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Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Symposium

#Science4Climate

Agenda | Poster Session | World Cafe | Field Trip | About the Area

Welcome to Gulf Shores, Alabama!

We are so excited to welcome you here at The Lodge at Gulf State Park for our 2022 Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Symposium. We are excited to meet or reconnect with you, share ideas, and work together this week. In an effort to reduce the amount of waste produced during the event, we have opted to utilize an electronic welcome packet with an associated symposium webpage. This page contains the symposium agenda, registration instructions, World Cafe information, field trip details, and additional resources related to the event.

Symposium Themes:

  • Changing Southeastern Landscapes
  • Impacts on Habitats, Animals, People
  • Adaptation Challenges & Successes

VIEW SYMPOSIUM AGENDA 

Registration Information

Meet in the Burrow each morning between 7:00AM and 8:00AM for registration. Our registration welcome team will assist you in checking in. Coffee and tea will be served nearby in Ballroom Foyer II and III.

Poster and Tools Networking Session

Poster and Tools Networking Session is intended for students, researchers, managers, and partners to present posters depicting current research findings and partner resources, and to share management-relevant tools.

The session was held on Monday, September 19, 4:30-6:00 pm.

World Cafe Session Information

The World Cafe session, 10:45 am – 12:45 pm on Tuesday, September 20, is intended to facilitate directed conversations and knowledge sharing on targeted themes. There will be a variety of tables set up during this session, organized around specific topics and around specific organizations, hosted by a table lead. Participants can choose which tables they wish to visit based on their individual interests. After 15 minutes of discussion, each participant will choose another table to visit; this process will continue for 7 rotations.

World Cafe Table Themes:

  • Challenges and Successes to Achieving Coastal Resilience
  • Climate Change, Collaboration & SWAPs: Unpacking Drivers of Change and Opportunities for Transboundary Collaboration in State Wildlife Action Planning
  • Collaborations Between Tribal Nations and the Climate Adaptation Community
  • Communication Strategies Across the Science to Action Continuum
  • Conserving an Intact and Enduring Appalachian Landscape:
    Designing a Corridor in Response to Climate Change
  • Eye Tracking for Climate Data Visualization
  • Gulf Research Program
  • Incorporating Climate Change into SWAP Revisions
  • Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC)
  • National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC)
  • SE CASC Future Science Needs/Priorities
  • Southeastern Plant Conservation Alliance (SE PCA), Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG), and the Southeastern Center for Conservation Research at ABG
  • The Jones Center

Field Trip – Fort Morgan Historic Site

Registration and payment required.

When: Wednesday, September 21, 2022. Please meet at the hotel main lobby by 12:15pm the latest. Shuttles will depart The Lodge at 12:30 pm and return by 5 pm.

Learn about climate challenges for management of this important cultural resource as well as the surrounding dune and marsh habitats on this field trip to Fort Morgan State Historic Site at the mouth of Mobile Bay.

The Fort Morgan Historic Site field trip will engage participants in this region’s rich history as an American battleground and also in its climate adaptation and conservation efforts. Fort Morgan is located west of Gulf Shores, Alabama on Mobile Point. This site served as the battle site for the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. The fort continued to be used during the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II. This seacoast fortification experienced much adaptation and change over the years by the U.S. Army to best protect the country. In 1946, the site was declared a historic site to the state of Alabama. Fort Morgan also has many outdoor resources and activities, such as beaches, nature trails, bird watching areas, and fishing. Outside the site is a federal wildlife area managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with dunes and marshes providing habitats for at-risk species, especially important in the face of changing climate and development pressures in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Optional Guided Tours On and Around the Lodge

Have free time during lunch or at the end of the day? Feel free to join these scheduled optional tours learn about The Lodge’s history, sustainability efforts, and surrounding wildlife habitats!

The Lodge is the first hotel in the world to achieve LEED Gold, SITES Platinum, and FORTIFIED Commercial certifications. Join us on this 45-minute tour to learn about the history of the Lodge and take a look at some of the elements that make it one of the most sustainable resorts in the world. Meet in the back of the Lobby (by the mock sea turtle nest) at 12:15 pm on Monday, Sept 19, or at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, Sept 20.

