News & Announcements
2008 National Meeting
Save the Date!!
The 2008 Biennial Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network National Meeting will be held June 18-19, 2008 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science headquarters building in Washington, DC. [click for map]
This page will be updated with additional CESU National Meeting information as it becomes available. For more information, please contact the CESU Network National Coordinator.
Please click on menu items below for current information.
Registration
Hotel Information
Working and Discussion Sessions
Poster Session
Preliminary Program Agenda
2008 CESU Network National Awards
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Registration
To register online, please follow this link: http://www.georgewright.org/cesu_registration.html
Early Registration (before 13 May) Regular $100 | Students $50
Late Registration (after 13 May) Regular $125 | Students $75
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Hotel Information
Courtesy room blocks have been set up at the two hotels listed below – offering the federal per diem room rate of $201 for both federal and nonfederal travelers. Rooms will be available on a first come-first served basis -- vacancy is not guaranteed.
There are a number of other hotels within easy walking or Metro distance from the meeting venue. There are at least three large conventions scheduled for the same week as the CESU Network National Meeting in Washington DC, so reservations should be made at your earliest convenience. The hotel contact information and room block codes are below.
Hotel Lombardy
2019 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 737-1200
www.hotellombardy.com
Dates (nights) included: June 16-19
Special instructions:
Please call the Hotel Lombardy at (800) 424-5486 or local at (202) 857-3904 to make reservations and refer to group number #1692 for the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Network (or CESU Network) National Meeting.
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Donovan House - A Thompson Hotel
1155 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 521-1417
thompsonhotels.com (click the Donovan House tab)
Dates (nights) included: June 16-19
Cutoff date: May 30th
Special instructions:
When making reservations at the Donovan House, please refer to the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Network (or CESU Network) National Meeting to receive the arranged group rate.
_______________________________________________________Working Sessions and Discussion Sessions
This year's program will provide more time for participants to actively engage in thematic working and discussion sessions, but we need volunteers to organize and facilitate these sessions. Sessions will be 90 minutes in length. We envision one-to-three, short, invited presentations that will lead into participatory sessions on topics relevant to CESU partner agencies and institutions. The sessions are intended to:
* focus on content relevant to a broad range of CESU Network partners
* stimulate rich discussion and participation from across CESUs, agencies, and institutions
* foster sharing of experiences from across the CESU Network
* explore how the CESU Network is uniquely positioned to address particular aspects of management and research needs
* generate ideas and potential areas for continued dialog and collaboration beyond the national meeting
Ultimately, it will be up to the session organizer(s) to define the exact format. Some formats already proposed include: guided question and answer sessions, round-robin issue or project identification and prioritization, demonstrations and how-to's, and a charrette working session for developing actionable approaches for future collaboration.
Many discussion sessions have been proposed (see list below), several already with named session organizers. We still need volunteers to serve as session organizers, and encourage participation from both federal and nonfederal partners from across the CESU Network. If you would like to organize a session -- one of those listed or propose a new session -- please send an e-mail to Tom_Fish@nps.gov or phone him at (202) 208-5972 and provide the following information:
Proposed session title (or reworking of an existing title)
Name of proposed session organizer(s)
Names of presenters and/or discussants
Paragraph on proposed topic and session format
We look forward to your participation!
Proposed Working and Discussion Sessions
(final confirmation of sessions, times, and rooms TBD)
Collaborative Approaches for Addressing Climate Change Impacts
Leigh Welling and Angie Evenden, National Park Service and others
Hazards Vulnerability, Readiness, and Response
Ray Albright, National Park Service and others
(e.g., NPS Emergency Response Roster for All Hazard Incidents)
Outdoor Recreation Research and Education (ORRE): Defining National Direction and Building Capacity
Steve Selin and Chad Pierskalla, West Virginia University and others
Regional Approaches to Collaborative Land Use Planning
Roel Lopez, Department of Defense and others
(e.g., Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS), green infrastructure planning)
Expanding CESU Participation in Coastal and Ocean Stewardship
Charles Roman, National Park Service and others
National Ecological Observatory Network and CESUs
Elizabeth Blood, National Science Foundation and others
Expanding CESU Network Efforts in a Changing World: Exploring International CESU Opportunities
Bill Brown, Natural Academy of Sciences and others
(e.g., Missions Initiative)
Research Learning Center, Centers of Excellence, and Similar Programmatic Efforts: Approaches for Collaboration under the CESU Framework
Session Organizer sought
Conventional and Alternative Energy Resource Development and Management
Session Organizer sought
(e.g., effects on conservation from traditional power facilities, biofuels development, wind farms, green construction practices)
CESU Host University Operations and Support
Session Organizer sought
Who does this well? How do they do it? What are some innovative ideas and solutions?
