Annual Session 2006-Solomon Islands









CALL FOR PAPERS

Marine scientists, geoscientists and geotechnologists working in the SOPAC Region (South Pacific and Micronesia) are invited to contribute and present papers describing recent research and development results during the Science, Technology and Resources Network (STAR) sessions at SOPAC's 35th Annual Session and
contribute to discussions of SOPAC's future programme as part of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG). This year, the major theme of STAR will be:

"Natural Resources Governance"

Particularly with respect to minerals, energy, ocean and water resources, in the SOPAC region.

However, papers on any aspect of Pacific geoscience are welcomed for consideration. STAR will open on Wednesday September 20th and STAR sessions (presentation of papers, posters and working group meetings) will be held from Wednesday 20th to Friday 22nd September, with a field trip arranged for Saturday 23rd September 2006. For more information about SOPAC and the Annual Session of Governing Council, contact the Secretariat or visit the SOPAC homepage www.sopac.org.

With the new SOPAC Strategic Plan 2005 to 2009, the Secretariat's Technical Work Programme is divided into three key areas: managing Ocean and Islands, developing Community Lifelines, and managing Community Risk. More details of these technical programmes can be found on the SOPAC Homepage.

Please complete the Registration Form and return it by August 4th 2006.

For those intending to present papers, please note that an Abstract Is Required and should be sent EITHER By email to: john.collen@vuw.ac.nz OR By Fax to John Collen at +64 4 4635186 by 4th August 2006.

The Abstract should have a maximum length of 2 pages, including diagrams, and must include at the top of the page the Title, Authors, and their full affiliations and contact details, with email addresses. If submitting electronically, please include diagrams as PICT or TIFF files; If submitting by fax, please airmail a copy of each diagram to reach John Collen by 4th August 2006, for inclusion in the Abstracts Volume.

Please indicate whether your preference is for a poster or an oral presentation. Available time may limit the number of oral presentations possible. Abstracts received after 4th August may not be accepted into the programme.

Accommodation and travel details will be sent in a second Information Circular in May 2006, once conference venues and cost details for hotel accommodation have been confirmed.

About STAR

STAR (SOPAC's Science, Technology and Resources Network) was founded in 1985 in collaboration with UNESCO/IOC. STAR was formed as a vehicle to assist the international research community to provide advice to SOPAC, particularly during the intervals between SOPAC International Workshops. The inaugural Chairman,
Dr Charles Helsley, was succeeded in 1992 by Professor Keith Crook and Dr John Collen was elected Chair in 1999.

STAR sessions are not merely technical meetings at which individuals present scientific papers and discuss results and implications. Participants have the additional responsibility of formulating advice to SOPAC concerning its Work Programme and of highlighting technical and scientific issues of particular importance or urgency. This advice, in the form of reports and recommendations from STAR Working Groups, and rapporteurs’reports on highlights of STAR technical presentations, is tendered to Council both formally and during joint TAG/Council sessions of the Annual Session and all STAR participants are invited and urged to participate in this phase of the meeting.

One of the great strengths of SOPAC is its ability to mobilize excellent science and bring it to bear so as to address the national needs of SOPAC's island member countries. The long-established working relationship between SOPAC and the international research community is a vital element in this endeavour, and one that STAR is charged to nurture. This relationship stimulated a major change in the geoscience database in the SOPAC region during the 1980's.

Initially STAR was primarily concerned with "blue-water" marine geoscience, tectonics and resources. However, in response to island countries’ changing needs and priorities STAR has expanded its scope to cover several other technical fields, so as to ensure that the relationship between SOPAC and the scientific community remains a relevant and working one. These are covered in SOPAC's Work Programme and its new Strategic Plan, which all participants should examine. STAR actively seeks a broad spectrum of participation to ensure that SOPAC's Work Programme and its forward planning are influenced by international science and technology that is both excellent and relevant. SOPAC's track record demonstrates that this approach is synergistic,forwarding both national needs and fundamental research.

A significant part of STAR's input comes through Working Groups, several of which will meet during the Annual Session. STAR Working Groups offer delegates an opportunity to raise and highlight issues in geoscience which are of significance to SOPAC and the Pacific community. Past STAR Working Groups have included Energy, Hazards, Habitats & Ocean Observing Systems, Water, and Coastal & Nearshore Processes.

John Collen, Chair, STAR Joe Buleka, Vice-Chair, STAR: