The GEOHAB Core Research Project (CRP) on HABs in Fjords and Coastal Embayments will hold an Open Science Meeting to review and update research on the role of life history and growth dynamics in the control of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal environments and to identify key objectives for future international studies. Justification During the first Open Science Meeting of this CRP, held in 2004 in Chile, seven research priorities were identified to further our understanding of HAB dynamics in fjords and coastal embayments. Since then, significant progress has been made in evaluating these processes and mechanisms involved in HAB dynamics, notably with respect to genetic diversity, life history of key harmful species, allelochemical and toxic interactions affecting HAB populations, and the importance of coastal morphology, hydrodynamics and associated physical retention or dispersion of cells within the coastal zone. Examples of this recent progress include predictions of blooms based upon extrapolation from cyst mapping in the Gulf of Maine, identification of putative allelochemicals and the role of toxins in chemical defense against predators and competitors, detection of cryptic diversity in many key species, challenging our identification capabilities but also opening a new perspective on the complex structure of HAB populations, and understanding how stratification contains blooms in northern Monterey Bay at the same time that bay circulation advects the bloom to new locations. Organizers: Allan Cembella, Leonardo Guzmán, Marina Montresor, Vera Pospelova and Suzanne Roy (Local Organizing Committee = Suzanne Roy and Vera Pospelova) Contact: Dr. S. Roy at Suzanne_Roy@uqar.ca