Join us for a short 30-minute beach walk to learn about the habitat around the Lodge and some of the protected creatures that can be found here (as well as the efforts to help them). Meet on Dunes Terrace at 6:15 pm on Monday, Sept 19.

The Interpretive Center is Alabama’s most environmentally friendly building, built to achieve LEED Platinum and full Living Building Challenge certification (as well as being the first-ever FORTIFIED Commercial facility). On this 30 minute tour, we’ll explore the unique design features of the Interpretive Center and learn how the facility generates its own energy and drinking water. Meet in the Ballroom Foyer on Tuesday, Sept 20, at 6:15 pm to receive parking passes and then drive to the Interpretive Center (carpool is suggested).

Exploring Gulf Shores, AL

If you would like to do some exploring of Gulf Shores, AL, on your own, check out the suggestions below!

Explore the nine ecosystems found in Gulf State Park, ranging from our white sugar sand beaches to our maritime forest. With 28 miles of hiking and biking accessible trails, our complimentary bikeshare program and our park tram, you’ll find it’s easy to make new discoveries.

Want to explore the park on a guided Segway tour? Or want to get out on Lake Shelby and explore the park by kayak or paddleboard? Contact our friends at Coastal Segway Adventures to make your reservation. https://coastalsegwayadventures.com/

Check out the programs offered at the Gulf State Park Learning Campus (behind Park Headquarters) and at the Nature Center (inside the Gulf State Park Campground). You can find the Calendar of Events here: learningcampusgsp.com/calendar.

Whether you want to try your hand at saltwater-fishing (license required) or just want to see the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sally on September 16, 2020, you will want to explore the Gulf State Park Fishing & Education Pier, which is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Prior to Hurricane Sally, the Pier was the largest on the Gulf of Mexico and still boasts over 1400 feet of fishing space while awaiting repairs. Complimentary sightseeing access is provided by showing your Lodge room key. If you choose to drive rather than walk next door, there is a nominal parking fee of $3.00 for two hours.

For art afficionados, don’t miss a visit to the Coastal Arts Center in Orange Beach, which has a great gallery in addition to glass blowing demonstrations at the Hot Shop as well as pottery demonstrations in the Clay Studio. Find your own unique souvenir! https://orangebeachal.gov/facilities/art-center/about

There are great shopping and dining opportunities in the area, including the Wharf (alwharf.com), OWA (including Tropic Falls, an award-winning theme park and all-new indoor water park; www.visitowa.com), and the Tanger Outlets in nearby Foley, Alabama (www.tangeroutlet.com/foley). For even more options, including more things to do, check out www.gulfshores.com.

Learn more about the lodge

The Lodge at Gulf State Park – a Hilton Hotel

The Lodge is a beachfront LEED Gold certified hotel located within the beautiful 6,150-acre Gulf State Park. This family-friendly environment is accessible to over 27 miles of nearby hiking trails, a freshwater fishing lake, and an Educational Center exhibits information about dune ecosystems and environmentally friendly architecture. A range of dining options are available within the hotel and nearby attractions offer additional dining and entertainment alternatives.

Hotel information:
21196 East Beach Blvd.
Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542
(251)-540-4000


Visit hotel website

A Commitment to Sustainability

Gulf Shores is home to many coastal plants and animals and The Lodge is committed to keeping them healthy and safe for generations to come.

This LEED Gold certified hotel was designed to reduce internal energy and water use by up to 35%. Additionally, the building is oriented to take advantage of the Gulf’s natural breeze for ventilation and natural lighting.

In addition to the above sustainable elements, The Lodge has detailed their efforts on their website. This commitment to sustainability was an essential factor in choosing a meeting location. We hope to bring together resource managers and researchers without leaving a substantial impact on the environment.

Learn more about these sustainability initiatives

Pensacola International Airport

The Pensacola International Airport is recommended as most convenient to The Lodge hotel.

Airport Information:
2430 Airport Blvd. Suite 225
Pensacola, FL 32504
(850)-436-5000












Visit the airport website

Questions or Comments?

Questions can be directed to Cari Furiness, cari_furiness@ncsu.edu.

Send an email