Workshop Updates

The Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) is pleased to announce a new Annual IEP Outstanding Mentorship Award (PDF). The award will be formally presented at each Annual IEP Workshop.

A Call for Nominations for the 2027 Annual Workshop is now open!

Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. on January 8, 2027.

Purpose of the Award

Excellence in research relies heavily on generations of dedicated formal and informal mentoring by IEP researchers and support staff. This annual award formally recognizes past and present IEP community members who invest significant effort into developing others—a vital contribution to the scientific community that is rarely captured by citation counts or project milestones.

Eligibility

Nominations are open to all past and present IEP contributors, including agency staff, contractors, and academic partners. Nominees may hold roles as supervisors, project leads, or informal peer mentors.

Note: Current members of the IEP community are limited to nominating one person per year.

Selection Criteria

Modeled on established frameworks from national research institutions, nominees should be individuals who:

• Motivate others and boost curiosity, passion, and performance.
• Create a supportive environment and assist others in navigating the IEP landscape.
• Maintain open communication, listen actively, and provide unbiased feedback.
• Encourage career success by fostering key skills in communication, leadership, professionalism, and networking.
• Advocate for staff both inside and outside their home institution.
• Lead by example, serving as an exemplary role model for others.

Submission Details

1. Prepare a Written Narrative: Draft a concise narrative between 250 and 500 words describing the candidate’s contributions, mentoring experience, and impact.
2. Submission Channel: Email your completed nomination narrative to iep@wildlife.ca.gov with the subject line: Mentorship Award Nominee.
3. Submission Deadline: Submit all nominations by January 8, 2027.

Review and Selection Process

Following submission, IEP Program Support staff will review all entries, and the IEP Coordinators’ Team will make the final selection.

Call for Nominations Flyer & Questions

Share the Call for Nominations: Annual IEP Outstanding Mentorship Award (PDF) with others that explains the eligibility, selection criteria, submission details, and the review and selection process.

Questions on the nomination process can be directed to IEP Program Support at iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

Abstract Submission Deadline Extension

The 2027 IEP Workshop Planning Team has extended the abstract submission deadline to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Please make sure to get your 2027 IEP abstracts submitted by the extended deadline.

Abstract Submission Form

• 2027 IEP Workshop Submission Form

Questions

Questions on the abstract submission process or the workshop can be directed to the workshop organizer, Adam Nanninga (adam_nanninga@fws.gov) and IEP Program Support, Christine Joab (iep@wildlife.ca.gov).

Visit the 2027 IEP Annual Workshop page for more information.

Last Week for Abstract Submissions

This is a reminder that abstract submissions for the 2027 Interagency Ecological Program Annual Workshop are due by 11:59 p.m. Friday, November 6, 2026.

Participants wishing to present an oral talk, lightning talk, or poster must submit an abstract (2,000 characters or less, which is ~300 words) and complete the abstract submission form.

Abstract Submission Form

• 2027 IEP Workshop Submission Form

See the original Call for Abstracts for more information.

Share the Call for Abstracts Flyer (PDF) with colleagues or others who may be interested in presenting.

Thirteen topics for abstract consideration. An author may select up to 3 that best describes the work to be presented.

1. Monitoring Modernization & Survey Redesign – Research focused on redesigning long-term monitoring programs, evaluating new sample frames, gear efficiency, electronic data capture, or integration across agencies.
2. Technology, Automation & AI-Enhanced Tools – Research involving automated video review, machine learning, drones, hyperspectral imagery, remote sensors, or software that improves monitoring efficiency.
3. Fish Ecology & Population Dynamics (Smelt, Salmonids, Other Species) – Research on fish life histories, survival models, supplementation, telemetry, habitat use, recruitment patterns, and species interactions.
4. Hydrodynamics, Flow & Physical Processes – Studies linking flow, residence time, circulation, stratification, X2 dynamics, or physical drivers of ecological responses in the estuary.
5. Wetlands, Habitat Restoration & Food Webs – Work examining restoration outcomes, marsh productivity, trophic pathways, managed wetlands, or food web subsidies exported to adjacent habitats.
6. Water Quality, Contaminants & Toxicology – Research on contaminant mixtures, pollutant fate and transport, toxicity scoring, water chemistry changes, or ecological responses to chemical stressors.
7. Harmful Algal Blooms & Cyanotoxins – Projects addressing bloom drivers, metagenomics, early-warning systems, toxin monitoring, ecological impacts, or HAB coordination efforts.
8. Genomics, eDNA & Advanced Molecular Tools – Studies utilizing eDNA, metabarcoding, SHERLOCK assays, genetic markers, or other molecular innovations for species detection or ecosystem assessment.
9. Climate Change, Extreme Events & System Resilience – Research exploring drought, heatwaves, salinity intrusion, wildfire-associated contaminants, extreme hydrology, or resilience indicators.
10. Integrated Modeling, Forecasting & Decision-Support Tools – Work presenting coupled models, forecasting systems, Bayesian approaches, conceptual models, or applied management tools.
11. Cross-Agency Coordination & Integrated Monitoring Frameworks – Work highlighting multi-agency survey alignment, shared sample frames, coordinated pilot studies, or collaborative science efforts.
12. Human Dimensions, Data Management & Science Communication – Research or tools addressing data systems, data governance, visualization, accessibility, communication strategies, or social dimensions of monitoring.
13. Other – Any other topic not identified above.