No Child Left Behind in the Woods: Increasing Participation Among Youth and the Public in Outdoor Activities
Session Organizer sought
(e.g., integrating school curricula with protected area research, natural/cultural resource management, education, and interpretation program;, volunteer monitoring program;, collaboration with local civic organizations)
Engaging the Humanities in Protected Area Information Resource Development
Session Organizer sought
(e.g., engaging communications and foreign language programs, increasing workforce diversity)
Capacity Building through the CESU Network
Session Organizer sought
(e.g., internships, fellowships, undergraduate research opportunities, partnership opportunities)
Working with Nonfederal Partners: What Works and What Doesn't?
Session Organizer sought
Considering Religious Values in Conservation
Session Organizer sought
Building Awareness in CESU Partner Agencies and Institutions
Session Organizer sought
(e.g., connecting nonfederal partners with agency field staff; increasing participation across academic departments)
Data and Field Collection Ownership, Sharing, and Management
Session Organizer sought
The Warriors Project
(tentative) Maceo Dailey, University of Texas-El Paso and Eleanor King, Howard University with others
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Poster Session
This year, the CESU Network National Meeting will include a combined Reception and Poster Session. CESU partners are invited to present a poster on any projects conducted through the CESU Network that are of broad interest to attendees of the National Meeting. Proposals for poster presentations can be submitted by sending a short abstract (no more than 250 words) by email, succinctly describing the project that will be presented. Please include name, affiliation, and full contact information (e.g., address, email, phone) for all authors, also indicating the presenting author. Individuals are limited to one poster submission (and presentation) per person, but an individual can be listed as a co-author on more than one submission. Please note that the number of posters accepted may be limited by availability of space.
Graduate students are encouraged to present a poster at the national meeting. Graduate student posters (i.e., where the presenter is a graduate student) will be judged by a CESU partner review panel. An award will be given for the best graduate student poster(s).
* Deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, 16 May 2008.
* We will notify you regarding acceptance by email no later than Friday, 16 May 2008.
* The abstracts of accepted posters will be included in a directory of poster presentations in the meeting materials.
* Poster set-up will be during the lunch break and immediately preceding the poster session and reception on Wednesday, 18 June 2008. Posters will remain until the close of the National Meeting.
Poster abstracts should be submitted by email to:
Thomas Fish, National Coordinator
CESU Network National Office
Main Interior Building
1849 C Street NW, Room #2723
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-5972
Fax: (202) 208-3060
Email: Tom_Fish@nps.gov
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Preliminary Program Agenda
Wednesday | 18 June 2008
8:00 Registration & Coffee (Lobby and Atrium)
9:00 Welcome (Auditorium)
The State of the Network
Tom Fish, CESU Network
9:30 Plenary I (Auditorium)
Strategies for Living with Climate Change (working title)
Invited speaker
10:30 BREAK (Lobby and Atrium)
10:45 Plenary II (Auditorium)
Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources: Agency Approaches and Collaboration Opportunities (working title)
Panel of federal agency representatives
12:00 Lunch (on your own)
1:30 Working / Discussion Sessions I
A – (Auditorium)
B – (Revelle Room)
C – (Haskins Room)
D – (Abelson Room)
3:00 BREAK (Lobby and Atrium)
3:15 Plenary III
Featured CESU Projects:
Chesapeake Bay Report Card, William Dennison, University of Maryland
The Missions Initiative, R. Brooks Jeffery, University of Arizona (proposed)
Additional or Substitute Presentation (TBA)
4:45 CESU Network National Awards (Auditorium)
5:15 BREAK (Lobby and Atrium)
5:30 Reception and Poster Session (Lobby and Breakout Rooms)
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Thursday | 19 June 2008
9:00 Plenary IV (Auditorium)
TBA (working title)
Invited speaker
10:15 BREAK (Lobby and Atrium)
10:30 New Agency Perspectives (Auditorium)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Invited speaker
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Invited speaker
National Park Service CESU Coordinators National Meeting Synopsis (Auditorium)
Speaker TBA
Open Discussion (time permitting)
12:00 Lunch (on your own)
1:30 Working / Discussion Sessions II
A – (Auditorium)
B – (Revelle Room)
C – (Haskins Room)
D – (Abelson Room)
3:00 BREAK (Lobby and Atrium)
3:15 Working / Discussion Sessions III
A – (Auditorium)
B – (Revelle Room)
C – (Haskins Room)
D – (Abelson Room)
4:45 Closing Remarks (Auditorium)
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2008 CESU Network National Awards
The CESU National Awards were established in 2003 to recognize individuals, groups of individuals, institutions, and/or projects within the CESU Network that have contributed substantially to the development, implementation, or accomplishments of the CESU Network. Awards are presented at the CESU Network Biennial National Meeting. Recipients are recognized for their exceptional contributions to furthering the mission and goals of the CESU Network.
