Unless otherwise noted, all sessions will take place in the Illini Union. To accommodate those unable to travel, plenary sessions will be livestreamed. Please indicate your mode of attendance in the registration form to receive the Zoom link.
Day by Day Agenda
Tuesday, August 5
| Time | Session Information | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00am - 12:00pm | Climate Modeling Workshop
Climate variability and climate change, past-present-future, are important drivers of ecological change and impacts. While weather and climate data are seemingly ubiquitous, this widespread availability is accompanied by a minefield of limitations, caveats, and unwritten norms and best practices. Additionally, lack of easy accessibility and usability of the petabytes of climate data that are available for ecologists remain significant barriers to advancing collaborative climate-ecology work. This workshop will cover climate data from historical through the present into future periods, with focus on (1) benefits and limitations of datasets and (2) best practices for using these data for ecology research. Workshop participants will be provided hands-on experience with several datasets. This session is designed for early career researchers, but open to all attendees. If possible, please bring a laptop or tablet to use, and create a free account on Climate Engine beforehand to actively participate in one of the demos. | Illini C |
| 12:00 - 1:00pm | Break | |
| 1:00 - 2:30pm | Workshop on Data Viz and Mapping for Climate Science: Enhancing Your Research With Powerful Visuals Kelsey Taylor, Stamen Design In research and science alike, showing is as important as telling. In this session, we will discuss best practices in data visualization and mapping for climate research, then put those guidelines to the test in a hands-on, interactive workshop. This session is open to all attendees. Please bring a laptop or tablet to use. | Illini C |
MW CASC Community of Practice Meeting A working meeting for members of the MW CASC Community of Practice. Yisa Ginath Yuh, postdoctoral researcher leading the MW CASC synthesis research project at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will present on climate refugia mapping. | Room 210 Livestream | |
| 2:30pm - 3:00pm | Break | |
| 3:00 - 4:30pm | Consortium Leadership Meeting A working meeting for members of the MW CASC Consortium Leadership Team. | Room 213 |
| 5:00 - 7:30pm | Welcome Night: Dinner & Networking Get to know our UIUC hosts and fellow attendees over dinner at the Illini Union. We will gather outdoors on the South Patio, if weather permits. Food provided. | Illini Union |
Wednesday, August 6
| Time | Session Information | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 - 7:30am | Optional: Social Activity Join the WRASC-als (Walkers and Runners of the MW CASC) for a group excursion. Walkers and runners of all fitness levels are welcome to join. | Meet at 6:30am outside of the Illini Union Hotel. |
| 8:00 - 9:00am | Registration & Coffee | Illini C |
| 9:00 - 9:30am | Opening Remarks | Illini C Livestream |
| 9:30 - 10:15am | Climate Change & Insect Population Declines May Berenbaum, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Dr. Berenbaum will explore how the loss of winter impacts pollinators in the Midwest, contributing factors to the broader insect decline, and implications for management practices. | Illini C Livestream |
| 10:15 - 10:45am | Break | |
| 10:45 - 11:30am | Research Lightning Talks
| Illini C Livestream |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Panel Discussion: The Interface of Natural Resource Management and Working Lands
The mission of the MW CASC through our cooperative agreement with USGS is "delivering science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people in the Midwest adapt to a changing climate,” and as such the focus tends to be on adaptation related to natural and cultural resources. However, Midwest practitioners are thinking about adaptation planning on and across a variety of landscapes, including the very relevant nexus of working landscapes and natural resources. In this panel, our experts will share their research that informs how decisions are assessed and plans created in this multifaceted space. | Illini C Livestream |
| 12:30 - 2:00pm | Lunch Break Lunch will not be provided, but there are many nearby restaurant options. | |
Lunch Session for Early Career Researchers: Research Storytelling Workshop Esther Ngumbi, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign This workshop is for early career researchers interested in using storytelling to amplify their science. Participants will learn about the power of storytelling in science communication and learn how to craft compelling narratives using creative story arcs that enhance impact. This session will also introduce a variety of multimedia formats to improve accessibility and the reach of their science stories. Time permitting, participants will draft an outline for a short, research-informed story and receive feedback to refine their narrative. Please bring a laptop or tablet to use. Boxed lunches provided for those who RSVP'd. | Room 210 | |
Community of Practice Networking Session An informal networking session for current and prospective members of the MW CASC Community of Practice. Pizza provided. | Illini B | |
