Conference Theme

The Cooperative Extension Service has a long tradition of serving primary audiences with educational programs. However, new technologies are changing the face of traditional education, and many environmental issues must be addressed at larger scales than just a single owner farm or forest. The theme of this conference recognizes that extension educators must "think and act outside the box" and focus educational programs toward broader audiences at the landscape level.

Who Should Attend

Natural resource extension professionals and those who work with or would like to partner with these educators in environmental education, fisheries, wildlife, range, forestry, forest products, toxicology, ecotourism, water conservation and quality, sea grant, public policy, nature interpretation, watershed planning, ecological economics, rural development and other related disciplines. The primary audience consists of three groups: 1) Extension personnel at state 1862, 1890 and 1994 Land Grant Institutions (county faculty, county directors, district directors, specialists, department chairs, state program leaders and state directors); 2) National program leaders, and other staff with the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service; 3) Natural resource educators from other governmental agencies and private not-for-profit organizations.

Conference Purpose

The purpose is to discuss the rate at which Extension is moving toward becoming recognized as a leading organization in natural resource education and to facilitate communication, cooperation and networking among natural resource educators. This interaction will strengthen innovative and contemporary natural resource educational programs by improving needs assessment, development, delivery and impact evaluation skills, thus empowering participants to better address emerging issues important to a diverse clientele. The format of sharing information and experiences will also foster multi-state, multi-institutional and global collaborations. Other important outcomes include building a cohesive, structured, multi-disciplinary support base for Extension natural resource programs in the future, and enhancing the visibility, credibility, and relevance of natural resource programs in the context of Extension's overall mission.

Conference Structure

The initial plenary session will consist of invited speakers who will address relevant topics related to the conference theme. The concurrent sessions will consist of volunteered oral presentations, and the two poster sessions will have distinct time periods for viewing and discussing with the authors. The half-day field trips will provide the opportunity to visit local sites and learn about environmental issues in the upper Ohio River Valley and Appalachian region.

New!

• Submittal Instructions for Final Abstract - PDF(128K)

For further information contact:

Jim Johnson
Virginia Tech, College of Natural Resources
(540) 231-7679 or jej@vt.edu.