Announcing - 2017 Maryland Water Monitoring Council Conference

The Maryland Water Monitoring Council will hold its 23rd Annual Conference at the Maritime Institute, North Linthicum, Maryland, on Friday, December 8, 2017. Registration will begin at 7:30 AM and the conference will adjourn at 4:30 PM. The conference will include a plenary session, six concurrent breakout sessions, posters and exhibitor tables, and the famous Maritime Institute all-you-can-eat buffet lunch. You’ll also have plenty of time to network and catch up with old friends and colleagues during the long breaks and the post-meeting social (location TBA).

The challenges of restoring and protecting our aquatic resources are daunting. Stressors related to climate change and population growth will require us to adapt as we move further into the 21st Century. But there are reasons to be optimistic.  Enhanced implementation of sound science, supported by robust water monitoring will undoubtedly be essential to ensure healthy aquatic ecosystems in the future. With such challenges in mind, he theme of the 2017 MWMC conference is Managing Water Quality in a Changing World. Concurrent sessions will focus on these challenges and our need to adapt to them. These sessions include Climate Change and Adaptation, Stream Restoration Biomonitoring, Leveraging Data Sources, New Monitoring Technologies, Agriculture and Water Quality, Citizen Science, and Communicating Progress and Successes. The morning plenary session will feature two presentations:

“The 2016 Ellicott City Flood: A 225-Year-Old Mill Town’s Survival Story” by Jim Caldwell - Director, Howard County Office of Community Sustainability

“A 10,000 Year Record of Climate, Forests, Land Use, and Chesapeake Water Quality” by Grace Brush - Professor, Johns Hopkins University

REGISTRATION

The early-bird registration fee (deadline – noon, November 17, 2017) is $70 and includes lunch, breaks, and conference materials. After November 17, the registration fee is $80. The early registration fee for presenters is $65. Discounted registration fees ($40) for full-time students and members of non-profit organizations [501(c)3] are also available on a first come, first served basis. To register via credit card, click HERE. To register with a check or via R-Stars (MD State Employees), email dan.boward@maryland.gov . All registration will close on December 1 at noon. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Walk-in registrations will not be accepted. All fees include lunch, breaks, and conference materials. 

CALL FOR SPEAKERS AND POSTER PRESENTERS

Are you interested in giving a talk or presenting a poster? Click HERE for an abstract submission form. ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE – October 20, 2017. See the guidelines for speakers and poster presenters.

CARL WEBER AWARDS

2017 will mark the 11th Annual Carl S. Weber Award presented to an individual (or individuals) involved in water monitoring in Maryland. In addition to the traditional award, the MWMC will again offer the Above and Beyond Award to recognize contributions of an up-and-coming member of the Maryland’s environmental community who has volunteered time and energy towards the monitoring of Maryland’s waters and has made a significant contribution to increasing watershed awareness, advocacy, education, and stewardship. Details on the awards and a Nomination Form can be found HERE.  Nominations must be submitted by October 6, 2017.

STUDENT POSTER AWARD

The 6th MWMC Student Poster Award will be offered this year. Open to junior high, high school, and college undergraduate students, the Award offers $200 for first place and $100 for second place. Click HERE for information and poster scoring criteria.

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For more information about the Maritime Institute, follow this link for directions and a parking lot map.

Vendors and sponsors – see the MWMC Vendor Registration Form. Many thanks to the 2016 MWMC Annual Conference vendors and sponsors.

If your organization or agency wishes to reserve a display table at no additional charge, email dan.boward@maryland.gov with your request.

Go to the MWMC homepage and Facebook for updates on the Council and the Annual Conference.

Refer all conference questions to Dan Boward (410.260.8605; dan.boward@maryland.gov).

Feel free to distribute this email freely.

 

Dan Boward

MWMC Executive Secretary