Questions

Questions on the abstract submission process or the workshop can be directed to the workshop organizer, Adam Nanninga (adam_nanninga@fws.gov) and IEP Program Support, Christine Joab (iep@wildlife.ca.gov).

Visit the 2027 IEP Annual Workshop page for more information.

Call for Abstracts Open!

IEP is now accepting abstracts for the 2027 IEP Annual Workshop. The workshop will be March 2-4, 2027 at the California Natural Resources Agency Headquarters building in Sacramento.

Submissions

• Abstract Submission Form

Additional Information

More information on registration, mentor luncheon, and volunteering will be posted to the 2027 IEP Workshop page as it becomes available.

If you were forwarded this email by a colleague, make sure to subscribe to the IEP Annual Workshop email list to receive timely updates.

Share the Call for Abstracts Flyer (PDF) to others who may not be familiar with the Interagency Ecology Program and its annual workshop.

Questions

All questions related to the workshop should be directed to Adam Nanninga (Workshop Organizing Chair) at Adam_Nanninga@fws.gov and Christine Joab (IEP Program Support) at iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

Open Call for Abstracts for the 2027 IEP Annual Workshop
Submissions due November 6, 2026 (11:59 p.m.)
Late submissions will not be accepted

We are now accepting abstracts for the March 2-4, 2027 IEP Annual Workshop.

Participants wishing to present an oral talk, lightning talk, or poster must submit an abstract (2,000 characters or less = 300 words) and complete the abstract submission form.

Abstract Submission Form

There are 13 topics for abstract submissions. An author may select up to 3 that best describes the work to be presented.

1. Monitoring Modernization & Survey Redesign – Research focused on redesigning long-term monitoring program, evaluating new sample frames, gear efficiency, electronic data capture, or integration across agencies.
2. Technology, Automation & AI-Enhanced Tools – Research involving automated video review, machine learning, drones, hyperspectral imagery, remote sensors, or software that improves monitoring efficiency.
3. Fish Ecology & Population Dynamics (Smelt, Salmonids, Other Species) – Research on fish life histories, survival models, supplementation, telemetry, habitat use, recruitment patterns, and species interactions.
4. Hydrodynamics, Flow & Physical Processes – Studies linking flow, residence time, circulation, stratification, X2 dynamics, or physical drivers of ecological responses in the estuary.
5. Wetlands, Habitat Restoration & Food Webs – Work examining restoration outcomes, marsh productivity, trophic pathways, managed wetlands, or food web subsidies exported to adjacent habitats.
6. Water Quality, Contaminants & Toxicology – Research on contaminant mixtures, pollutant fate and transport, toxicity scoring, water chemistry changes, or ecological responses to chemical stressors.
7. Harmful Algal Blooms & Cyanotoxins – Projects addressing bloom drivers, metagenomics, early warning systems, toxin monitoring, ecological impacts, or HAB coordination efforts.
8. Genomics, eDNA & Advanced Molecular Tools – Studies utilizing eDNA, metabarcoding, SHERLOCK assays, genetic markers, or other molecular innovations for species detection or ecosystem assessment.
9. Climate Change, Extreme Events & System Resilience – Research exploring drought, heatwaves, salinity intrusion, wildfire associated contaminants, extreme hydrology, or resilience indicators.
10. Integrated Modeling, Forecasting & Decision-Support Tools – Work presenting coupled models, forecasting systems, Bayesian approaches, conceptual models, or applied management tools.
11. Cross-Agency Coordination & Integrated Monitoring Frameworks – Work highlighting multi agency survey alignment, shared sample frames, coordinated pilot studies, or collaborative science efforts.
12. Human Dimensions, Data Management & Science Communication – Research or tools addressing data systems, data governance, visualization, accessibility, communication strategies, or social dimensions of monitoring.
13. Other – Any other topic not identified above.

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Details

We welcome submissions from all IEP member agencies, affiliates, and stakeholders at all career levels. Preliminary work is welcome.

Participants are limited to one abstract as primary presenting author but may be a contributing author on any number of other submissions. If you have collaborators presenting related work and are interested in putting a session together provide their names and affiliation in the submission form.

Space to present in the program is limited. Selection is not guaranteed. All presenters including primary poster authors must attend the workshop in person. Abstracts will be selected based on various criteria such as relevance to IEP's mission and work plan, originality, collaboration, scientific merit, and career stage of the presenter.

Share this announcement and Call for Abstracts flyer (PDF) with your colleagues and others who may be interested in presenting at the workshop.

IEP Workshop

The workshop will be held March 2-4, 2027 at the headquarters building of the California Natural Resources Agency (715 P Street) in Sacramento, CA. The workshop is a free, hybrid event (in person and remote). Registration to attend the workshop is required.

Workshop Updates

To receive updates on the IEP workshop, subscribe to the IEP Workshop email. Visit the subscribe page on the IEP website to sign up for the IEP Annual Workshop email list and any other IEP email lists of interest (e.g., Stakeholders, IEP Newsletter, Job Opportunities, Science Stories blog, etc.).

Tell your colleagues who are not subscribed to sign up to receive notifications.

Questions

Questions on the abstract submission process or the workshop can be directed to the workshop organizing chair, Adam Nanninga (adam_nanninga@fws.gov) and IEP Program Support, Christine Joab (iep@wildlife.ca.gov).