MOLINE, ILLINOIS (October 2, 2024) — River Action is especially pleased to be gathering the river stakeholders in 2024. We are working in collaboration with experts and policymakers, non-profits, cities, educators, students, media, and scientists, and new this year, collaborating with high schools and colleges to present the Next Gen Summit in collaboration with the Upper Mississippi River Conference. We will convene the 18h annual conference, ‘Learning From Each Other” at the Western Illinois University Campus, Moline, Illinois, October 16 and 17, 2024, to focus on clean water challenges, Native-American conservation, partnerships that lead to change, how climate is changing industry, engineering with nature, environmental justice, and transformative urban redevelopment in floodplains.
Attendees will hear from our Keynote speakers, Bill Quackenbush and Chloris Lowe Jr. Ho-Chunk Nation, Bryce Upholt, author of The Great River; David Cummins, President, Blue Sky Maritime, Chris Like, State Leader in Science, Iowa Department of Education, Dr Mark Dixon, Biologist, University of South Dakota, and Master Class, “The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Education” with Greg Harrington, University of Wisconsin, Ed Freer, Landscape Architect and Waterfront Planner, Madison, Wisconsin, and Dr Roger Viadero, Interdisciplinary PhD program in Environmental Studies, Western Illinois University. They will also hear from organizations, such as Nahant Marsh Education Center, Illinois Regional Port District, National Weather Service, and City of Moline Water Plant.
The Next Gen Summit on October 17 will focus on the transition from theory and knowledge to the workplace. Eight professionals will present careers in their disciplines. This will be followed by water testing on the riverfront and from the Channel Cat Water Taxi led by Bob Bohannon, Retired Plant Manager, City of Moline.
Field trips also are planned: Nahant Marsh with Executive Director, Brian Ritter, and the Blue Heron Eco Cruise, Rock Creek Marina and Eco Tourism Center, Camanche, Iowa.
The conference will be held at the Western Illinois University campus, Moline. For more information or to register for the conference, hosted by River Action Inc, visit RiverAction.org/UMRC.
