The world is changing rapidly, and the highly fragmented nature of Tallgrass Prairie will greatly reduce the ability of this ecosystem to respond to these changes. As a result, the future of Tallgrass Prairie will depend heavily on our actions in the coming decades. Set in this reality, the 2019 Iowa Prairie Conference, with a theme of “Ensuring the Future of Prairie,” will be held at Central College, in Pella, on August 8 to 10, 2019.
The Iowa Prairie Conference is open to anyone interested in prairies. Natural resource managers, educators, students, and prairie enthusiasts will gather for education, discussion and networking opportunities. The conference will open on Thursday with a morning of work spent at a remnant prairie at Reichelt Unit of Rock Creek State Park.
Official conference activities will then open at Central College at 1 PM on Thursday, August 8. Featured speakers include Jesse Nippert, Associate Professor of Biology at Kansas State University discussing the impact of climate change on Tallgrass Prairie; Justin Glisan, the State Climatologist of Iowa discussing the impact of climate change in Iowa; and James Bever, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Kansas University discussing the importance of soil bacteria and fungi on prairie biology and reconstruction.
Additionally, conference attendees will attend a “posters in the prairie” session highlighting research at Central College’s Prairies For Agriculture Project, and an open presentation session will be held.
Individuals interested in giving presentations should submit a title and abstract to Russ Benedict (benedictr@central.edu) – see additional information about abstract submission below.
Last, and often the highlight of the conference, several field trips will take attendees to local remnant prairies and research sites. Field trips will be held in the morning to (hopefully) beat the August heat.
Conference Registration is open to anyone and costs $80 per person / $60 per student; after July 1, registration costs increase by $20 per person. Questions can be addressed to Russ Benedict, Professor of Biology at Central College (benedictr@central.edu; 641-628-5173).
Abstract submission information – coming soon!
Registration form – coming soon!
