13-05-05
Thurso Expert to Talk on Climate Change

A Thurso-based scientific expert is to take part in a special conference on how global climate change could affect the Moray Firth area.
John Coll, of the Environmental Research Institute UHI, will join fellow climate change expert James Curran, of SEPA, to lead discussions at the event, which takes place at the Highland Council chambers in Inverness next week.
The Moray Firth Partnership conference will also feature a presentation from Talisman Energy on the Beatrice wind farm demonstration project.
John Coll recently hit the headlines as co-author of a report which warned that the devastation caused by this January's storms could be just a taste of things to come.
Delegates at the conference will discuss what local people in the area can do to prevent such devastation in the Moray Firth and attend a workshop to find out more.
Vanessa Halhead, joint partnership manager at the Moray Firth Partnership, said the conference will be of interest to anyone who wants to find out about some of the most vital issues facing the Moray Firth.
She said: "As well as the plenary and workshop on climate change, delegates will be able to hear about the Beatrice wind farm demonstrator project direct from Talisman Energy UK.
"The day will be packed with interesting discussions about the future of our area, including workshops on coastal heritage and Moray Firth fisheries."
She continued: "At the end of the day delegates will be able to attend a presentation on the future of the Moray Firth, followed by a debate, where they will be able to raise any topics they wish and contribute to planning the future work of the Moray Firth Partnership."
The Moray Firth Partnership's annnual conference will be opened by Maureen Macmillan MSP and is supported by Chevron Texaco.

For more information about the conference and tickets, log on to www.morayfirth-partnership.org or call 01463 225530

alternatively contact:
John.Coll@thurso.uhi.ac.uk