1. Impacts of oil spills on air quality – June 8, 2020
  2. Impacts of oil spills on water quality – July 30, 2020
  3. Impacts of dispersants on human health – August 27, 2020

Every snow often oil, microbes, and sediment get together and sink
July 22, 2020 – webinar
Speakers discussed marine snow and the role it played before, during, and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Breaking it down: Oil in the environment
July 14, 2020 – webinar
Oil is a complex mixture of chemicals that begins to transform the moment it enters the marine environment. Speakers at this event covered the chemical makeup of oil, its evolution, and paths to breakdown.

Herding oil at the surface: Surface collecting agents in oil spill response
March 12, 2020 – Metairie, LA
This seminar/webinar focused on surface collecting agents (SCAs), compounds that can be used to herd oil during emergency response operations.

Shining light on Deepwater Horizon impacts to the Florida Panhandle
December 4, 2019 – Pensacola, FL
This seminar gave an overview of oil spill impacts to the Panhandle region of Florida.

Using the underdogs of the animal world to gain insights into impacts, recovery, and restoration after oil spills
August 13, 2019 –  Lacombe, LA
This seminar focused on species often overlooked by the media during a spill and their potential roles in guiding restoration efforts.

Impacts of oil spills on estuaries
July 1, 2019 – Moss Point, MS
What happens when oil enters the estuarine habitat, where so many important marine animals live, feed, and nest?

Preparing for oil spills in the Eastern Gulf: Health, economic resilience, and community well-being
May 6-7, 2019 – Mobile, AL and May 7, 2019 – Bayou La Batre, AL
This workshop was the final installment in the Regional priority-setting for health, social, and economic disruption from spills series, five regional workshops focused on public health, social disruption, and economic impacts of oil spills.

How does science guide oil spill response? Collaborating before, during, and after a spill
 April 24, 2019 – St. Petersburg, FL
This workshop provided an opportunity for responders to explain response processes and priorities and scientists to share recent research results. It included an input session where the two groups discussed  ongoing challenges and possible future collaborations.

Improving oil spill preparedness and response in Santa Barbara
April 5, 2019 – Santa Barbara, CA
This day-long workshop, part of a national series , convened practitioners and stakeholders to address social and economic dimensions of oil spills, public health, public communication, spill prevention, and identify research needs for future oil spill response.

Mid-Atlantic oil spill – Are we ready?
March 29, 2019 – Virginia Beach, VA
This workshop, part of a national series , brought together community members and experts in emergency management, health, and the environment to discuss what oil spills in our region mean to its health, economy, and well-being and to set priorities to address these issues.

Birds & oil spills
February 28, 2019 – Baton Rouge, LA
This Sea Grant/U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service seminar focused on a variety of topics related to oil spills and birds, including toxicological effects, impacts to marsh dwelling and migratory species, as well as response, rehabilitation, and monitoring efforts.

Setting priorities for health, social, and economic disruptions from spills in Alaska: Learning from the past, preparing for the future
February 20-21, 2019 – Anchorage, AK
The workshop focused public health and social and economic disruption from spills in three parts: lessons learned from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, the current state of Alaskan spill readiness, and how to prepare for the next technological disaster.

Prioritizing health and oil spill preparedness
December 4-5, 2018 – Houma, LA
At the first regional meeting in the National Academies/GoMRI/Sea Grant collaborative workshop series series, experts and attendees shared ideas about improving preparedness and response regarding human health in Louisiana and the northern Gulf area.

Technology used to study oil spills, Part 2
August 29, 2018 – Ocean Springs, MS
Scientists highlighted unmanned surface and aerial vehicles and other technologies used to study oil spills in this follow up to the popular 2016 seminar Technology and Deepwater Horizon.

Oil in the aquatic environment: Sources, fate, effects, monitoring, and response options 

These online learning modules are a three-part series based on presentations from the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry meeting in Orlando, FL in 2016. Topics include crude oil chemistry, fate, and transformation, as well as spill management and response options.

Oil spill response, assessment, and restoration: Marine mammals
March 29, 2018 – Galveston, TX
Scientists and other experts discussed recent findings related to marine mammals and oil spills, research gaps, long term monitoring needs, and the best ways to integrate marine mammal research, response, assessment, and restoration.

Break Glass in Case of Emergency
March 28, 2018 – Corolla, NC
While drilling for oil does not currently occur in the Mid-Atlantic, there is potential for incidents due to area refineries and to petroleum products moving through the region. Key pieces of “back pocket” information were shared with the Sea Grant programs in the mid-Atlantic in case of disaster.

Sharing science effectively: Know your audience and speak their language
February 5, 2018 – New Orleans, LA
This workshop helped scientists learn techniques for communicating research and results to a variety of audiences, both technical and non-technical.

Responding to oil spills: Offshore and deep sea habitats
 January 9, 2018 –  Lacombe, LA
The third installment of a three-part series, scientists, emergency responders, and industry professionals came together to share results and learn more about offshore spill response, covering topics such as preparedness, source control, in-situ burning, and dispersants.

