Exploring different avenues of communication and information exchange
As an international organization with members scattered in different countries of the (Indo-Malay) Asia Pacific and beyond, the Society recognises it very important to create, for its members, the opportunities of meeting regularly and exchanging views. Despite being in a 'cyber age', such direct contacts among scientists still constitute the most powerful and effective means of communication and indeed 'drives' for change. For this reason, the Society will endeavour to offer varied opportunities of meetings, symposia, etc.
The SCESAP also recognises the importance of offering students and young/upcoming scientists in Asia Pacific countries courses which are useful for developing their skills and increasing their knowledge. In particular, the Society is well placed to organise and facilitate international courses in the Asia Pacific.
Symposia and other Society meetings
The SCESAP is planning to have two types of scientific meetings: symposia which will be held every other year and workshops and other meetings in years between symposia, meaning that the Society will meet on an annual basis. As the Society can count on a number of regional offices conveniently located in geographical terms, meetings will be held in rotation in different countries.
Courses
The Society is a focal point of gathering information on and advertising relevant student courses on offer in the Asia Pacific and beyond. The courses organised by the Society are offered to SCESAP student members at a discount. Marine Field Courses at the Amakusa Marine Biological Laboratory, Kyushu University, are now offered every year to international students, as a coperative venture between the SCESAP and the AMBL- Kyushu University. Apart from students, visitors are welcome as voluntary instructors/teachers in these courses. Other courses will be announced as they become available. Please notify the HQ [ enquiry(at mark)scesap.org ], if you you know/are organising courses that may be incorporated into the SCESAP.
Publications and Networking
The SCESAP has its own server facility that allows the Society to respond to the needs of our international members in a reliable, flexible manner. In these days of fast internet connection, the importance of digital information exchange cannot be over-emphasised and the Society is prepared to take the full advantage of such facilities and technologies to connect members and help them disseminate their reseach results and exchange information.
Publications
Various options of publishing are under consideration by the Society, apart from its Bulletin and the journal Coastal Ecosystems. A special volume of Hydrobiologia entitled "Biodiversity in Changing Coastal Waters of Tropical and Subtropical Asia" has appeared as the Society's first publication. In the future, special volumes of "Coastal Ecology" will be be published.
SCESAP Mailing Network
The SCESAP Mailing Network ("scesnet") will be operated as a fast and 'live' information-exchange system.
In addition to ordinary posting of information relevant to the Society members, SCESNET aims to be a forum for fast information exchange, e.g.questions-answers system, such that questions concerning scientific and other matters of relevance to the Society can be resolved (or helped to be resolved) through mutual cooperation of members.
Facebook/Twitter/etc
In order to explore diverse means of communication, the SCESAP will be involved in these: volunteer managers are always welcome to work on behalf of the Society.
Student Forum (international student committee) and other Ad Hoc committees
Student Forum
As a future-looking society, the SCESAP considers contributions by students very important. The SCESAP Student Forum welcomes its student members to let them exchange information/views/opinions and to organise activities within the framework of SCESAP. The SCESAP Student Forum is designed to give students a congenial and collegial space in international format, whereby new members in particular will have an easy opportunity to get to know their peers and to participate in the Society's activities.
Ad hoc committees
The Society is designed to have utmost flexibility in responding to the needs identified by its members and others. Thus ad hoc committees will be organised as soon as needs are recognised by the Society's Permanent Council.
We are open to suggestions.
Enquiries
Enquiries should be directed to SCESAP HQ: enquiry(at mark)scesap.org
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SCESAP HQ. All Rights Reserved.