Award
Up to three CESU National Awards are presented at the CESU Network National Meeting. Each Award consists of a plaque and a letter of recognition from the CESU Council to the award recipient(s), including their affiliate institution or agency.
Eligibility
*Any federal or non-federal representative of a partner organization in the CESU Network is eligible for a National Award. This can be:
* An individual: student, faculty, administrator, or federal employee, or
* A group of individuals, or
* One or more CESU-affiliated institutions, or
* One or more CESU projects.
Criteria
Awards recognize the collaborative structure of CESUs, and reflect the achievement of federal, university, and non-governmental employees working together. The criteria used to select recipients are intended to be broad and flexible, reflecting the range of activities involved in the CESU concept, and fall into the following general categories:
(1) Significant contribution to the development of the CESU concept and/or Network, or
(2) Innovative use of the CESU Network though development of new and valuable collaborations, or
(3) Application of CESU-affiliated research, technical assistance, and education for effective resource management.
Nomination Procedure
Any representative of a CESU partner organization may submit a nomination. A nomination consists of providing all the required information and sending it (in electronic or hardcopy format) directly to the CESU Network National Office by 16 May 2008. See the National Coordinator's contact information below.
The CESU National Awards recognize individuals, groups of individuals, institutions, and/or projects within the CESU Network that have contributed substantially to the development, implementation, or accomplishments of the CESU Network. Any representative of a CESU partner organization may submit a nomination. Each award consists of a plaque and letter of recognition from the CESU Council; travel support to attend the meeting may be provided to awardees. To be considered for a nomination, the following information should be provided (in electronic or hardcopy format):
(1) Nominee
a) Name of Nominee— team members or individual
b) Name of CESU-Affiliated Organization
c) Mailing Address
d) Phone Number
e) Email Address
(2) Provide a brief description of accomplishment— please describe in terms of one or more of the following criteria in less than 500 words :
a) Significant contribution to the development of the CESU concept and/or Network, AND/OR
b) Innovative use of the CESU Network though development of new and valuable collaborations, AND/OR
c) Application of CESU-affiliated research, technical assistance, and education for effective resource management.
If helpful, include supporting materials such as published papers, photographs or other pertinent documentation.
(3) Contact information for 2 references knowledgeable of the accomplishment and not nominated for the award
a) Name of Reference
b) Name of Institution
c) Mailing Address
d) Phone Number
e) Email Address
(4) Nominator
a) Name of Nominator
b) Name of CESU-Affiliated Institution
c) Mailing Address
d) Phone Number
e) Email Address
Evaluation and Selection Process
All nominations are reviewed and evaluated by a subcommittee of the CESU National Council. The Subcommittee will select the finalists for consideration by the CESU Council. The CESU Council will select the National Award winners in May 2008. Awardees will be notified of their selection in May 2008. A travel allowance may be provided to them by the CESU National Office to help defray the costs of attending the CESU Network National Meeting in June 2008.
All nominations should be sent by 16 May 2008 to:
Thomas Fish, National Coordinator
CESU Network National Office
Main Interior Building
1849 C Street NW, Room #2723
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 208-5972
Fax: (202) 208-3060
Email: Tom_Fish@nps.gov
For any additional Information, contact Tom Fish at this address.
