“The Importance of Water and Rivers –
What Does the Future Hold?”
Please register – it’s FREE and easy
Registering for this year’s River Symposium allows us to run things much more smoothly upon your arrival. It is free and only takes a minute.
If you plan to watch the Keynote and Plenary Addresses remotely via Zoom, please check the online schedules for Friday and Saturday the day of the event. There you find links.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Frieda Jacques (Whatwehni:neh)
A highly-respected humanities scholar, teacher, and writer, Dr. Jacques has served as the Turtle Clan Mother of the Onondaga Nation for over 50 years. She advocates for Native American culture, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the rights and well-being of a native peoples and of our planet. For over 21 years she was the Home/School Liaison for the Onondaga Nation Schools, serving as a bridge between her culture and the many educational institutions in central New York. She is a sought-after speaker, respected for her wisdom and teachings, especially the importance that all of humanity must recognize their dependance upon the natural world and also understand that peace was established with out war in Haudenosaunee Country, finalized on the shores of Onondaga Lake.
Dr. Jacques will deliver the symposium’s plenary address entitled “The Relationship changes over time with water, why it matters” on Friday, Nov. 7, from 6:15 -7:00 p.m. in Room 272 (The Forum).
Coming Together to Inspire Change
This symposium draws together people from all walks of life who share a common interest in rivers, watersheds, communities, and the connections therein. It also offers a time and a place where the public can interact with academics, professionals, and regulators, all working toward the same goal – ensuring our watersheds remain healthy for generations to come.This year’s event celebrates 20 years of river symposia.
Schedule
6:00-6:05 pm – Welcome
6:05-6:10 pm – Opening remarks
6:10-6:55 pm – Keynote address “The relationship changes over time with water, why it matters.” (Freida Jacques, Humanities Scholar, Writer, and Turtle Clan Mother, Onondaga Nation)
7:00-9:00 pm – Poster presentations and Exhibits
8:00-9:00 pm – Evening Social
8:00-9:00 am – Walk-in registration and self-guided tour of research posters in the Terrace Room (Rm. 272). Coffee and refreshments available.
8:00-9:10 am – Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:00-9:10 am – Overview of the day’s events
9:15 am – 9:45 am – Plenary talk #1. “Onondaga Creek and the Salt City” (Freida Jacques, Humanities Scholar, Writer, and Turtle Clan Mother, Onondaga Nation) (The Forum, Rm.
9:45 am – 10:15 am – Plenary talk #2. “Indigenous Heritage Initiative: Reconnecting Land and Culture” (Laurel Etter Longenecker, Executive Director, RiverStewards Collaborative and Alyssa Hannigan, Land Studies)
10:15-10:30 am – Break
10:30 – 11:00 am – Plenary talk #3. “Resilient by the River: Strengthening Flood Preparedness and Preservation in Selinsgrove Borough” (Meghan Schmidt, Water Resources Division, AKRF Environmental Services)
11:00 – 11:30 am – Plenary talk #4. “Adaptive Approaches to Process-Based Stream Restoration” (David Goerman, Wetlands and Waterways Program, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection)
11:30 am – 12:00 pm – Plenary Speaker Panel Discussion. Moderated by Shannon Seneca, Ph.D., Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Professor at University of Buffalo
12:00 – 1:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 pm – Special session: “The hidden costs of data centers” Moderated by Dr. Kathy Boomer, Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research, with presentations by Christine Abrams, Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Dr. Shannon Seneca, University of Buffalo, Sharon Waltman and Dr. William Waltman, Watsontown, PA.
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Oral Presentations
3:00 – 3:10 pm – Wrap-up and Closing
2024 Keynote speaker Charles Cravotta, III, Ph.D., P.G, with students and faculty who presented posters at last year’s River Symposium.
Commitment to Care
Bucknell is preparing to host this year’s symposium as an in-person event so that all individuals onsite — attendees, speakers, staff, vendors, and venue personnel — remain safe and comfortable. Creating a safe, worry-free symposium experience is our top priority.
We are following the guidance of our partners at Geisinger Medical Center, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control when hosting large, public events on campus.
Getting Here
Please feel free to use the helpful links below to plan your trip to the River Symposium
Testimonials
“This is a terrific event! It’s great to see the students present their posters on Friday night and attend the talks and breakout sessions on Saturday. I made a lot of contacts too.” (member of the public)
““I get a lot out of the plenary talks, breakout discussions, oral presentations, and conversations over lunch. I learned so much and plan to come back next year.” (undergraduate student)
“I really appreciate the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of this symposium. It’s a great networking event too. The evening social during Friday’s poster session and the lunch and refreshments during the exhibits are a very nice touch.” (member of local conservancy)
“I really appreciate the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of this symposium. It’s a great networking event too. The evening social during Friday’s poster session and the lunch and refreshments during the exhibits are a very nice touch.“I like how this symposium tries to weave together art, religion, science, economics and policy. I hope Bucknell continues it for many years to come.“ (local citizen)
The annual River Symposium is an educational community outreach event sponsored by the Bucknell Center for Sustainability & the Environment, the Susquehanna River Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies, and the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center at Penn State University.
For more information, please contact Ben Hayes (brh010@bucknell.edu) or Sean Reese (spr016@bucknell.edu).