1. An International Conference that Examines the Issues of Yesterday, the Challenges of Today, and the Opportunities for Tomorrow Altered Landscapes and Environmental Response to Transformations (ALERT)

2. An International Conference that Examines the Issues of Yesterday, the Challenges of Today, and the Opportunities for Tomorrow Altered Landscapes and Environmental Response to Transformations (ALERT)

3. An International Conference that Examines the Issues of Yesterday, the Challenges of Today, and the Opportunities for Tomorrow Altered Landscapes and Environmental Response to Transformations (ALERT) Discussion Areas Coupled human, biological and physical systems Land, resources and the built environment Freshwater resources Disruption of natural cycles and associated ecological impacts Sustainability education

4. An International Conference that Examines the Issues of Yesterday, the Challenges of Today, and the Opportunities for Tomorrow Participating Organizations Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey Research Center for Coastal Geology, China Geological Survey Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University US National Science Foundation, Geosciences Directorate US Geological Survey University of Florida Texas A&M University* *Sustainable Coastal Margins Program, the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, and the Departments of Oceanography, Geography, and Civil Engineering Altered Landscapes and Environmental Response to Transformations (ALERT)

5. An International Conference that Examines the Issues of Yesterday, the Challenges of Today, and the Opportunities for Tomorrow Coastal and Ocean Observing, Monitoring, and Assessment Climate Change, Coastal Resources and Human Populations Water Quality, Systems, and Diversions Altered Sediment Transport, Fluid Dynamics, Ecosystems and Habitats Ecosystem Inventories and Landscape Ecology Fate and Effect of Anthropogenic Chemicals Urban Sprawl and Smart Growth Aquatic Invasive Species Best Practices for Conservation Multi-hazard Forecasts and Planning Altered Landscapes and Environmental Response to Transformations (ALERT) Research Themes

6. An International Conference that Examines the Issues of Yesterday, the Challenges of Today, and the Opportunities for Tomorrow Potential Funding Sources China and US Agencies – China and US NSF (US-International Programs, Biocomplexity, LTERs), International Sea Grant, NOAA/SOA, EPA, USGS/CGS International Programs – UNEP, UNDP, USAID (USAEP) Foundations – John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation*, the Asia Foundation *Conservation and Sustainable Development Program Altered Landscapes and Environmental Response to Transformations (ALERT) Types of Activities Exchange of faculty, researchers, and students Collaborative research programs Joint workshops, seminars, training courses