Save the Date for the Fourth Annual Johnston Symposium
Local author David Gessner signs copies of his books for 2024 Johnston Symposium guests
Since 2022, the Bald Head Island Conservancy has hosted the Johnston Coastal Sustainability Symposium each April, inviting experts to discuss environmental, social, and economic issues related to barrier island sustainability. This year marks the fourth annual Symposium, and we hope you will mark your calendars to join us on Tuesday April 8 for another round of enlightening presentations and conversations! The theme for 2025 is “smart decision-making”—if we are to sustain Bald Head Island for as long as possible, there is much we need to learn to ensure our community and island leadership make smart decisions to protect BHI’s future.
The annual Symposium is a cornerstone of the Conservancy’s Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability, which was established in 2021 to serve as hub for sustainability initiatives on Bald Head Island. The Center’s mission is to promote the conservation and preservation of our coastal resources, and this mission can only succeed if the public are educated and engaged about the challenges facing our island.
Dick Johnston provides concluding remarks following the 2024 Symposium’s round table discussion
This year, Symposium attendees will hear from panelists with expertise in coastal processes and engineering, sea level rise, and resource economics and management. As part of the 2025 Symposium, attendees will hear from Coastal Sustainability Graduate Fellow Brittany Morse from UNCW, who will be discussing her thesis work evaluating how the boundaries of Bald Head Creek may change under different sea level rise scenarios. Additionally, Dr. Joe Long, who leads the Coastal Engineering Department at UNCW, will give the dinner lecture at the BHI Club discussing his project evaluating the physical and biological dynamics of Frying Pan Shoals which is the target location for future beach renourishment projects.
A huge thank you to Dick and Pat Johnston for sponsoring the Bald Head Island Conservancy’s Coastal Sustainability Center initiative. Stay tuned for registration details!