| 2:00 - 3:00pm | Breakout Session: Changing Fire Management Practices on Midwest Landscapes
The use of fire to take care of habitats and landscapes has a long history in the MWCASC region and is essential for restoring and maintaining disturbance-mediated ecosystems such as grasslands and oak savannas. With expected climate change, however, wildfire is a growing concern to the ecological integrity of many natural systems within the region. Expert panelists in this session will discuss these issues and the adaptive role of fire and ecological disturbance might play in the Midwest. | Illini C |
Breakout Session: Cultural Resources & Climate Change
Cultural resources, such as historic sites and architecture, ancestral places and traditions tied to them, and community institutions like museums and cultural centers, are just as vulnerable to climate change as natural resources. This breakout session presents an opportunity to explore the significance of cultural resources in the Midwest, discuss current efforts and future needs for their protection, and promote integrating cultural and natural domains to build climate resilience. | Room 314A | |
Breakout Session: Lessons Learned from Long-Term Data Management
This session explores how long-term ecological monitoring informs management decisions, drawing on insights from The Nature Conservancy’s Grasslands Monitoring Project and the Illinois River Biological Station’s long-term resource monitoring work at Emiquon Preserve and the upper Mississippi. In this discussion, speakers will share lessons learned and discuss issues such as sustaining programs across staff/organizational transitions, balancing consistency with innovation, and making data accessible and actionable. | Room 314B | |
| 3:00 - 4:30pm | Poster Session Learn about the work of MW CASC researchers and graduate students. Light refreshments provided. | Illini B |
| 4:30 - 6:00pm | Field Trip to UIUC Arboretum Attendees are invited to explore the UIUC Arboretum, located about 1.5 mi from the Illini Union. This visit is unstructured, though a map will be shared for those interested in following a self-guided tour. There is an additional option to join a guided tour of the Arboretum's Japan House Dry Rock Gardens during this time. If you would like to join the waitlist for this tour, please email [email protected]. | UIUC Arboretum |
| 6:30 - 8:00pm | Early Career Researcher Networking Activity Calling all students, postdoctoral researchers, and other early career scientists! Get to know your peers and connect with professionals to learn about different career pathways at this casual and fun networking event. Appetizers provided. | Murphy's Pub |
| 6:30pm | Game Night Have fun and spark conversations by playing climate-themed board games! Hosted by MW CASC Tribal Resilience Liaisons Sara Smith & Ally Scott. | Rec Room - Illini Union Lower Level |
Thursday, August 7
| Time | Session Information | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:15am | Opening Remarks | Illini C Livestream |
| 9:15 - 9:45am | UIUC's Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment: Building Interdisciplinary Teams for Climate Solutions Jeremy Guest, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illini C Livestream |
| 9:45 - 10:45am | Panel Discussion: Restoration & Adaptation at Illinois Beach State Park
This panel discussion will explore a multi-year collaborative effort to protect and restore coastal habitats at Illinois Beach State Park. Speakers will discuss shoreline erosion research, habitat monitoring, and the design and implementation of a shoreline protection project supported by the The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, NOAA, the state of Illinois, and others. Insights from engineering, ecological monitoring, and species conservation efforts will illustrate how local work is informing broader coastal resilience planning. | Illini C Livestream |
| 10:45 - 11:00am | Break | |
| 11:00am - 12:00pm | Plenary Session: Climate Change, Wildfire, and Human Health Colleen Reid, University of Colorado Boulder Wildfires are an increasing source of air pollution that affects the health of populations, often traversing long distances to do so and in that way affecting populations that didn’t previously think about wildfire smoke. Dr. Colleen Reid will give a talk about what is known and what are open scientific questions about the health impacts of wildfire smoke. She will also discuss how prescribed fire and landscape management have been proposed as ecosystem management options for decreasing risks of wildfire smoke, as well as talking about how the public health community addresses these risks. | Illini C Livestream |
| 12:00 - 12:15pm | Closing Remarks | Illini C Livestream |
| 12:30 - 4:30pm | Optional: Offsite Field Trip Join us for a guided tour of sites of interest at Allerton Park, located approximately a 40 min. drive from campus. We'll park and meet near the Allerton Music Barn: 588 Allerton Rd, Monticello, IL 61856. Attendees are encouraged to drive/carpool on their own, but a group transport option will also be provided. We plan to be back onsite at the Illini Union by 4:30pm. Dress for being outdoors! | Leaving from Illini Union |