Proposals Due: November 21, 2018 (THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE HAS PASSED.)

Initial Notification of Selection: January 7, 2019

Selected presenters confirm acceptance and registration: February 4, 2019

Digital versions of presentations due: May 13, 2019.

Washington State University and the National Urban Extension Leaders are pleased to jointly announce a call for proposals for the National Urban Extension Conference on “Innovation in the City: A Land Grant University Experience,” which will be held in Seattle, Washington, May 20-23, 2019.

Some of the most pressing social problems and policy issues confronting America and the rest of the world involve urban people and places. Extension professionals and university researchers across the nation are working in and across various program areas to address these issues. However, urban settings are often competitive environments for land-grant universities, including Extension educators, so novel approaches to demonstrate impact, public value, and programming are increasingly necessary in order for Extension to gain and maintain its place as a premier institution for the betterment of urban individuals, families, and communities.

Now is the time for a new dialogue as to the role of the land-grant university through applied research and extension in urban, suburban, and metropolitan communities. The National Urban Extension Conference provides an opportunity for Extension professionals and applied researchers to learn first-hand about innovative approaches from colleagues and receive inspiration for their work at home.

The conference will provide opportunities for Extension professionals and applied researchers from all program areas to share their research and innovative educational strategies that address the needs of urban, suburban, and peri-urban populations as well as urban-rural interdependencies. The program planning committee plans for participants to learn about cutting edge research and to see innovative outreach efforts that successfully transfer research-based information to various urban clientele.

Proposals may be for presentations, workshops, posters, and panels (defined below) for the 2019 Conference. Abstracts that highlight research and/or outreach activities that involve partnerships between researchers, practitioners and Extension professionals are especially encouraged. We are also looking for innovative ideas that are just that, ideas.

The 2019 NUEC will focus on four core elements of building successful urban projects and programs: core competencies, subject matter expertise, personal experiences, and innovation. Therefore, we are looking for presentations and posters that address the following core areas:

Competencies

These presentations will focus on the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for Extension professionals to work effectively in urban communities. While the presentations may talk about a specific program, project, or activity, the core of the presentation should be around a skill or ability,

which may include topics such as survey design, data analysis, hosting focus groups or group dialogue sessions, using social media, etc. specific to urban communities.

Subject Matter Expertise

The National Urban Extension Leaders (NUEL) has identified five focus areas for urban programming (see NUEL Focus Areas for more information). We seek proposals that share impactful programming in one of these five focus areas:

• Strengthening Communities
• Protecting the Environment
• Improving Health
• Enriching Youth
• Feeding our Communities: Local food systems and networks

Personal Experiences

Focus should be on lessons learned and proven methods of research, delivery, outreach, marketing, and collaboration in building successful urban projects and programs. Highlight methods for maintaining Land Grant visibility in a sea of educational institutions.

Innovation

To be successful, we must continue to respond to existing issues in novel ways and address new, emerging issues our urban-related constituents are facing now or in the future. The Program Committee is dedicating space and time for presentations and special innovation sessions (see below for more detail). One goal for the 2019 conference is to be a springboard for ‘the next practices’ to add to our mix of ‘best practices’.

Preference will be given to submissions that address diversity, equity and inclusion across the five subject matter areas noted above.

Oral Presentations

Individual oral presentations on topics related to the conference theme or other topical areas of interest. These traditional oral presentations will be for approximately 25 minutes, with an additional five minutes allotted for questions and discussion of the research. Sessions will be moderated to enforce time restrictions. Presentations should be succinct, with well-developed concepts, applications, and results.

Panel Presentations

Panel Presentations can be 30, 60, or 90 minutes in length involving three to five colleagues or peers in an open conversation or discussion on a topic specific to urban communities, and will engage the audience in a question and answer/conversational session.

Ignite Talks

Ignite talks are very structured and focused on the conference objectives. Presenters will have exactly 5 minutes to present, using 20 slides. Slides will automatically advance every 15 seconds. View sample presentation and a how to video.

Innovation / Planning Sessions

To encourage the development of the ‘next practices’, the conference is seeking proposals that are designed to create new or expand existing multi-disciplinary, multi-state projects and can be an idea that you would like to share and / or get input on to help refine the idea. Abstract submissions should include enough information to let participants know what to expect regarding organization as well as topic and what the desired result of the session will be. This format is great for developing trans-disciplinary teams for new issues and opportunities facing metropolitan communities that Extension and land-grant universities can help address, such as smart cities, big data, green infrastructure, etc. This session format can be 60 to 90 minutes in length and must have a discussion leader.

Poster Presentations

A poster is used for the presenter to describe a project, research results, program summaries, or lessons learned as a visual display on poster board. The poster usually includes a brief narrative paper along with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. The presenters are expected to stand next to the poster during an allocated time during the conference so that conference participants can view the presentation and interact with the presenter. Details as to the size and dimensions of the poster will be provided after acceptance.

• Presenters will be allowed only one presentation in which they are the lead author. You may submit more than one proposal where you are lead presenter, but if more than one is selected, you will have to choose which one you will present. There are no limitations on the number of presentations allowed by presenters who serve as part of a team selected to present.
• The Program Committee will review all proposals. Initial selection decisions will be made in December 2018 with notice to applicants by January 7, 2019. Selected presenters will have 30 days to accept. The Program Committee has the authority and responsibility for placing sessions in the program at a day and time that best suits the overall program.
• Those interested in presenting at the conference are required to be registered with payment made by the early registration date (see website for specific dates). Those not registered and paid will be dropped from the program.
• Presenters will have to provide electronic versions of their digital presentations PRIOR to the conference to uploaded on the appropriate computer.
• If you are selected to present at the conference you will be asked to:
  • Confirm you interest and ability to present
  • Indicate any special audio-visual or presentation needs you will have. The Conference will provide laptops, projectors (for PowerPoint presentations). Access to in-room audio equipment and Wi-Fi will have to be requested at time of confirmation of acceptance.
  • The Conference intends to share the conference presentations and materials through a variety of media. In addition to their digital presentations, presenters must provide electronic copies of any other materials at, or prior to, the conference so that they can be further disseminated.