Description

2024 Fall Conference

Society of Wetland Scientists South Central Chapter Meeting (October 17-18, 2024, with optional field trip on October 19, 2024).

Please join us for our next SWS South Central Chapter Meeting at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA! We will have two days full of amazing presenters on Thursday, October 17, and Friday, October 18, along with an optional Atchafalaya Basin swamp boat tour field trip and catered lunch on Saturday, October 19.

Tentative Meeting Agenda

Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18, at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA

2024 Fall Conference Tentative Schedule as of 080224

Tentative meeting agenda is subject to change. Registered attendees will be provided with the final agenda, campus parking instructions, and hotel block information closer to the event.

Hotel Block Information

We have secured a 25-room hotel block for conference attendees at the Sonesta ES Suites Baton Rouge University hotel. Attendees can make reservations by calling the hotel directly at 225-456-5430 or 1-800-SONESTA. You must reference the LSU Coast - Society of Wetland Scientist block rate (group code 1016LSUCOA) to obtain the discounted rate!

Our hotel block includes the following room accommodations: (8) one bedroom suite - king bed (@ $119 / night), (2) one bedroom suite - two double beds (@ $107 / night), (6) studio suite - king bed (@ $119 / night), and (9) studio suite - queen bed (@ $107 / night). Reservations must be made by Monday, September 16, 2024, after which, rooms not reserved will be returned to general inventory.

The hotel block rooms are available for check-in beginning Wednesday, October 16 through Saturday, October 19. Hotel reservations are first come, first serve! Please feel free to check out other area hotels once the hotel block fills up.

Call for Abstracts

Wetland students and professionals who are passionate about the advancement of wetland science are invited to submit an abstract to present in Baton Rouge on October 17 or 18. Abstracts should be 300 words or less and submitted by September 13, 2024. Speakers should indicate their preference for oral or poster presentation format. Students, please indicate your intent to be judged for Best Student Research Awards (see below). Abstract acceptance will be distributed by email closer to the meeting.

Submit your abstract by September 13, 2024: Call for Abstracts Link

Best Student Research Awards

SWS South Central Chapter will present five (5) awards to best student presenters. First place, second place, and third place oral presentation student winners will receive $900, $700, or $500, respectively. The first place poster student presentation will receive $600 and the second place poster student presentation will receive $400. Winning students will be recognized during the Chapter Meeting. To be considered for a Student Research Award, students must indicate their interest in presentation judging during the abstract submittal process.

Optional Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Boat Tour Field Trip and Catered Lunch

Saturday, October 19, from 9am–1pm in Henderson, LA

Get ready for a tour of a lifetime through moss-draped baldcypress trees inside one of America’s largest swamp ecosystems. Register to join our 90-minute guided swamp boat tour ride in Henderson, LA. Large boats will provide attendees with a comfortable seat. As a biodiversity hotspot, the Atchafalaya Basin may offer several wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly for avian and reptile species. SWS South Central Chapter will provide attendees with bottled water during the boat tour. Afterwards, our group will enjoy a catered lunch with local Cajun fare (including vegetarian options). Attendees should plan for personal transportation to Henderson (about a 50-minute drive west of Baton Rouge). If carpooling, attendees should coordinate those logistics independently. Early online registration is required to attend this event (registration closes on October 11, 2024).

Meeting and Field Trip Registration

Early online registration is now open. Register ahead of time for convenience and discounted rates. Early online registration closes on Friday, October 11, 2024. Late on-site registration is only available on Thursday, October 17, 2024, in Baton Rouge. Those interested in attending the optional Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Boat Tour Field Trip and Lunch must register online before October 11, 2024, as on-site registration will not be available.

Sponsorships

Sponsorship opportunities are available through our online registration page. View our available sponsorships once you begin the registration process. 

Meeting attendees will also be provided with swag bags. If you wish to provide swag material for attendees, then please reach out to the SWS South Central Chapter Treasurer (Laura Duffie - lauraduffie314@gmail.com) to coordinate. Please coordinate swag bag materials with Laura before October 1. Once submitted, Laura can also provide donation tax forms for monetary sponsorship contributions. Thank you for supporting our Chapter!

If you have any questions, please contact Jacob Berkowitz at Jacob.F.Berkowitz@usace.army.mil.

We hope to see you there!

Society of Wetland Scientists South Central Chapter – Board of Directors