April 8-10, Lincoln, NE
With millions of acres of fenced cropland, the Great Plains doesn’t seem like a wild place, but there is much to learn from the pockets of wildness left and the efforts to restore and protect the region’s landscape. This conference will examine the wild Great Plains' past, present, and future by looking at research and new ideas surrounding the flora and fauna of the region. It will also scrutinize the concept of wildness and examine what wild areas mean to human visitors and residents. Wild Great Plains will cover topics like restoration of bison herds, Indigenous-led environmental practices, grassland animals, foraging, urban wilderness, psychological aspects of wilderness, conservation action, rewilding, tourism, and our connection with wildness. Alongside panel sessions, the conference will also feature experiential workshops on topics like nature photography and plant identification.
Keynote speakers
Michael Forsberg
Forsberg is a Nebraskan whose 30-year career as a photographer and conservationist has been dedicated to wildlife and conservation stories in North America's Great Plains, once one of the greatest grassland ecosystems on Earth. His images have been featured in publications including Audubon, National Geographic, Nature Conservancy, and Sierra magazines. His fine art prints are in public and private collections, and his solo exhibitions have traveled nationwide.
In 2011, Forsberg co-founded Platte Basin Timelapse (PBT) in partnership with UNL and Michael Farrell Photography and Fine Art. Today, it operates as a conservation storytelling project to inform scientific research, build educational content, and tell stories of a Great Plains watershed in motion. A documentary film for PBS, titled Follow the Water, based on the project and Mike's traverse across the Platte Basin watershed, was released on PBS nationally in 2019. Forsberg serves as faculty at UNL and is a Fellow with the Center for Great Plains Studies and the Daugherty Water for Food Institute.
Ferin Davis Anderson
Anderson is the co-author of Wildfire: The Culture, Science, and Future of Fire, a STEAM book exploring the science of wildfires, the history of fire in the United States, and the relationship Indigenous people have with fire. Anderson is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe/Mitchifs in North Dakota. She is also the Natural Resources Manager for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Land and Natural Resources Department. Anderson is responsible for stewarding and restoring natural areas for the SMSC. She works to weave Indigenous knowledge and western science to implement holistic land stewardship practices. This includes using fire as an ecological and cultural tool to achieve beneficial and healing outcomes. Witnessing Indigenous people revitalize and reconnect with this practice has been one of the greatest gifts of her career. Anderson was also part of a team that helped bring bison back to the SMSC – a relative that will help the Community connect with the land and their culture.
Corina Newsome
Newsome, Associate Conservation Scientist at the National Wildlife Federation, is a wildlife biologist dedicated to the integration of environmental justice and conservation science and practice. Newsome earned her bachelor's degree in zoo and wildlife biology from Malone University and, after several years as an animal care professional, went on to earn her master's degree in biology from Georgia Southern University. With a specific passion for avian conservation, Newsome’s research focuses on answering landscape ecology questions that help us better understand how we can help birds thrive in a changing world. Newsome’s fascination with birds extends beyond her research and into the communities where she lives and works, serving as beautiful vehicles through which she connects herself and others to the world around them.
In addition to her work as a wildlife scientist, Newsome is committed to increasing the representation and visibility of Black science professionals for the next generation of STEM experts, and centering the leadership and perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and communities of color in wildlife conservation, environmental education, and exploration of the natural world. Photo by Katherine Arntzen.
Brandon Cobb
Cobb joined The Nature Conservancy’s team as an Indigenous Partnerships Program Manager in 2022, a new role for the Nebraska chapter. Cobb is from Edmond, Okla., and is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He graduated from Yale University with a degree in Environmental Science and a concentration in sustainability and natural resource use. As a 2022 Claire M. Hubbard Young Leaders in Conservation Fellow, Cobb chose to develop guidance for building and maintaining relationships with Tribal nations, primarily in Nebraska. From there, he organized and led the first Nebraska Intertribal Conservation Summit. As a result of that Summit, TNC created Cobb’s new position, and he is now actively advancing projects among Tribes both in and outside of Nebraska. These projects include Buffalo restoration with the Ponca Tribe, cultural fire with the Ioway Tribe, and co-management with the Washoe Tribe. Recently, Cobb served on a panel called “Restoring Indigenous Food Sovereignty” with Nebraska Public Media and the Durham Museum and was a speaker at the Intertribal Buffalo Council’s annual membership meeting.
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PARTICIPATE
Submit a research or artistic poster
CALL FOR POSTERS
We invite scholars, artists, students, and storytellers to participate in our gallery-style poster session, designed to feel like a walk-through exhibition where art, science, and storytelling converge. Showcase your work in an innovative, recognized academic and artistic space and engage with a diverse audience of scholars, practitioners, artists, and the public.
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PARTICIPATE AT MANY LEVELS
Wild Great Plains aims to highlight the unique biodiversity of the region, promote awareness of environmental challenges, and foster collaboration among stakeholders. With expert speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities, we anticipate engaging a diverse audience who is passionate about this region. Sponsor options include branding, booths, and more.
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