Call for Presentations | Open!

The 2026 NETWC Conference will be held September 27 - 30, 2026, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, PA. 

The challenge of sustaining wildlife throughout a fragmented landscape is being met with bipartisan support for increasing habitat connectivity, and passage.  Transportation agencies can affect landscape level change when collaborating with state, local, non-profit, and academic partners as multiple projects over time can result in substantial habitat improvements.  NETWC 2026 brings together a community of ecologists, planners, engineers, administrators, regulators, and researchers in transportation to harness opportunities for implementing pro-wildlife infrastructure solutions.
 
Plans are underway for a fully in-person event, and the NETWC Program Committee is now seeking proposals for presentations, posters, panels, and workshops.  Suggested topics should be important to transportation and wildlife professionals across the Northeast and pertain to projects or planning activities; emerging issues; applicable research findings; and best practices that advance the field of transportation ecology throughout the northeast.  For more details, please see the Focus Topics for 2026, below. 

Focus Topic Areas for 2026

Engineering & Designing for Connectivity

Passage structures and fencing Low-cost designs with high rates of passage Pairing ecology with engineering to improve driver safety and environmental conservation Novel strategies & approaches for terrestrial wildlife passage Innovative approaches to fish passage in culvert rehabilitation and retrofit designs

Connectivity Co-Benefits

Co-benefits Among Connectivity, Resiliency, Climate Change, Safety, and Community Coastal infrastructure; resilience and connectivity

Planning & Permitting

Connectivity planning with collaboration and implementation at various scales (Regional to Local) Creative solutions to conflicting priorities: when permitting creates engineering opportunities for passage/habitat designs Equity and environmental justice considerations in mitigation planning, resiliency and habitat restoration

Partnerships, Funding, and Communication Strategies

Successfully leveraging funding and partnerships for connectivity Communication & outreach strategies engaging partners and communities in connectivity

Monitoring, & Efficacy

Pre- and post-construction implementation: Technological advancements for implementing and monitoring connectivity in transportation infrastructure Quantifying safety, community, and economic benefits of projects that promote connectivity and resiliency Evaluating the efficacy of passage structures for specific species, guilds, and/or taxa

Pollinators & Vegetation Management

Planning and implementation of pollinator habitat within transportation rights of way Conservation Benefit Agreement for Bumblebees Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Monarch Butterflies

Presentation Formats

NETWC includes a variety of formats for presentations to promote lively discussions and learning opportunities. In addition to the traditional podium and poster presentations, facilitated panels or interactive workshops organized around a specific topic related to the conference theme or an emerging issue in transportation and ecology are also welcome. Below are the formats that will be accepted:

• Podium Presentation - lecture style format of technical papers. Presentation time is 20 minutes: 15 minutes speaking plus 5 minutes of questions and answers. Presenters use PowerPoint slides and other audiovisual media to support their remarks.
  
• Panel Session (3 or more presenters) – podium lecture(s), panel discussion, or breakout groups with facilitated discussion. Presentation/discussion time will be 90 minutes total.
  
• Workshop - format involves group interaction and hands-on demonstrations. Workshop length may be either a single block of 90 minutes or double block of 180 minutes; preferred length should be noted in the proposal.
  
• Lightning Talk - format is a 5-minute presentation with a focus on the results of work and not the methodology. All attendee questions will be asked at the end of the session after all talks have concluded. 
  
• Poster Session – format is a visual representation of your recent research or ongoing projects. A dedicated Poster Session will be held during the main conference, when poster presenters will be required to remain with their poster to encourage interaction and discussion with the conference attendees. Poster presenters should also consider doing a Lightning Talk on their topic.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM NOTE: During the selection process, the Program Committee may invite a proposal author to present in a different format than what was initially requested.

Submission Requirements

Proposals must be submitted online only; submissions via email will not be accepted. Items you will need to include:

• Title of the presentation topic
• Primary author and co-author information
• Program topic area that best fits the proposal content
• Preferred format for your presentation

Timeline for Submission and Notification:

• Presentation proposals will be accepted until 11:59 PM EST Friday, March 27, 2026. 
• Submitters will be notified by the end of April, and accepted presenters will receive a detailed confirmation packet.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact the NETWC Conference Office at [email protected]. 

Submission Link

The online portal has a 30-minute time limit, so please have the required information listed above ready before clicking the link.  A confirmation email will follow your completed submission, and this will also include directions on making changes if needed.  Ready to submit? Click below!

submit a proposal

SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL BY FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026