Present at the Forum

We are no longer accepting submissions.

 

The following information is included on this page:

 

Review Timeline

Submissions are currently being reviewed. Decisions will be provided by mid-July (at the latest).

 

How to Edit your Proposal

Click here to view or edit a previously submitted proposal

 

Instructions for Editing a Proposal

1. Click on the link above to go to the abstract submission portal

2. Click Edit Submission

3. Enter in your submission ID (this was in your email confirmation from OpenConf) and the password you set up when submitting the proposal 

 

Session Formats and Descriptions

There are eight session formats at the National Adaptation Forum. Presentations are either based on the priority topic areas listed below or on a topic specified by the presenter. 

 

Confused about what distinguishes one session from another? See the Session Decision Tree

 

Special Session Oral Presentation

Special sessions are designed to provide opportunities for presentations on new and emerging ideas and to recruit a broad array of participants at the Forum. More detailed descriptions on Special Sessions and calls for individual 15-minute oral presentations may be found here.

 

Oral Presentation

A 15-minute talk on research, practice, process, and unique case studies. The Program Committee will review and organize individual oral presentations into 90-minute concurrent sessions and assign session moderators.

 

Poster Presentation

A poster on display in the networking reception and Forum breaks to share a particular project, research, or tools. Accepted posters will - to the greatest degree possible - be arranged and displayed by priority topic area.

 

Tools Café

Present an online adaptation tool during the network reception and tool training session to educate, enlighten, and capture the imagination of fellow Forum attendees. Presentations can either focus on a specific tool or the tools that may be necessary to address a broader topic/challenge.

 

Training

An interactive educational experience in which participants develop skills to apply to their work. When submitting a proposal, please describe how the session will actively engage participants and if the session will offer professional development credits. Trainings will be 90 minutes in length.

 

Working Group

A meeting around a key challenge or emerging issue in order to lay a foundation for further action with a focus on developing tangible outputs on specific issues/challenges (e.g., paper, plan of action). When submitting a proposal, please describe the tangible outputs likely to emerge from the session and if the session will offer professional development credits. Working groups will be 90 minutes in length.

 

Solutions Room

A session dedicated to crowdsourcing solutions to specific challenges faced by practitioners (e.g., institutional roadblocks, inconsistent public support). When submitting a proposal, please describe the specific project(s) and challenges you are facing that would benefit from group exploration and discussion and if the session will offer professional development credits. Solutions rooms will be 90 minutes in length. 

 

Symposium

A session featuring several presentations or moderated discussion on a key topic. Symposia organizers are responsible for recruiting presenters. When submitting a symposium proposal, you must list a minimum of three presenters (three separate authors). In addition, include a general presentation topic for each individual presenter within the abstract. Symposium sessions should include presenters from a variety of perspectives from more than one organization. If your session is accepted, abstracts for each presentation in your session will be required. Please note that presenters in a proposed symposium session do not need to submit a separate oral presentation submission. Symposia organizers should also consider ways to actively engage session participants such as through the sharing of adaptation experiences and stories. Symposia will be 90 minutes in length. 

 

Priority Topic Areas

Submissions were requested for a range of topics focused on climate change adaptation, however the Forum planning committees encouraged submissions on the following prioritized topics:

  • Agriculture & Food Security

  • Biodiversity, Ecosystems, & Nature-Based Solutions

  • Built Environment

  • Climate Adaptation & Mitigation Intersection

  • Climate Justice & Equity

  • Climate Displacement & Gentrification

  • Communications & Youth Engagement

  • Decision-making Tools & Technology

  • Economics, Workforce Development, & Green Jobs

  • Energy Solutions

  • Extreme Events, Disasters, & Emergency Management

  • Faith-Focused Adaptation

  • Financing Adaptation

  • Public Health: Physical, Behavioral, & Mental

  • Implementation of Adaptation

  • Infrastructure, Transportation, & Land-Use Planning

  • Insurance & Risk Management

  • International Perspectives

  • Monitoring, Evaluation, & Adaptive Management

  • Natural Resources

  • Politics of Climate Change Adaptation

  • Public & Private Sector Partnerships

  • Research & Science of Adaptation

  • Rural & Island Communities

  • Social Resilience & Transformation

  • Tribal & Indigenous Perspectives

  • Water Resources

 

 

Review Criteria

All proposals will be reviewed by members of our three planning committees. We encourage sessions that engage a variety of adaptation practitioners from beginners to seasoned experts. Proposals must be about adaptation and not just climate change. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

 

  • JUSTICE, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND DIVERSITY: Proposal provides details on if and how justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity are included in adaptation efforts, such as evaluation of the allocation of burdens and benefits of decisions, and the meaningful involvement of all people in decision-making regardless of race, color, national origin, ability, or income. Proposal includes diverse voices as presenters (e.g., community members, youth).

  • RELEVANCE: Proposal provides a sound and credible approach for addressing climate change adaptation and is relevant to practitioners, policymakers, or others working on adaptation.

  • CROSS-SECTORAL: Proposal provides details on a cross-sectoral approach to adaptation, such as multiple angles or perspectives on a theme (e.g., geography, sectors, demographics, disciplines, approaches, or engagement with other organizations), including presenters from different organizations and sectors.

  • CLARITY OF PURPOSE: Proposal provides a clear focus; defines a concept, approach, process, or subject area; and clearly demonstrates successes and/or failures of practices. The proposal clearly defines the goals, key objectives, expected outcomes, and what participants will learn or experience.

  • INNOVATION: Proposal provides details on how projects are inspiring change, breaking new ground, and testing new approaches and ways of thinking and doing.

  • COLLABORATION: Proposal provides details on how diverse perspectives from different communities, cultures, organizations, and sectors are integrated into adaptation efforts.

  • RESEARCH: Proposal incorporates research and data or reflects your understanding of the changes happening in your area of work, including the use of best available science, traditional knowledge, established methodologies, best practices, and established metrics for monitoring success or identifying maladaptive practices.

  • ACTIVE LEARNING: Proposal provides clear description of activities to promote active engagement among attendees (e.g., collaboration, exploration, group knowledge exchange). This criterion is weighted highly for interactive sessions such as Working Groups and Trainings.

 

Please note: The Program Committee expects to receive a large number of highly competitive proposals. In the interest of designing a conference program that is representative of the field, the Program Committee reserves the right to select proposals based on not only overall scores, but also on the topics addressed by the session. This will help ensure diversity in the program and that it includes frequently underrepresented content or sectors.

 

A special thank you to the members of our Program Committee, Equity & Climate Justice Working Group, and Steering Committee for their help in reviewing proposals.