Posted on August 21, 2024
The State of the Coast Conference, a statewide gathering of experts, advocates and people of Louisiana interested in coastal restoration efforts, is coming to New Orleans in 2025.
The conference, organized by The Water Institute, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), is planned for May 20-22, 2025, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. It seeks to advance the future of restoration in the coastal communities, economies and environment of Louisiana through the exchange of the latest information across different professions.
“This is a pivotal moment for our coast, so we expect the exchange of ideas to be of significant value,” CRCL executive director Kim Reyher said.
In its eighth year of providing a forum for discussion on Louisiana’s coastal protection efforts, the conference will host panels, lightning talks and poster presentations covering topics such as flood risk management, disaster planning and recovery, coastal law and policy, environmental restoration and renewable energy.
The event coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the settlement of which funds much of Louisiana’s current coastal protection and restoration efforts.
The central theme of the conference is “Our Changing Coast,” which “focuses on how people respond to the inevitability of Louisiana’s changing coastline, whether by attempting to slow or adapting to change,” according to a news release from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.
About 1,200 people attended the conference in 2023, including scientists, lawmakers, coastal Louisiana residents, students and government agency personnel, according to the conference website.
The State of the Coast Conference website encourages attendees to keep an eye out for early registration, launching in November. Those interested in sponsoring the event or setting up an exhibit can apply now through May 2025 on the SOC conference website.
Poster proposals will be accepted until Oct. 15, while those wanting to host a talk should apply before Sept. 23.
