The St. Lawrence County Environmental Management Council is pleased to announce that the 2008 Conference on the Environment will be held Friday, October 17th through Sunday, October 19th at St. Lawrence Univeristy in Canton, NY.
The theme of this year’s Conference will be The Future of EMCs and CACs — Research, Education, and Involvement. Through workshops, field trips, keynote presentations, and the invaluable networking that occurs each year, the 2008 Conference will enable EMCs and CACs to make good use of the considerable research portential across the State to address environmental issues, and to bring results of this research to decision-makers and the public.
Those planning to attend this year’s Conference will find that Canton is a beautiful place to visit in October. Situated in the center of St. Lawrence County, Canton is close to the mighty St. Lawrence River, with its working Seaway and massive hydropower project.
Canton is also close to the scenic vistas of the Adirondack Mountains, with nearby hiking, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities.
Mid-October is typically the height of leaf-peeping season in St. Lawrence County; a trip to Canton is a tourist’s delight.
Conference attendees will stay at the Best Western University Inn in Downtown Canton. Please contact the hotel directly to make your reservations. Please inform the hotel that you are with the “2008 Conference on the Environment” to get the group rate of $99 per night.
Conference sessions will be held at the Eben Holden Conference Center, on the campus of St. Lawrence University.
As part of the 2008 Conference theme, the idea of “Citizen Science” will be a unifying concept throughout the Conference. “Citizen Science” involves putting interested persons together with professional researchers to complete projects that advance scientific knowledge. Conference organizers think that CACs and EMCs are already doing significant amounts of “Citizen Science” in their current local projects. The concept of “Citizen Science” can further stimulate collaborative efforts between EMCs/CACs and professional scientists to research and resolve environmental issues in local communities, and across the State.
Invited speakers for the 2008 Conference on the Environment include Pete Grannis, DEC Commissioner; Janice Dickinson, Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and a leader in the “Citizen Science” movement. Scheduled workshops will address topics including: biofuels; invasive species/biodiversity; open space issues and the Adirondacks; climate change; water use; wetlands; presentations by CACs and EMCs about local projects; presentations of student research; among others.
The 2008 Conference on the Environment will also be an opportunity to involve other interested environmentalists in the work of CACs and EMCs. Talk with other environmental groups in your area. They may be interested in attending the Conference. Also, talk with environmental researchers in your area; they may be interested to hear more about how “Citizen Science” can help their work and make a difference in their community. The 2008 Conference on the Environment will be open to all interested persons.