Join us at the 2011 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) in Erie, Pennsylvania, October 26 & 27, 2011.
SOLEC provides Great Lakes decision-makers and scientists with the opportunity to receive the most comprehensive, up-to-date information on the state of the Great Lakes, see thought-provoking presentations and network with hundreds of stakeholders.
SOLEC is the key science broker for information on the Great Lakes ecosystem.
- Most up-to-date information on the status of the Great Lakes using an improved, updated and representative indicator suite
- New presentation format that better illustrates the linkages between the condition of the ecosystem and how human activities are related
- Keynote presentation by Dr. Robert Glennon, author of Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It
- Special presentation by Dr. Bryan Pijanowski, Associate Professor at Purdue University and land use change expert
- Recognition of Great Lakes successes at the SOLEC Banquet on the evening of
Day 1
- Presentations on current conditions in each Great Lake, the connecting channels and the St. Lawrence River highlighting a unique land-use
- IMAX viewing of Mysteries of the Great Lakes and evening pre-SOLEC reception at Tom Ridge Environmental Center
Conference Agenda
The theme for SOLEC 2011 is “Linking Land to the Lakes” which will expand the nearshore focus of the 2008 conference and highlight land-based issues as they relate to water quality in the Great Lakes.
A special presentation by Purdue University’s Bryan Pijanowski on day 1 of SOLEC will focus on Bryan’s work related to a decision-support system which is designed to provide stakeholders across the Great Lakes basin with a better understanding of how human activities impact the environment.
Plenary presentations during the first day of SOLEC will focus on the condition of the Great Lakes based on indicator assessments of the following categories: Water Quality, Aquatic-Dependent Life, and Landscapes and Natural Processes. These presentations will incorporate management and human interest questions and answers. This new format allows decision-makers to better understand the linkages of how human activities are related to conditions in the ecosystem.
Dr. Robert Glennon, author of “Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It” will deliver the keynote address on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. He will present his views on the water quantity issues in the United States of America and actions required to improve the crisis.
On the second day of the conference, presentations will highlight information about each Great Lake, the connecting channels and the St. Lawrence River. A unique land-use focus for each Great Lake will be highlighted such as nutrient impacts in Lake Erie and forestry and mining activities in Lake Superior.
Discussion sessions will follow the plenary presentations on both days. These afternoon sessions are an opportunity for participants to discuss the information that was presented in the morning and debate more specific issues.
For those participants travelling to Erie the night before SOLEC, please consider attending the pre-SOLEC reception being held at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center which includes a viewing of the Mysteries of the Great Lakes IMAX movie. Visit Pre-SOLEC Reception for more details.
Draft State of the Great Lakes 2012 indicator reports and category assessments will be available in advance of the conference. These reports and assessments are being prepared by numerous authors from many agencies and organizations in order to assist with assessing the overall state of the Great Lakes. See Draft Indicator Reports for more information.
The 2011 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC 2011) is the premier binational science-based conference on environmental conditions in the Great Lakes for stakeholders, decision-makers and scientists.
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