2008 (UMass-Boston)
The 2008 Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium was held at the University of Massachusetts–Boston on October 3, 2008. The event highlighted research from the islands and surrounding waters, ranging from insects in the "micro-wilderness" to breeding birds, eroding drumlins, tracking intertidal organisms to determine the effects of sea level rise, and an update on water quality indicators. Presentation abstracts give a sense of the symposium.

After the presentations, Superintendent Bruce Jacobson lead a discussion about research needs in the park. The day was capped off with a panel discussion, "Addressing Nature Deficit Disorder." Closing remarks were given by Beth Johnson. Special thanks to our Urban Harbors Institute hosts.

» 2008 Science Symposium Flyer [PDF]

Interviews with those involved in the symposium provide a closer look at the event and its outcomes, the park and its relationship to the public, and the research being done at Boston Harbor Islands:

• Jack Wiggin - Executive Director, Urban Harbors Institute
• Marc Albert - Stewardship Program Manager, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area 
• Bruce Jacobson - Superintendent, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
  

2003 (Museum of Science)
The October 2003 Boston Harbor Islands Science Symposium was held at the Boston Museum of Science. Following an introduction by Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Chair of Boston Harbor Islands Partnership, Bruce Jacobson and Robin Snyder of National Park Service presented "The Role of Scientific Inquiry in National Parks and Other Protected Areas." The day then progressed through a series of presentations and posters highlighting current research. The keyonte "Islands: Sanctuaries, Laboratories and Classrooms of Biodiversity" presented by Edward O. Wilson, Professor Emeritus at Harvard University, was the final item on the agenda. A series of fieldtrips was also available to those who attended the Symposium.

Several studies highlighted at the symposium were published in a special issue of the Northeastern Naturalist  (Vol. 12, Special Issue 3, 2005). See "Abstracts" for articles in that special issue, along with abstracts of Symposium presentations and posters.

2002 (MIT)
During Biodiversity Days 2002 (May 30–June 3), the public was invited to explore the rich diversity of life of Boston Harbor Islands national park area. We offered a mainland seminar, and field trips in Hull and on the Boston Harbor Islands.

The day-long Biodiversity Seminar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology brought together scientists studying the Boston Harbor Islands and park managers. It was a precursor to the 2003 Science Symposium. Speakers included Gary Davis, National Park Service Scientist from Channel Islands National Park in California, and Bob Durand, Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs. Proceedings of the May 2002 seminar were published by MIT Sea Grant:

» Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area 2002 Islands Biodiversity: Proceedings of a Seminar, May 30, 2002 (MIT Sea Grant College Program Publication No 03-22. Jacobson, Bruce and Pederson, Judith. 2003.)[PDF, 978KB]