IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS:THE CONFERENCE SPONSORS SHARE A GOAL TO IMPROVE SOCIETY S ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE GULF OF MEXICO ECOSYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES HUMANS, TO ENSURE ITS LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS IS UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF PETROLEUM POLLUTION AND RELATED STRESSORS ON THE MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS, AS IT WILL SUPPORT FUTURE RESPONSE, MITIGATION, AND RESTORATION FOLLOWING SPILLS. BUT THE GULF IS A DYNAMIC AND COMPLEX SYSTEM THAT IS FACING SEVERAL ISSUES, SUCH AS NON-PETROLEUM POLLUTION, HYPOXIA, COASTAL DEVELOPMENT, EROSION AND INUNDATION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS CONFERENCE WILL ENGAGE AND BUILD A COMMUNITY OF RESEARCHERS WORKING ON ALL ASPECTS OF GULF OF MEXICO ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE AND INITIATE DIALOGUE WITH THE USERS OF THAT INFORMATION. THROUGH CONFERENCE PLENARY AND BREAKOUT SESSIONS, THE CONFERENCE WILL PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY IN THE GULF OF MEXICO (NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, FUNDED THROUGH THE GOMRI PROGRAM AS WELL AS OTHER FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL SUPPORT) TO SHARE THEIR LATEST SCIENTIFIC RESULTS TO: BRING GREATER CONTEXT AND INTEGRATION TO ONGOING RESEARCH; SHARE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO INITIATE DIALOGUE ABOUT HOW RESEARCH WILL IMPACT PROCESSES FOR POLICY, CONSERVATION, AND MANAGEMENT; AND ENHANCE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE GULF OF MEXICO ECOSYSTEM. THE CONFERENCE WILL ALSO HIGHLIGHT STUDENT RESEARCH. THE CONFERENCE WILL NOT INCLUDE SESSIONS ON NRDA SCIENCE OR STATUS. ANTICIPATED ATTENDANCE: 1,000 CONFIRMED OR PROVISIONAL SPEAKERS (WITH AFFILIATION AND SUBJECT TITLES): SESSION SPEAKERS DETERMINED VIA ABSTRACT SUBMISSION AND PLENARY SPEAKERS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. RELEVANCE AND ACCESSIBILITY TO NASA AND NASA-SUPPORTED SCIENTISTS: THE PRIMARY THEME OF THE CONFERENCE IS FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT OF PETROLEUM POLLUTION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REGION AND THE IMPACTS OF OIL SPILLS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REGION. NASA HAS BEEN STUDYING THE IMPACTS OF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON INCIDENT, PARTICULARLY NASA S ABILITY TO REMOTELY SENSE AND TRACK PETROLEUM IN THE ENVIRONMENT. NASA WILL BE ONE OF OUR PRIMARY CONTRIBUTORS OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO THE CONFERENCE AND WILL BENEFIT FROM OTHER SCIENCE THAT WILL BE PRESENTED. SCIENTISTS WORKING FOR AND FUNDED BY NASA ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE BY SUBMITTING SESSION PROPOSALS AND ABSTRACTS. A NASA REPRESENTATIVE IS REQUESTED TO SERVE ON THE CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO AID IN AGENDA-SETTING AND OTHER DECISION MAKING WITH RESPECT TO CONFERENCE GOALS AND CONTENT. OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING (CONFIRMED AND PROVISIONAL): CONFIRMED: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION,