Meeting Themes

The theme of the 2024 Workshop is “Taking an Ecoystem Approach: Integrating Offshore Wind, Wildlife, and Fisheries”.

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The scientific planning committee is particularly interested in hosting workshops/meetings and symposia on the following topics: 

• The interface of science and policy – how science is applied to inform siting, design, permitting, monitoring, and mitigation of offshore wind farms  

• Methods for monitoring and mitigation: technology development and integration  

• Conservation opportunities relating to offshore wind: net positive impacts, conservation offsets, compensatory mitigation, and other mechanisms for offshore wind to have a positive impact on wildlife and fisheries  

• Ecosystem interactions: ecosystem approaches to understanding offshore wind effects, including a focus on both physical and biological interactions and how offshore wind energy (and other stressors such as climate change) may change ecosystems across trophic levels  

• Correlation vs. causation: determining causes of ecosystem change 

• Updates on the latest approaches and findings from the U.S. and elsewhere around the world

 

Types of Abstracts 

Symposia are special conference sessions that are organized around a specific theme with a maximum of five speakers. For any symposia that are not accepted, the organizers and speakers will be welcome to submit individual oral presentations or poster abstracts. Organizers will be responsible for identifying and inviting speakers to participate in their symposium, though not all speaker slots have to be filled when the proposal is submitted. 

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Meetings and workshops are smaller offshore wind and wildlife-related meetings, workshops, and trainings, and can be open to all conference participants or limited to specific groups. The side meetings from the 2022 workshop, for example, included a closed external advisory board meeting for an ongoing research project as well as three meetings that were open to all conference-goers with prior registration (for more information on these events, see nyetwg.com/2022-workshop-side-meetings).  

 

This year, these side meetings and workshops will take place midway through the State of the Science Workshop to provide participants with an opportunity for interactive, collaborative sessions. 

 

All ideas are welcome – please do not hesitate to be creative when considering topics! 

 

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Instructions for Submissions

Please include the following information in your proposal: 

• Proposal category (symposium or side meeting/workshop 

• Title (limited to 20 words)  

• Organizers(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and email address(es)  

• List of invited speakers, if applicable, including names, affiliations, and email addresses 

• Indication of which organizers and speakers plan to attend in person vs. remote 

• Session length (suggested max length 90 minutes for symposia and ½ day for side meetings) 

•  Suggested minimum and maximum people expected to attend (for purpose of selection of a room within the venue) 

•  Session abstract of less than 500 words, including (where applicable): 

•  Rationale/goals and intended outcome for the session 

•  Titles and brief descriptions for each planned presentation 

•  Plans for other session components (e.g., introduction, panel discussion, trainings, breakout groups, online surveys, etc.) 

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Criteria for Abstract Selection and Prioritization

Abstracts will be selected based on the following criteria. A high-quality abstract:

• Addresses meeting themes (as listed above)

• Demonstrates strong scientific merit 

• Presents final results or conclusions, or presents preliminary findings from studies that will result in a significant contribution to the state of the science

• Has clear management implications

• Is not focused on marketing a good or service

 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with organizers Kate Williams (Kate.Williams@briwildlife.org) and Eleanor Eckel (Eleanor.Eckel@briwildlife.org).   

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The Planning Committee will evaluate all proposals, and the selected symposia will be announced by XXXX. We look forward to your submission.