The 2021 Visual Resource Stewardship Conference is currently accepting abstracts for for technical papers, visual case studies, student posters, training workshops and panel/guided discussions. Abstracts should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words (including key references). Submissions are due March 1, 2021, and applicants will be notified of their acceptance by April 1, 2021.

Abstracts should be for original, previously unpublished presentations or works encompassing the conference theme: Exploring Landscape as Culture, Resource, Home. Within this general theme, abstracts may align with one or more of the following areas:

• Ethics, equality, and equity in landscape assessment practice
• Public perception, participation engagement, and conflict resolution
• Valuation of landscape resources & cultural ecosystem services
• Federal and state government programs, regulations, and policies
• Urban community visual resource management
• Valuation of Cultural Ecosystem Services (related to visual/aesthetic landscape)
• Visual landscape & cultural resource management and mitigation
• Integration of visual resource inventory with multi-resource assessment
• VRM tools and technology (especially for training workshop proposals)

Submit the abstract as plain text (if images are included, the abstract may be attached as a pdf as well). Submissions can be made to: https:easychair.org/cfp/VRSConf03.

Accepted presenters will be invited to be submit a full paper for a review and, if accepted, will be published in the SUNY ESF Digital Commons proceedings prior to the 2021 conference. This 2021 Visual Resource Stewardship conference builds upon the two previous conferences held at Argonne National Laboratory in 2017 and 2019. The proceedings for the 2017 and 2019 conferences can be accessed at https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/57492 and https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/vrconference/ , respectively.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

The 2021 VRS Conference is to be organized into five presentation types. Please review the presentation types described below and select the type of presentation that you think will best demonstrate your work. All abstracts must follow the provided abstract submission guidance. The 2021 VRS Conference Proceedings will be electronically published and available to all conference registrants prior to the conference. Submission guidelines for the proceedings will be provided with each abstract acceptance notice.

Abstracts should be a least 1,000 words, and no longer than 2,000 words (including key references).

• An overview of the theoretical and/or professional practice context of your research/project;
• A statement that identifies the question(s) that your research/project endeavored to answer;
• A summary of the results, or anticipated results, of your research/project;
• An explanation of the significance and anticipated application of your results (this may include the intended user(s) or audience); and
• Clear, succinct conclusions drawn from your research/project.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

In addition, for the 2021 VRS Conference we are working to offer Continuing Professional Education Credit (CEC) opportunities for attendees. Registered presentations must adhere to the following LA CES[1] definition of continuing professional education:

Continuing professional education consists of learning experiences that enhance and expand the skills, knowledge, and abilities of practicing landscape architects to remain current and render competent professional service to clients and the public.

It is most likely that training workshops, panels and guided discussion sessions of one hour or more will qualify for CEC credits. If you want your presentation to be considered for CEC credits, your abstract must include a minimum of three learning outcomes. Learning outcomes are written statements of what the learner is expected to accomplish as a result of attending your presentation.

Examples of learning outcomes include:

• Learn how to determine the major functions and components of a scenic inventory;
• Identify the factors that influence scenic inventories; and
• Learn how to utilize an integrated scenic inventory process for maximum utility.

This definition should be viewed broadly to encompass the wide range of competencies and proficiencies needed by design professionals to perform in varied visual resource practice settings.

PAPERS

Paper applicants need to submit an abstract as outlined under Abstract Submissions, above. Conference presentation time for each individual will be 12-15 minutes, most likely organized into a breakout session of three to four presentations. Invited plenary speakers will have a 40-minute presentation time. For inclusion in the conference proceedings, papers must follow detailed formatting protocol – to be provided with abstract acceptance notice.

VISUAL CASE STUDY applicants need to submit an abstract as outlined under Abstract Submissions, above. Conference presentation time for each individual will be 12-15 minutes, most likely organized into a breakout session of three to four presentations. Detailed guidance for visual case study formatting will be provided with the notice of abstract acceptance. Only the visual case study abstract will be included in the conference proceedings.

STUDENT POSTER SESSION applicants need to submit an abstract as outlined under Abstract Submissions, above. Poster presenters will have the opportunity to introduce their project work in a “lightening” session. This session will be followed by small group discussion sessions to allow for a more detailed presentation of each student’s project work and the opportunity for reviewers to provide comments and mentoring. Detailed guidance for poster formatting, lightening presentations and small group sessions will be provided with the notice of abstract acceptance. Only the poster abstract will be included in the conference proceedings.

TRAINING WORKSHOP applicants need to submit an abstract as outlined under Abstract Submissions, above and, if applicable, include any training material needs for workshop attendees such as software and hardware specifications. Workshops will be one to two hours in duration and may be eligible for Continuing Education Credits (CEC’s). If the training workshop instructor(s) wants the workshop to be reviewed for CEC’s, then learning outcomes, as outlined above, and a method for evaluating attendees’ learning must be included in the abstract. Training workshops may be recorded but workshop proposers may refuse recording. Only the visual case study abstract will be included in the conference proceedings.

PANEL/GUIDED DISCUSSION SESSIONS will be scheduled for a one hour time period. Applicants need to submit an abstract as outlined under Abstract Submissions, above. If the panel or guided discussion presenters(s) want the panel or discussion to be reviewed for CEC’s then learning outcomes, as outlined above, and a method for evaluating attendees’ learning must be included in the abstract.

• A panel may be three to four individuals with each presenting their contributions to a single project or, three to four individuals each presenting closely aligned projects. The abstract for the panel session must include an overview for how the panel’s topic will be introduced and an outline of the session’s content and structure. Panelists may elect to submit a single paper or have the panel’s abstract included in the conference proceedings.
• An individual or small group may lead a guided discussion. The abstract for the discussion session must include an overview for how the discussion topic will be introduced and an outline of the session’s content and structure. If applicable, the abstract must include any training material needs. Discussion leaders may elect to submit a single paper or have the discussion abstract included in the conference proceedings.

[1] American Society of Landscape Architects, Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System™

 

Submission Due Dates and Activities in 2021

 

• MAR 01 – Abstracts for papers, visual case studies, student posters, training workshops, and panel/guided discussions
• APR 01 – Notification of acceptance
• JUN 01 – Full draft Technical paper manuscripts, visual case studies and training workshops
• JULY 01 – Reviewed Final manuscript for publication
• Conference held October 2021