Call for Posters for the 50th annual Great Plains conference
Poster session date: April 8, 2025
Conference: April 8-10, 2025
Poster session location: Great Plains Art Museum, Lincoln, Neb.
Wild Great Plains conference is an interdisciplinary gathering that explores the rich landscape of the Great Plains, reflecting on its past, present, and future. 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.
Why should you submit a poster?
This is a unique opportunity for you to:
- Showcase your work in an innovative, recognized academic and artistic space.
- Engage with a diverse audience of scholars, practitioners, artists, and the public.
- Reimagine how you communicate your research by experimenting with creative and interdisciplinary forms of expression.
We particularly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity to build your professional portfolio.
What are the topics of interest?
Your work should align with the overarching theme of the Wild Great Plains conference, focusing on the interconnected relationships between people, ecosystems, and the evolving concept of "wilderness" in the Great Plains. Along with the above conference themes, topics of interest include:
- Redefining "wild" in the Great Plains
- Restoration of ecosystems and wildlife
- Indigenous stewardship and ecological knowledge
- Urban wildlife and wilderness
- Human connection with wilderness
- Wilderness and climate change
Who should submit?
We welcome anyone from any discipline or background. Whether you are a researcher, student, artist, activist, Indigenous knowledge holder, or community member, we encourage you to share your perspectives and experiences. Our goal is to foster a space where diverse approaches come together and deepen our understanding of wilderness in the Great Plains.
What should your poster include?
We invite you to move beyond conventional academic posters and transform your work into a gallery experience. This is a chance to present your research, ideas, or experiences in engaging and immersive ways, allowing attendees to interact with your work.
When preparing your poster, consider the following core questions:
- What is your perspective on wilderness in the Great Plains? What is the central focus of your study, initiative, or exploration in the context of regional wilderness?
- Why is your study or artwork important? What new insights, ideas, or perspectives does your work bring to the conversation on Great Plains wilderness and wild landscapes? How does it contribute to our understanding of key themes in wilderness studies?
- How does your work bridge disciplines or perspectives? In what ways does your work integrate knowledge or approaches from different fields, such as art, science, storytelling, or cultural perspectives? How does your approach help communicate or deepen the understanding of your subject?
What formats can you submit?
While conventional posters are welcome, we encourage you to experiment with creative formats that will be displayed in a gallery-style setting. Possible formats include:
- Artistic representations (e.g. painting, photography, or mixed media)
- Interactive displays (e.g. group brainstorming, collective storytelling)
- Poster essays, poetry, or infographics (e.g. creative written works displayed visually)
For example, a poster essay might combine visual design and a written reflection on your topic, and an artistic representation could be a photo series on your topic, paired with narrative insights. If you're unsure how to get started, you are welcome to submit a conventional academic poster, and we can explore creative possibilities as the conference approaches.
We aim to create an environment where conventional research coexists with innovative expressions, encouraging deeper engagement with the audience.
No electrical outlets will be available. Maximum poster size: 36”x24” either horizontal or vertical orientation printed on paper, matte board, cardboard, or foamcore and should weigh no more than 10 pounds.
How do you submit?
Please submit your poster proposal using the form on this page by Dec. 20, 2024. Your submission should include:
- A 200-word abstract describing your project and its relevance to the conference theme.
- A brief explanation of your chosen format (conventional or creative).
- Any additional materials if applicable (e.g., sketches, mockups, videos).
Selected submissions will be notified by Feb. 3, 2025. We are excited to see how you will contribute to this innovative gallery experience at Wild Great Plains.
What will the gallery experience be like?
To ensure the gallery-like atmosphere, we’ll provide ample space for attendees to walk around and interact with your work. Whether it’s a conventional poster, multimedia display, or art installation, we will create a space where your research can truly shine. We also encourage the use of sustainable materials to ensure the event reflects our shared commitment to conservation. The poster session will be April 8, 5-7 p.m. and we hope you can join us to answer questions and interact with the conference attendees.
Questions?
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact Katie Nieland at knieland2@unl.edu. We are happy to assist and provide more information on how to participate.
Examples
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/06/11/729314248/to-save-the-science-poster-researchers-want-to-kill-it-and-start-over
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/06/24/theres-movement-better-scientific-posters-are-they-really-better
https://www.sharedfutures.gallery/gallery
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2022/04/13/from-science-to-stanzas-the-role-of-poetry-in-research-communication/
https://lifeology.io/blog/2020/07/21/science-communication-in-unconventional-forms-experiments-in-found-poetry/
