29th Latornell Conservation Symposium 2024

Our theme this year is COLLABORATION: The Future of Conservation is Collaborative.

In a world facing unprecedented environmental challenges, collaboration is key to finding effective and innovative solutions. Through this theme, we will explore and promote partnerships to drive positive change in conservation.

Delegates can anticipate inspiring keynote speeches, informative field tours led by experts, engaging sessions and panel discussions, and interactive workshops. The Symposium provides valuable networking opportunities with peers, exhibitors, and the next generation of conservation professionals through the Student Poster Competition.

Join us for a two-day experience that will inspire and equip you to make a positive impact on our environment through our collective work.

We appreciate your interest in contributing to the 2024 Latornell Conservation Symposium and Webinar Series. Your unique insights and experiences are invaluable to us.

Our theme this year is COLLABORATION: The Future of Conservation is Collaborative. In a world facing unprecedented environmental challenges, collaboration is key to finding effective and innovative solutions. Through this theme, we will explore and promote partnerships that can drive positive change in the conservation field.

We welcome proposals for presentations, panels, workshops, field tours, and webinars from a diverse range of individuals and organizations. This is your chance to help shape the future of conservation through Collaboration.

This year, we are excited to receive proposals for PechaKucha, a “talk less, show more” presentation. We are eager to see your brief and visually focused stories that will bring our collaboration theme to life!

Below is a list of suggested topics grouped into three main streamsWater Collaboration

• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Watershed Management
• Advancements in flood prediction and extreme event forecasting
• Natural Hazards
• Source Water Protection
• Stormwater Management
• Aquatic species-at-risk
• Environmental Monitoring
• Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing innovations
• Artificial Intelligence Applications and Impacts on the Conservation Sector

Land Collaboration

• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Terrestrial species-at-risk
• Nature-based Solutions
• Natural Heritage and Biodiversity
• Land-Use Planning and Development
• Landscape level erosion and sediment control
• Urban and rural land conservation and restoration
• Healthy and sustainable soils
• Environmental Monitoring
• Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing innovations
• Artificial Intelligence Applications and Impacts on the Conservation Sector

People Collaboration

• Public Perception of Environment and Conservation
• Fundraising, Finance, and Governance in Conservation Sector
• Transformation of Program and Service Delivery
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Mental Health in the Workplace
• Conflict Management
• Conservation Authority Governance, Public Administration, and Business Area Leadership Wisdom/Experience sharing (the wisdom of elders)
• Hybrid work challenges and opportunities for managing and supporting employees
• Demographic Change in Canada and its effect on the Conservation Sector
• Artificial Intelligence Applications and Impacts on the Conservation Sector

If you are an undergraduate or graduate student in Ontario conducting research on a conservation-related issue or interested in a career in the conservation sector, we encourage you to apply for a Student Moderator role at the 2024 Latornell Conservation Symposium.

Moderator Submissions

Student Moderators will help to manage sessions and workshops, ensure speakers stay within their time limits, moderate Q&As, troubleshoot technical issues, and provide support throughout the event. Moderators will be assigned up to two sessions (half a day) with the freedom to attend sessions and workshops throughout the remainder of the Symposium. In addition to public speaking and presentation experience, moderators will have the chance to meet and network with conservation professionals and industry experts.

If you are an undergraduate or graduate student in Ontario conducting research on a conservation-related issue or who is interested in a career in the conservation sector, we encourage you to apply to present in the Student Poster Competition at the 2024 Latornell Conservation Symposium.

Poster Submissions

Student Posters should outline current, ongoing, or completed research in environmental conservation or natural heritage management. They should be formatted as one-page visual representations of your research project.

Fifteen posters will be selected and displayed in person at the Symposium and posted on the Latornell website before the event. This will offer presenters a forum to discuss their research with professionals, potential employers, and researchers in similar fields. Attendees and panel members will review and vote on the posters, with cash prizes for the top three.