SAVE THE DATE! Announcing NCSEs Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World Conference: Join NCSE in Developing a 21st Century Biodiversity Strategy, December 8-10, 2008. The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is pleased to request your participation at the 9th National Conference for Science, Policy and the Environment: Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World to be held December 8-10, 2008 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. http://ncseonline.org/conference/biodiversity/ Please plan to join NCSE in a large interactive conference to develop and advance science-based solutions to address the challenge the changing world poses to biodiversity (and to humanity). The conference combines world- class speakers and discussions with interactive facilitated breakout sessions to develop recommendations for conserving and using biodiversity sustainably, symposia to explore topics in detail, skill-building workshops, posters, a showcase of biodiversity partners, and opportunities to network with colleagues new and old. Held during the transition period to a new Administration and Congress (therefore a month earlier than usual NCSE conferences), the conference offers an opportunity for scientists and decisionmakers from diverse fields and occupations, agencies and organizations, to develop strategies to: put biodiversity high on the policy agenda of the US and the world, and to consider approaches to conserving biodiversity in a world of rapid global climate disruption, land conversion, ocean disturbance, population growth, economic change, globalization and other forces. There are many ways for you to become involved:  Session Organizer- Workshops, Breakout Sessions, Symposia  Poster Presentation  Collaborating Organization  Conference Sponsor Session Organizers: We invite proposals to organize interactive breakout sessions to develop recommendations, topical symposia, and skill-building workshops. These sessions provide opportunities for individuals, institutions, and organizations to contribute ideas and innovations, visionary concepts, successful models, and pragmatic recommendations for a new conservation strategy.
Opportunities include: Breakout Sessions (up to 3.5 hours) to get feedback on ideas and develop recommendations for turning science into action, fitting into three categories: Developing the New Biodiversity Science Agenda Moving From Science to Action Expanding Understanding: Information, Education, and Communication The interactive breakout sessions will be held during the afternoon of December 8, 2008. NCSE breakouts are moderated discussions with the goal of developing a set of recommendations to advance science-based decisionmaking and action on the topic of the session. Session organizers are responsible for recruiting two or three lead discussants to begin the discussion, and to facilitate the discussion so that all participants can be actively engaged in the generation of recommendations. A list of sample topics is available online. Symposia (2 hours) to discuss critical cross-cutting topics with key experts.
