Call for Proposals
We invite your proposals for sessions and presentations at the 4th Southwest Fire Ecology Conference. Submit your proposals by the dates below and share your work with the wildland fire community when we meet in Santa Fe this fall.
Mark your calendar with these proposal due dates:
- May 15: Proposals Due for Special Sessions and Workshops
- July 15: Proposals Due for Oral Presentations
- August 15: Proposals Due for Poster Presentations and Meetings/Activities
The Southwest Fire Science Journey: Lessons from the Rearview, New and Unfamiliar Routes, and Promising New Horizons
As wildland fire scientists, managers, educators, and students in the Southwest, we find ourselves in an era of rapid change and in need of new approaches, well-planned investments, and meaningful collaborations. Typical land and fire management strategies no longer suffice in the face of escalating challenges posed by more intense fires and the impacts of climate change on precipitation patterns and temperatures. While recent and substantial investments aim to tackle these issues, they often operate on timelines that are misaligned with natural processes. Simultaneously, a cultural shift is imperative—one that recognizes our integral connection to fire-prone lands, embraces the evolving reality of wildfire and ecosystem transition, and equally respects the knowledge held by Indigenous and land grant communities of the Southwest. At this pivotal juncture, we advocate for a reflective pause to better understand the past, present, and future of the fire science journey in the southwestern US. The integration of past insights with modern approaches is paramount as we invest in creating resilient landscapes and peoples of tomorrow.
We invite proposals on topics related to fire ecology, science, and management with a focus on results and lessons learned that are applicable to the Southwest. We are especially interested in proposals for sessions and presentations that focus on the following topics:
- Biodiversity and fire
- Climate adaptation
- Collaborative and cross-jurisdictional case studies
- Cultural fire
- Education and workforce development
- Fire-adapted communities and Firewise
- Invasive species and fire
- Lessons learned in science and management
- Planning for resilience in uncertain future
- Post-fire recovery
- May 15: Proposals Due for Special Sessions, Workshops, and Fire Circles
- Organizers notified by June 20
- July 15: Proposals Due for Oral Presentations
- Presenters notified by August 20
- August 15: Proposals Due for Poster Presentations
- Presenters notified by September 15
Abstract Submission Fee for Oral Presentations and Poster Presentations
AFE requires a processing fee for each abstract submitted. This fee is separate from registration and required for all oral and poster presentation abstracts. The abstract fee is non-refundable and covers administrative and online costs associated with abstract submission and review, finalizing the program, and sharing your abstract/presentation on our conference app. We also hope this will increase presenter committment and reduce the logistical challenges of late cancellations.
To ensure this fee is not a barrier to participation, presenters can self-select the appropriate fee on their submission form:
- Regular submission fee: $50
- Discounted submission fee: $25 (available for students and anyone who needs financial assistance)
- Fee waiver: $0 (for people who cannot afford the fee)
After submitting your abstract, you will receive a link to pay the fee using our online payment system. If you need to pay this fee with your registration, please email [email protected] so we can invoice you.