The Joint Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies is hosting public health officials and academics to discuss oceans and human health.The Joint Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies aims to create awareness of baseline human health issues, such as pulmonary health and infectious diseases, to understand how they relate to the underlying health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. There is a need to better understand environmental toxins, including bacteria and viruses, found naturally in the Gulf and the changes created by discharges and runoff. For example, the recent red tide outbreaks have been associated with higher rates of emergency room visits by asthmatics. What are the triggering agents for these attacks, and how might the public be better protected? This workshop intends to hear from state public health officials on health concerns they are seeing, and from academics on the status of ongoing research relating oceans and human health. At the workshop’s end, the Joint Institute hopes to propose a way ahead for research initiatives to better understand how Gulf coastal communities are being affected by harmful algal blooms and other toxins, and develop programs with health services and biological and chemical scientists.For more information and to register: Oceans and Human Health Workshop