SCGIS Annual Conference: Conservation for Action

The 27th SCGIS Annual Conference, was held September 4-6, 2024 at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia USA.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Conference Theme and Keynote

We are here for a reason.  We are drawn to the geospatial sciences not just because they are a powerful technical tool.  We apply these tools with purpose and with passion.  Some of our work contributes to the basic science of how ecological systems work.  Other applied science and cartography are designed to help us achieve specific conservation goals—designating land or marine conservation areas, creating conservation easements, implementing community restoration projects, or putting policies in place that will shape conservation opportunities nationwide or internationally.  We do Conservation for Action.

Achieving conservation actions is a challenge on many levels from having the right data and technology to the diverse stakeholders and the politics.  Timelines can be long.  How can we make our work most effective?  Can we help bridge the gap between science and policy?  What is our most effective role in partnerships with other stakeholders?  What are examples of geospatial conservation work that is done well?  You are invited to share your work on this and other conservation GIS topics at the 2024 SCGIS Annual International Conference.

Join us for 3 full days featuring one day of technical workshops, field trip excursions, and a special opening ceremony celebration on Sept 4 and a variety of presentation sessions and hosted networking events on Sept 5-6!

In addition, we are excited to present this year’s keynote speaker who will share her experiences and perspectives on Conservation for Action: Breece Robertson combines geospatial technology and storytelling to inspire, activate, educate, and engage people to protect our planet. She is a noteworthy leader in the conservation and restoration field with over two decades of experience. She created and led the GIS, research and planning unit at The Trust for Public Land for 18 years where she implemented strategic initiatives like ParkScore®, ParkServe®, Climate Smart Cities and Greenprinting. She also held roles with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and One Tree Planted to expand the use of geospatial technologies and earth observations for environmental justice, monitoring and evaluation. In 2006, she was awarded the Esri Special Achievement in GIS award and in 2012, the “Making a Difference” award. She authored a book called “Protecting the Places We Love” published in April 2021 by Esri Press. Breece serves on the National Park Service Advisory Board, the National Recreation and Park Association Board of Trustees and the National Geospatial Advisory Committee. When she’s not protecting places, she’s exploring and enjoying them with her partner and two adventurous pups.

SCGIS 2024 Conference Keynote Presentation by Breece Robertson

Become an Official Conference Sponsor!

Learn more about becoming an official sponsor of the Conference this year. 

Registration, Lodging and Meal Costs

The following conference registration rates are available (Early Bird Registration closed on June 30, 2024):

Pre-registration is required for all presenters. On-site registration is available upon request. Sign up for an SCGIS membership before you register to get the discounted member rate!

SCGIS merchandise

Show your support for SCGIS at this year's conference and year round with official gear! You can find our logo on hats, glassware, shirts, and more in our online store, along with items sporting our 2022 conference design. Looking for fan favorite shirt designs from past conferences? Check out our vintage designs here.

We will not be selling these items at the conference, so purchase your favorites now and bring them in September!

Refund Policy

Planning a conference is difficult! Especially when you can't be sure on how many people to expect. Because of this, we have to implement a refund policy.  If you cancel your registration more than 3 months before the conference, a full refund will be issued, minus a 10% processing fee to cover our costs. If you cancel within 1-3 months of the conference, a 50% refund will be issued.

Unfortunately, we cannot issue a refund within 1 month of the conference.  At this point, we have planned for your attendance and cannot afford to make any last minute changes. Nevertheless, we realize that life sometimes has unforeseen circumstances, so please reach out to us by email, in case you need assistance.

Thanks for your understanding!

Call for Volunteers

The SCGIS Annual International Conference is organized by an incredible team of volunteers. We would like to invite you to volunteer while attending the conference and help us to make another great conference. Please consider this invitation with care and reach out to us at [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you at the conference and learning about your work!

For questions, please contact [email protected].