Submit a Presentation Proposal
The Convention brings together scientists, water management specialists, educators, students, property owners, and the general public to learn more about water resources, so the audience is more varied than a typical research or professional conference. Ideally, presentations provide the audience with actionable lessons that they might apply at any of Wisconsin’s thousands of lakes, rivers, or streams.
There are many ways to share your project, research, success story, or expertise at the Lakes and Rivers Convention. Consider submitting a proposal today!
Read more about each type of presentation by scrolling down to the dropdowns below the submission buttons.
Deadline: October 1, 2026
We invite you to submit a Concurrent Session Presentation Proposal for sessions scheduled for Thursday and Friday, April 15-16. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for a workshop, lightning talk, or poster, please use the form specific to that type of presentation.
For 2027, the theme is Water Connects Us All. We invite presenters to join us to share projects, successes, programs and initiatives that fall into the following topics:
- Innovative Communications
- Human (and critter) Health
- Ecological Connections
- Watersheds
- Community Action
- Economics of Water
- Politics of Water
- Plants and Animals Around the Water
- Climate Resiliency & Adaptation
- Organizational Management
Throughout these sessions, we encourage highlights of efforts and ideas that support diverse perspectives and group dynamics, as well as equity and inclusion in water resource protection and management.
NOTE: We do ask concurrent presenters to register for the Convention unless they are only presenting their session and not planning to attend the rest of the event. Registration helps cover the cost of meals, snacks, AV equipment, and all of the others costs that are needed to run a large event. If you need assistance, please see our scholarship information.
Deadline: October 1, 2026
We are seeking Workshop Proposals for 2-3 hour workshops that will take place on Wednesday, April 14 (morning or afternoon) and Friday, April 16 (afternoon). We are also accepting proposals for a 6-hour workshop on Wednesday, April 14 (3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon). If you are interested in submitting a proposal for a concurrent session, poster presentation, or lightning talk, please use the form specific to that type of presentation.
Workshops are meant to be more engaging than concurrent sessions and could include hands-on activities, small group discussions, panels, planning sessions, etc. Workshops should help get participants exploring or working on an issue so they leave the workshop feeling like they are more capable of moving a project forward.
Deadline: March 1
New in 2027: We will have two information-packed Lightning Talk sessions! The first will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Thursday (April 15) and the second will be on Friday (April 16), time is yet TBD. We will move from one presenter right into the next. If you have been chosen to present a Lightning Talk, we encourage you to submit a poster as well; the poster session will take place immediately following the Lightning Talks and give presenters time to answer questions of the attendees.
Guidelines for Lightning Talk presenters:
- Submit up to five slides by March 1, 2027
- Be ready to present at the beginning of the session you’ve been selected for.
- Keep your time under 5 minutes.
- We require all presenters to register for the Convention. If you need assistance, please see our scholarship information.
- Lightning Talk proposals will be reviewed and accepted on an ongoing basis until the deadline or until we reach capacity. Submit your proposal early to ensure inclusion in the program.
Note: We will not accept proposals that are advertisements or promotions for businesses/events. Please consider registering for an exhibit space to promote your businesses/event.
Deadline: April 1
Posters will be displayed starting Thursday morning (April 15) at 8:00 a.m. through Friday at 2:00 p.m. A featured Poster Session will take place on Thursday from 4:30-5:30 in which poster presenters are required to attend and discuss their poster.
During the Thursday poster session, you and other poster presenters will have a chance to share and discuss your topic one-on-one with a statewide audience.
Poster submissions should address the Convention’s broad theme “Water Connects Us All” if possible.
Guidelines for poster presenters:
- Posters should be 3 feet by 4 feet and readable from a distance of at least 3 feet.
- Posters should be set up no later than Thursday, April 15 at 9:00 a.m.
- Presenters are required to be available at their posters during the Poster Session from 4:30-5:30 on Thursday, April 15.
- Posters should be taken down on Friday, April 16 between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
- Handout materials for attendees may be provided. Please bring something to contain your handout materials, such as a leaflet holder, pocket folder, etc.
- You may submit your poster as a PDF if you would like it included in the Convention archives.
- We require all presenters to register for the Convention if you plan to attend more than just the poster session. If you need assistance, please see our scholarship information.
- Poster proposals will be reviewed and accepted on an ongoing basis until the deadline or until we reach capacity. Submit your proposal early to ensure inclusion in the program.
Note: The Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention does not endorse specific products or services. Therefore, posters presented by individuals representing businesses or projects conducted by businesses should avoid the use of trade or brand names and refer to the products or services by a generic descriptor.
We will not accept posters that are advertisements or promotions for businesses/events. Please consider registering for an exhibit space to promote your businesses/event.