2026 SNRE Research Symposium
October 14, 2026 | 8:00am - 5:00pm
J. Wayne Reitz Union Grand Ballroom
Join the symposium virtually using the livestream link
The University of Florida’s (UF) School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE), through its interdisciplinary educational programs, is designed to prepare tomorrow’s scientists to understand the complex issues related to environment and socio-economic stability in Florida, the nation, and the world. To do this, SNRE operates horizontally across UF's elaborate structure of academic disciplines. The SNRE is built on existing strengths in the University by encouraging departments or other organizational units of the University to participate in the activities of the SNRE. Recognizing the high level of expertise in environmental and natural resource matters already present in many basic and applied discipline-centered departments and other organizational units of UF, SNRE engages faculty from a variety of the University's disciplines, as the affiliate faculty of SNRE.
The objectives of the 2026 SNRE Research Symposium: 1) provide graduate and undergraduate students a framework to showcase their interdisciplinary research in ecology, environment, and sustainability, and 2) enhance the interaction among students and faculty with participants from state and federal agencies, and private consulting firms and industry.
Event Program
Agenda-at-a-Glance
Wednesday, October 14th, 2026
| Time | Events |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 9:00 - 9:10 a.m. |
Introduction |
| 9:10 - 9:20 a.m. |
Opening Remarks |
|
9:20 - 9:30 a.m. |
Opening Remarks |
| 9:30 - 9:35 a.m. |
Introduction of Keynote Speaker |
| 9:35 - 10:30 a.m. |
Keynote Address: "Working Across Scales: Interdisciplinary Pathways to Biodiversity Insight and Application" Dr. Robert P. Guralnick, Curator of Biodiversity Informatics, Florida Museum of Natural History |
|
|
|
| 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. |
Break |
| Session I | Affiliate Faculty Presentations |
| Session Chair | Dr. Todd Osborne, Professor, UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience |
| 10:45 - 11:00 a.m. | Dr. Gretchen Lescord, Assistant Professor, Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences |
| 11:00 - 11:15 a.m. | Dr. Malek Hammami, Assistant Professor, Tropical Research and Education Center |
| 11:15 - 11:30 a.m. | Dr. Ellen Robertson, Assistant Professor, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation |
| 11:30 - 11:40 a.m. | Discussion |
| 11:40 - 12:00 p.m. |
UF BRIDGES - Water Institute & SNRE Initiative |
| 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch Break |
| 1:00 - 1:05 p.m. |
Introduction of invited speaker |
| 1:05 - 1:20 p.m. | Mr. John Hinchee, SNRE Alum, IFAS Director of Government Relations |
| Session II | Student Oral Presentations |
| Session Chairs |
Ana Yoko Ykeuti Meiga (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dennis Valle) |
| 1:20 - 1:30 p.m. | Haojie Cao (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jiangxiao Qiu) |
| 1:30 - 1:40 p.m. | Shelby Charnas (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Chris Wilson) |
| 1:40 - 1:50 p.m. | Samantha Howley (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Matt Cohen) |
| 1:50 - 2:00 p.m. | Rajani Maharjan (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Bron Taylor) |
| 2:00 - 2:10 p.m. | Lydia Soifer (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Brett Scheffers) |
| 2:10 - 2:20 p.m. | Akshay Vinod Anand (Faculty Advisor: Dr. Rob Guralnick) |
| 2:20 - 2:30 p.m. | Discussion |
| 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| Session III | Poster Presentations |
| 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Student Poster Session 1 |
| 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Student Poster Session 2 |
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