River Action will gather river stakeholders and advocates together for its 18th annual Upper Mississippi River Conference on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 16-17. The “Learning from Each Other” event is at Western Illinois University Quad Cities campus in Moline.
According to a news release from River Action, that Quad Cities-based river advocacy and education organization worked in collaboration with experts and policymakers, nonprofits, cities, educators, students, media and scientists to put together the conference at the Mississippi riverfront campus. New this year is the Next Gen Summit. It’s a partnership between high schools, colleges and the Upper Mississippi River Conference.
“This year’s theme highlights the need for all voices to be included in the conversation, including those of the next generation, which is why the conference will include the first-ever ‘Next Gen. Summit,” River Action said in its conference program.
The Thursday, Oct. 17, Next Gen Summit at WIU-QC, 3300 River Drive, will focus on the transition from theory and knowledge to the workplace. Eight professionals will make presentations about careers in their disciplines. That will be followed by water testing on the riverfront from the Channel Cat Water Taxi. It will be led by Bob Bohannon, retired plant manager, City of Moline.
The two-day Upper Mississippi River Conference’s overall focus will be on clean water challenges, Native American conservation, partnerships that lead to change, how climate is changing industry, engineering with nature, environmental justice, and transformative urban redevelopment in floodplains. Find the conference’s agenda packet here.
Featured keynotes
Keynote speakers include: Bill Quackenbush and Chloris Lowe Jr., Ho-Chunk Nation; Bryce Upholt, author of “The Great River;” David Cummins, president, Blue Sky Maritime; Chris Like, state leader in science, Iowa Department of Education; Mark Dixon, biologist, University of South Dakota; Master Class, “The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Education” with Greg Harrington, University of Wisconsin; Ed Freer, landscape architect and waterfront planner, Madison, Wisconsin; and Roger Viadero, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Environmental Studies, WIU.
Attendees will also hear from organizations such as Nahant Marsh Education Center, Illinois Regional Port District, National Weather Service, and City of Moline Water Plant.
Field trips are planned to Nahant Marsh with Executive Director Brian Ritter, and the Blue Heron Eco Cruise, offered by Rock Creek Marina and Eco Tourism Center in Camanche, Iowa.
Find more information or to register for the conference, hosted by River Action, Inc., here.
Registration for the two-day conference is $220 for adults, $40 for students. One-day tickets, dinner, and luncheon can be purchased separately. Field trips are $15 each.
Contact the hotel directly or visit riveraction.org/umrc for details.
