2023 Request for Proposals

San Francisco Bay Area National Parks Science Symposium

November 8, 2023
Golden Gate Club, Presidio of San Francisco

NOTE: The proposal submission period has ended.

On November 8th, 2023 the San Francisco Bay Area Network will host its 11th San Francisco Bay Area National Parks Science Symposium. This day-long, biennial event presents a rare opportunity for park staff, volunteers, and partners across a wide variety of communities and disciplines to explore important topics in science, research, and natural resource conservation.

More event details including this RFP, registration, and information about past symposia are available via the main science symposium webpage.

If you have questions about this RFP or the event—or if you need more time or assistance to craft your proposal—please email: [e-mail].

2023 Theme

Eco-memory: The power of the past to help us forge a sustainable future

Ecological memory refers to the way in which past conditions and events–like droughts or forest fires – experienced by populations or ecosystems inform their current and future responses. Though primarily a natural sciences term, at this year’s symposium, we wish to apply it more broadly to also explore what we’re learning from our own memories, datasets, and experiences about how to forge a more sustainable future for our parks.

Priority will be given to proposals that address big questions within this theme. For example:

• Datasets are like memories. What are we learning from the data we’ve been collecting over the years? What patterns and trends are emerging from our datasets?

• Indigenous peoples were the land’s first scientists and stewards. What opportunities exist with regard to Tribal co-stewardship? How can we integrate multiple priorities and ways of knowing into scientific work and practice?

• Climate change & global weirding are reshaping parks. What are the biggest or strangest effects we’ve seen so far and how is our science helping us decide how to respond? How are traditional ecological knowledge and insights about past extreme events helping us find the best way forward?

• Disease outbreaks seem to be everywhere. What lessons have we learned by studying pathogens in our parks? How have park ecosystems responded? How are we now studying and responding to emerging diseases like avian influenza?

• Park lands once supported more species. How are species reintroductions going? What have we learned about how some species return on their own? What’s worked and what hasn’t worked to prevent further species loss, reintroduce beneficial disturbances like prescribed fire, or keep invasive species at bay?

• Experience helps us evolve. How are we making new memories, growing our data sets, or evolving our monitoring programs in response to new information or technology? What strategies are making our programs more relevant, efficient, dynamic, and sustainable? What actions are we taking in response to what we are learning?

• The land remembers. In what ways are historical events (past human land use, natural events, socio-ecological relationships, etc.) shaping natural landscapes and ecosystems today? How may knowledge of this history contextualize restoration activities?

• Diversity of ideas, experiences, and backgrounds benefits park science. How can we incorporate more diversity into our workforces? In what ways can diversity of thought and perspective generate more innovative questions and solutions to pressing issues? How can we amplify the voices of a new generation of diverse youth and help them feel greater belonging in science and nature? How do we further diversify park internship programs?

• Community science and partnerships = more eco-memories. How are they expanding our capacity to collect more data, and to connect more youth and communities to public lands and park science? Where are we integrating the practice of community science into our monitoring efforts? What are the results? What makes our science and community science partnerships successful? What are some lessons learned? Who do we want to partner with in the future?

• Narrative helps make memories. How is storytelling helping us interpret and communicate science? How can it help us weave past and present to imagine a brighter future?

Submission Instructions

With eco-memory in mind, we invite you to propose a presentation in one of the following formats:

• 5-minute “lightning talks” (Best for quickly sharing new or useful tools)
• 10-15-minute presentation (Standard format)
• 30-60-minute session, panel, or workshop (Best for deep dives and interactive material)
• 24” x 36” (max) poster
• Poster session interactive equipment or skills demonstration

Please note that presentations may be recorded or live-streamed.

Proposals are due September 1st!

Proposal Submission Form

Your proposal must include:

• A 250-word (max) abstract describing your project

• Presentation title and presenter(s) name(s) and contact information

• Your choice of format that best fits your presentation (see above list)

Please keep the following points in mind when crafting your abstract:

• Your audience is a mix of park and park partner scientists, managers, educators, interpreters, and volunteers. Make sure that your talk is accessible to a broad audience.

• Your presentation or poster must include a clear “so what” message. For example, how this project can inform park management, or be used in public programming, education, etc.

• The concepts of eco-memory and how we learn from/respond to events/data/experiences are key to this year’s symposium; please clearly indicate how they apply to your project or program.

• Addressing climate change is also a core consideration in 21st century park management. Please note climate change considerations that may have been a part of your project.

• Presenters from outside of the National Park Service are welcome to submit an abstract; however, please make sure to include how your project or program is relevant to resource management or science on park lands.