Past symposia (2013-2023)
What began as the Water Symposium in 2013, soon evolved into the Water and Land Symposium, and continued as the Environmental Science and Design Research Symposium until 2023.
These annual symposiums were focused on a variety of environmental issues critical to our region and the world, attracting hundreds of attendees from a wide range of institutions. The symposiums included keynote speakers, guest speakers, break-out sessions, workshops, and a student poster session.
2023
Environmental Justice, Ecology, and Race
13 - 14 April 2023

Co-hosted with Kent State's Anti-Racism and Equity Institute
Sponsorship by Cleveland Water Alliance
Keynote speaker
Dorceta Taylor, Yale University
- Oscar Rocha, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Paul Chiyokten Wagner, Protectors of the Salish Sea
- Kawenniiosta Jock (Wolf Clan) (Orenhre'kowa Ki'taratakie), Waterfall Unity Alliance
- Elaine (Lan Yin) Hsiao, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Aaron Rimmler-Cohen, Farm Sanctuary
- Valerie Trouet, Arizona 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Kofi Boone, North Carolina 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Nayyirah Shariff, Flint Rising
- Taraneh Meshkani, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
Speaker Biographies
2023 Symposium Highlights
2023 Symposium Abstract Catalog
2020
Facing 21st Century Nature: Configuring Fresh Approaches Through Biodesign
16 - 18 March 2020

Keynote speaker
Rachel Armstrong, Newcastle University
- Christie Bahlai, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Margarita Benitez, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- J. R. Campbell, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Terry Cardy, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Maria Paz Gutierrez, University of California- Berkeley
- J. Scott MacIvor, University of Toronto- Scarborough
- Lauren McPhillips, Pennsylvania 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Bridget Mulvey, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Amy M. Youngs, The Ohio 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
Despite the event being canceled in-person due to COVID-19, symposium virtual events included:
- Exhibition and lecture by visiting scholar Rachel Armstrong, Newcastle University
- Student lightning talks
- Poster session
- Collaboration with Design Innovation Initiative
2019
Complexity of Environmental Legacies
19 - 21 March 2019

Keynote speakers
Elizabeth W. Boyer, Pennsylvania 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
J. Henry Fair, environmentalist and fine art photographer
- Jennifer Grieser, Cleveland Metroparks
- Elizabeth Herndon, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Bess Krietemeyer, Syracuse University
- Rui Liu, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Noel Palomo-Lovinski, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Chris Winslow, The Ohio 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
Additional symposium events included:
- Poster session and book signing with J. Henry Fair
- Panel discussion with symposium speakers
2017
Natural and Designed Ecologies
4 - 5 October 2017

Keynote speaker
Tim Beatley, University of Virginia
- Daniel Bain, University of Pittsburgh
- Margarita Benitz, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Kelly Bricker, University of Utah
- Reid Coffman, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- James Fraser, Vanderbilt University
- Petra Gruber, University of Akron
- Mitchell Joachim, Terreform One
- David Jurca, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Joshua Lawler, University of Washington
- Andrew Lepp, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Kayla Perry, The Ohio 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Lisa Petit, National Park Service
- Laia Mogas Soldevila, Tufts University
Additional symposium events include:
- Poster session
- Multiple panel discussions
2016
Sustainability and Resilience on the Land-Water Continuum
5 - 6 October 2016

Keynote speaker
Cynthia Barnett, journalist and author of Rain: A Natural and Cultural History and Blue Revolution. Unmaking America's Water Crisis
- Darren Bade, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Chris Blackwood, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Andrew Curtis, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Matt Davies, The Ohio 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Chris Davis, National Park Service
- Sarah Godsey, Idaho 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Connie Hausman, Cleveland Metroparks
- Laura Johnson, Heidelberg University
- Wendy Kellogg, Cleveland 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Melissa Kenney, University of Maryland
- Karin Kettenring, Utah 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Lauren Kinsman-Costello, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Mark McCabe, Gresham Smith and Partners
- Tom Meixner, University of Arizona
- Harry Sarvis, Ohio EPA
- James White, Cuyahoga County Port Authority
- Truman Young, University of California- Davis
Additional symposium events included:
- Book signing
- Poster session
- Panel discussion
2015
Water in a Changing Climate: Regional to Global Issues
14 - 15 October 2015
Keynote speaker
Richard Alley, Pennsylvania 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Emily M. Elliott, University of Pittsburgh
- Xiaozhen (Jen) Mou, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Allison Steiner, University of Michigan
- V. Kelly Turner, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Gena Wirth, SCAPE Landscape Architecture LLC