Scientific Program
Format and Schedule
Part I — Welcome Reception and Conference Overview
Sunday evening, 4 October: The conference begins with a reception and informal presentation of the week ahead.
Part II — Field Trip to Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed
Monday, 5 October: This day-long tour will feature presentations from local and cooperating scientists on topics related to fire, invasive species, snow/vegetation interactions and global change. The objectives are: (1) to introduce, in a regional context, topics that will be explored during the conference; (2) to highlight ongoing local research on these topics; and (3) to create “common ground” among participants for future discussions. With an elevational gradient of more than 1000 m and a 5 fold annual precipitation range, the 238 km2 RCEW is an excellent setting to introduce the meeting. The weather at this time of year is typically gorgeous, but may be a bit nippy in the morning. The evening will end with a brainstorming and feedback session and reception at the hotel.
Part III — Presentations and Posters in Sun Valley
Tuesday through Thursday, 6–8 October: three days of presentations and posters begin in Sun Valley the afternoon of Tuesday, 6 October and continuing the mornings of Wednesday and Thursday, 7–8 October. (Transportation from Boise to Sun Valley will be provided.) Each of these half-day sessions will include four invited presentations with ample time for discussion, plus a fifth presentation by a promising graduate student selected through a competitive process. Most afternoons will be free for relaxation and informal discussions. Evening poster sessions held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings will provide the primary formal means of information exchange. All participants are encouraged to make a poster presentation. Poster sessions will be followed by dinner and a keynote address. Transportation from Sun Valley to Boise has been arranged for those departing on Friday, 9 October, from Boise International Airport.
Featured Speakers
Confirmed Keynote Speakers
Jeff Dozier, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah, USA
Keith Smettem, University of Western Australia, Australia
Confirmed Invited Speakers
Craig Allen, U.S. Geological Survey, USA
Steve Archer, University of Arizona, USA
Jayne Belnap, U.S. Geological Survey, USA
Barbara Bond, Oregon State University, USA
Todd Dawson, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Chris Duffy, Pennsylvania State University, State College, USA
Derek Eamas, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
Danny Marks, Northwest Watershed Research Center, USA
Diane Pataki, University of California, Irvine, USA
John Pomeroy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Greg Okin, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Marcus Weiler, Albert Ludwigs University of Frieburg, Germany
Conference Schedule
An updated program schedule [pdf] and list of oral and poster acceptances is now available.
Poster Presentations
UPDATED POSTER INFORMATION — Poster board dimensions are 8 feet (width) x 4 feet (height), and must be landscape format. Poster sessions are scheduled from 1800h – 2000h, Tuesday, 6 October 6 to Thursday, 8 October. Poster supplies will be available at the registration desk."
Expected Participation
100 including 30 graduate students and post-docs.
Fields of Interest
Ecologist, hydrologists, land managers and scientists grappling with rapid landscape change in semiarid regions of the western United States. The conference topics will be of interest to the international community as well, given the importance of semiarid regions worldwide.