Despite some difficult morning driving conditions, the 2014 Vermont Monitoring Cooperative (VMC) and Mount Mansfield Science and Stewardship Conference drew a record audience at the University of Vermont (UVM) Davis Center on December 11. This year’s conference, sponsored jointly by the VMC and the UVM Environmental Program, featured five plenary talks, more than two dozen contributed presentations, six working sessions, and over 20 posters.

Following welcomes by Jen Pontius, VMC Principal Investigator, and Rick Paradis, Director, UVM Natural Areas, the 143 attendees were treated to stimulating presentations addressing the conference’s theme of “Science to Policy: Benefitting from Actionable Science.” Speakers included: Deb Markowitz, Secretary of the VT Agency of Natural Resources; Tom Berry, Policy Advisor on Agriculture, Conservation, Energy and Natural Resources to Senator Patrick Leahy; Representative Rebecca Ellis, Washington Chittenden House District; Jamey Fidel, General Counsel & Forest and Wildlife Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council; and Dan Lambert, Conservation Project Leader, High Branch Conservation Services.

Contributed presentations given in five concurrent sessions during the afternoon ran the gamut from using multispectral data collected from satellites for generating maps to determining the carrying capacity of bobcats in Vermont and much more. See http://www.uvm.edu/vmc/annualMeeting/2014/agenda for the full agenda, list of presentations and presenters, and abstracts.

Working sessions were available for attendees to delve into one of six topics: a Vermont Water Monitoring Council; using an integrated forest ecosystem assessment to support sustainable management decisions; strengthening the role of science at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources; future of monitoring and research at the Lye Brook Wilderness Area; getting the most out of the new VMC website and database; and strategic planning for a Mount Mansfield Science and Stewardship Center in recognition of the 40^th anniversary of the UVM Natural Areas Program which includes the summit of Mount Mansfield.

This final working session was dedicated to sharing a vision, gathering ideas, and strategic planning toward the Mount Mansfield Science and Stewardship Center proposed for the summit of the mountain. This plan would transform the current “summit station” and former TV facility into a state-of-the-art field station. Attendees learned about past and ongoing research and monitoring efforts, discussed ways of identifying and strengthening tools for mountain stewardship, and engaged in strategic planning to help move the project forward.

Thank you to everyone who attended the conference and helped make the day a success! Conference content is available on the VMC website.