Dear DSSAT community;

Keith Ingram, Coordinator for the Southeast Climate Consortium, has
asked me to post this notice for the conference on Climate Information
for Managing Risks.

Regards,
Cheryl Porter


CIMR
Climate Information for Managing Risks:
Partnerships and Solutions for Agriculture and Natural Resources

June 10-13, 2008

St. Pete Beach, Florida

Website: www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR



Greetings All,

The Southeast Climate Consortium and the University of Florida are
hosting the CIMR Symposium, which has three objectives:

1. To identify priorities and plan strategies for future climate
research, education, and outreach that will enable universities,
agencies, and organizations to provide climate information for decision
makers in agriculture and natural resource management

2. To explore opportunities and needs for developing climate information
and decision support systems, as well as how to downscale and apply
global climate information at both regional and local levels

3. To provide a forum for climate professionals and agricultural and
natural resource managers to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas

The full details are provided at the conference website:
http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR


Individuals who wish to present their work on any aspect of climate
information for managing risks to agriculture and natural resources are
encouraged to submit an abstract for a poster presentation. Poster
presentations will provide a valuable format for dialogue outside the
structured plenary and breakout sessions, and thus will be a significant
component of this symposium.

Posters will be displayed during a formal poster session and reception
with authors available for discussion. Poster abstracts will also be
published in the electronic book of abstracts on CD-ROM. Student poster
authors will be eligible to compete for "Best Poster" awards based on
the quality of the abstract, poster, and discussion. Poster presenter
winners will be announced during the closing session on Friday morning.

If you wish to present a poster, submit an abstract for review no later
than February 1, 2008. Submit abstracts online via the symposium
website. http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR





Symposium Scope

Agricultural and natural resource managers need climate information at
the regional and local levels to address short- and long-term challenges
posed by variable and changing climate. Risks posed by climate
variability would include hurricanes, drought, floods, freezes, heat
stress, and wild fires. Risks posed by climate change, include changes
in the frequency and intensity of extreme events, sea level rise and
agricultural emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition to risks,
climate change offers new economic opportunities for agricultural and
natural resource managers, such as bio-fuel production and carbon
sequestration.

Because of the complex interplay between agricultural and natural
resource vulnerabilities, risks, and opportunities, solutions will
depend on integrated research, teaching, and extension programs, with
decision-makers and other stakeholders included as partners in these
programs. Organizers will need new educational curricula, new research
programs, and new communications tools to provide information that
decision makers can use to manage risks and benefit from new
opportunities. To help us prepare for these challenges, CIMR will
address three objectives:

*          To provide a forum for climate professionals and agricultural
and natural resource managers to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas

*          To identify priorities and plan strategies for future climate
research, education, and outreach that will enable universities,
agencies, and organizations to provide climate information for decision
makers in agriculture and natural resource management

*          To explore opportunities and needs for developing climate
information and decision support systems, as well as how to downscale
and apply global climate information at both regional and local levels



Anyone who has an interest in developing and strengthening partnerships
with agriculture and resource managers; identifying research, education,
and outreach priorities; and exploring opportunities for applications of
climate information and development of decision support systems is
encouraged to participate.



Visit the CIMR website to learn more about the expected outcomes, who
should participate, plenary, breakout and poster session topics,
abstract submission details, sponsorship opportunities, and more. The
website is the main informational source and will be updated regularly
as symposium events progress. www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR
<http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR/>


CIMR Dates of Interest

February 1, 2008 - abstract submission deadline

March 14, 2008 - early registration deadline

April 28, 2008 - hotel reservation deadline


If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact either:

Mandy Stage
Symposium Coordinator
Phone: 352-392-5930
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]

or

Keith Ingram
Organizing Committee Co-Chair
Phone:  352-392-1864 x 283
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]