Responding to oil spills: Nearshore & beach habitats
November 13, 2017 –  Mobile, AL
The second installment of a three-part seminar series, this meeting allowed researchers and responders to share information regarding oil spills in a beach environment.

Responding to oil spills: Coastal wetland habitats
October 26, 2017 – Biloxi, MS
This was the first in a regional seminar series that provided a forum for oil spill science researchers and responders to share thoughts on best practices.

Oil spill science for healthy island communities
August 10, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and  August 11, San Juan, Puerto Rico
This pair of meetings explored how oil spill science impacts island communities.

Crude move symposium: Oil transportation infrastructure, economics, risk, hazards, and lessons learned
 June 8-9, 2017-Cleveland, OH
This meeting focused on the complexity of crude oil movement through the Great Lakes region.

Sea turtles & oil spills
March 23, 2017 – Brownsville TX
This seminar explored how sea turtles fared during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and discuss ongoing conservation and restoration efforts.

Exploring the intersection between oil spill science and response
February 6, 2017 – New Orleans, LA
This workshop created an environment where local scientists working on oil spill research and local emergency responders could clearly communicate their needs and form partnerships with one another.

Oil spill science & information needs for Gulf & Caribbean regional stakeholders
November 8, 2016 – Grand Cayman
This workshop at the Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) 69th annual conference brought together GCFI attendees and interested local and regional stakeholders to discuss information needs on the topics of regional connectivity and oil spills.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill – The discoveries and outreach
November 7, 2016 – Orlando, FL
This special session on Deepwater Horizon was held at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) 7th Annual World Congress/37th North America Meeting and shared the challenges of relaying scientific outcomes to the public.

Building resilient communities: Lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
September 27, 2016 – Long Beach, MS
This seminar identified traits that made communities more resilient after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, discussed programs and resources available to communities, shared lessons learned in overcoming disasters, and suggested ways to strengthen resiliency.

Technology & Deepwater Horizon
August 30, 2016 – Miami, FL
This seminar gave attendees a glimpse of the technologies used during DWH oil spill or that came about as a result of it.

Sharing Gulf science discoveries for management
June 14, 2016 – Baton Rouge, LA
The objective of this seminar was to share science that is applicable for management use.

Where did the oil go?
April 14, 2016 – Mobile, AL
Scientists shared their work and results of their latest research on topics such as oil on the seafloor, oil weathering, sedimentation, and marine snow.

Chilling with your chums: How did the oil spill impact Gulf fisheries?
April 6, 2016 – Austin, TX
Local scientists shared the impacts that the oil spill had on individual and populations of fish.

Beyond the Response: A look at the science and policy behind dispersants
December 15, 2015 – Webinar
Scientific topics covered include toxicity testing of chemical dispersants, development of new dispersants, and efficacy of dispersant formulations. Legal and policy issues were considered as well – including the EPA proposed rule (Subpart J) to the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).

Exploring oil spill impacts in the deep Gulf of Mexico
Dec 8, 2015 – Corpus Christi, TX
Scientists presented published work about deep sea dispersant use and the impacts of Deepwater Horizon oil spill on corals and on the seafloor.

Healthy Gulf seafood
Nov 18, 2015 – Long Beach, MS
Scientists and agency staff talked about how they tested seafood during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, how fish and other animals break down oil and other contaminants, and how scientists monitoring seafood to keep consumers safe.

Oil spill science: An overview
Oct 21, 2015 – Long Beach, MS
The oil spill science specialists’ presentations focused on the impact that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill had on habitats, aquatic wildlife, and human health.

Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to Gulf wetlands
August 11, 2015 – Slidell, LA
Scientists presented published work regarding the impacts of Deepwater Horizon to Gulf wetlands. Specific topics that were covered included ecosystem effects, impacts to marsh life, and shoreline response and restoration.

Navigating shifting sands: Oil on our beaches
August 5, 2015 – Pensacola, FL
Scientists shared their work to answer lingering questions about oil that washed up on Alabama and Florida beaches during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Impacts of oil on coastal habitats
July 22, 2015 – Temple Terrace, FL
Scientists shared their work about the effects of oil on mangroves, wetlands, marshes, and beaches.

Understanding the toxicity of oil and dispersant mixtures and the development of alternative dispersants
May 20, 2015 – Lafayette, LA
Scientists gave a brief history and explanation of chemical dispersants, bacteria-based dispersants, and the impacts of oil and dispersants on near-shore environments and fish.

Bridging the gap between oil spill researchers and responders workshop
April 14, 2015 – Port Aransas, TX
The primary purpose of this workshop was to share oil spill science and increase communication between researchers, natural resource managers, and emergency responders.

Five years later, what have we learned?
March 18, 2015 – Point Clear, AL
Scientists presented the latest fisheries-related research about the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and dispersant application on Gulf of Mexico habitats, communities, and individual species.

Natural resource management seminar & workshop
February 16 and 19, 2015 – Houston, TX
Natural resource managers attended a seminar by Dr. Nancy Rabalais and participated in an input session to determine additional oil spill science needs.

Texas master naturalist seminar
January 13, 2015
This seminar was presented to the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists to share with them the emerging science regarding oil spill impacts to fisheries.

Featured image: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium