NCSE's 13th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment January 15-17, 2013 Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center Washington, DC Call for Session Proposals Submission Deadline: June 8, 2012 |
The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is currently accepting session proposals for its 13th National Conference: Environmental Disasters: Science, Preparedness, and Resilience. All proposals must be submitted by June 8, 2012 to Caley Corsel lo at ccor...@ncseonline.org or via fax at 202-628-4311. Click here to access the proposal form. The Environmental Disasters Conference will address the increasing occurrence of environmental disasters and the science, technology, and decision-making needed to more effectively prepare, respond, and make our communities more resilient. The goal of the conference is to develop actionable outcomes that constructively advance decision-making on environmental disasters. It will engage 1,200 leaders from the emergency response, scientific, policy, conservation, and business communities, as well as local and federal government officials, who will work across traditional boundaries to develop strategies and launch new partnerships and initiatives. Accepted proposals will be used for either symposia or breakout workshops: Symposia will take place Tuesday afternoon, January 15th (each of two sets, 1.5 hours) and will provide focused discussion on critical cross-cutting topics. The symposia are mini plenary sessions comprised of coordinated presentations by 3-5 experts (representing diverse sectors and disciplines) who provide insightful perspectives on the topic, followed by moderated discussion among the speakers and a question-and-answer period and open discussion with attendees. Unlike the participants of the breakout workshops, symposia participants do not develop recommendations for action. Breakout workshops will take place Wednesday afternoon, January 16th (up to 3.5 hours). Breakout workshop participants will develop recommendations for using science and education to better prepare for, and recover from, environmental disasters. Each workshop will be organized around a specific topic and will involve a combination of brief opening comments from invited experts in the field, followed by facilitated participant group discussion to develop a set of ~8 outcomes -- a new initiative, a new partnership or collaboration, recommendations for action, or a "follow-up" activity. These outcomes will be synthesized and distributed to the next Administration, Congress, state and local government, business, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and others. Follow-up activities will be supported and facilitate d if possible. All proposals must address one or more of the conference themes: Cascading Disasters | Intersection of the Built and Natural Environment | Disasters as Mechanisms of Ecological Change | Rethinking Recovery and Expanding the Vision of Mitigation | Human Behavior and its Consequences | "No Regrets" Resilience |
1. Cascading Disasters: As evidenced by the 2011 Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant, environmental disasters can be comprised of a series of devastating events with complex interrelationships. Disasters are often sudden events such as storm surges or fires, occurring on top of slow moving events like sea level rise or droughts driven by climate change. The conference will "unfold" the underlying relationships of environmental disasters and develop strategies to address them in more effective, holistic ways. 2. Intersection of the Built and Natural Environment: As seen along the Gulf Coast of the United States, where and how society builds, and how it manages natural resources like wetlands, can minimize or magnify the impacts of natural disasters. The conference will explore ties between the built and natural environment in responding to environmental disasters. 3. Disasters as Mechanisms of Ecological Change: Some types of disasters, like severe fires, floods, and droughts, can drive profound and lasting ecological change, particularly when the underlying ecosystem has been stressed by other occurrences such as inadequate fire and flood control systems, deforestation, and a warming climate. The conference will explore the ecological consequences of disasters and their impact on ecosystems and the critical services they provide. 4. Rethinking Recovery and Expanding the Vision of Mitigation: Benjamin Franklin's observation that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is profoundly relevant to the consideration of environmental disasters mitigation and recovery. Automatic rebuilding in flood plains and fire zones are common and recurring examples, but there are deeper issues when the act of recovering from a disaster offers unique opportunities to achieve more resilient communities. Actions that will reduce the severity of environmental disasters can become "no regrets" mitigation measures resulting in positive societal benefits even if disaster never strikes. The conference will challenge participants to rethink and re-envision the concepts of mitigation and recovery and what they mean in terms of practical actions. 5. Human Behavior and its Consequences: As evidenced by those who chose to leave New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina arrived and those who stayed, human behavior before, during and after an environmental disaster can make the difference between tragedy and mere inconvenience. How can the public become more prepared before a disaster occurs and be able to make the best decisions? How can they be equipped to help themselves, their friends and families and their neighbors when disaster strikes? The conference will confront contradictions and trade-offs in human behavior and explore many opportunities to save lives. 6. "No Regrets" Resilience: The word "resilience" at this conference will capture the ability of a community confronted by environmental disasters to resist damage and to recover rapidly. "No regrets" resilience embodies the concept that there are actions which make a community resilient to environmental disasters and result in positive societal benefits even if disaster never strikes; hence, "no regrets." For more information, please visit the conference website at www.EnvironmentalDisasters.net. Please direct all inquiries to Caley Corsello at 202-207-0006 or ccor...@ncseonline.org. | 
