Lake Champlain Research Conference

Announcements

The abstract submission deadline for this conference has been extended to October 29. Late submissions will be accepted by federal employees and other professionals impacted by the government shutdown.

We are now accepting abstract submissions for presentations through this online form. Abstract submission deadline is October 29. If you have any questions, please contact seagrant [at] uvm.edu or Hannah.Fischer [at] uvm.edu.

Lake Champlain Sea Grant, in partnership with the University of Vermont’s Water Resources Institute, the Lake Champlain Basin Program/NEIWPCC, and the Lake Champlain Research Consortium, is pleased to announce the next Lake Champlain Research Conference. The conference will be held from January 26–27, 2026, at the University of Vermont Davis Center in Burlington, Vermont.

The conference theme, Research to Action, will bring together lake and watershed stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and student researchers, natural resource management practitioners, watershed groups and other nonprofit organizations, and the public, to share and learn about the research related to Lake Champlain and its watershed. The conference will feature representation and research from New York, Vermont, Québec, and beyond, providing an opportunity for discussion, networking, and collaboration across Lake Champlain’s multi-jurisdictional watershed. 

The conference will feature presentations, interactive panels, networking opportunities, and poster sessions covering critical topics in the Lake Champlain Basin including, but not limited to:

• Aquatic invasive species
• Contaminants of emerging concern
• Fish, fisheries, and ecosystem changes
• Lake and watershed ecology
• Innovative technologies and forecasting
• Reaching new audiences
• Participatory science
• History and cultural heritage
• Best management practices
• Phosphorus loading
• Floodplains
• Agriculture

Registration:

General registration will cost $50 for this conference. Student registration is free. If cost is a barrier for your non-profit organization, please reach out in advnace so we can provide you a discount rate. Registration information will be available on this webpage.

Location and Travel:

This conference will take place in the Dudley H. Davis Center on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vermont. If you are traveling from out of town, please consult our hotel and restaurant list before your visit.

Keynote Addresses

We are excited to announce keynote addresses from Cynthia Barnett and Dr. John Krueger.

Cynthia Barnett is an award-winning environmental journalist and the author of four books including Rain: A Natural and Cultural History, and The Sound of the Sea: Seashells and the Fate of the Oceans, both named among the best books of the year by NPR’s Science Friday. Barnett also teaches at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications in Gainesville, and developed the Environment, Climate and Science Journalism program.

John Krueger is a prolific writer and gifted storyteller whose animated history lessons have sparked a deeper appreciation for the Lake Champlain Basin region’s cultural heritage for countless listeners. Originally from Schenectady, New York, John received his doctorate in history from the University at Albany, SUNY, after attending Boston University and the University of Vermont for his undergraduate and master’s studies. John went on to work at UVM, first as a professor of history and later in donor relations. He continued his work in development at Salzburg Global before assuming the position of director at the Clinton County Historical Association. Later, John served as director of the Kent-Delord House Museum, and worked as a city historian for Plattsburgh, New York. 

Looking forward to welcoming you to beautiful Burlington, Vermont in January 2026!