Welcome to the Chesapeake Community Research Symposium 2026!
The Chesapeake Community Modeling Program will convene the 2026 edition of our biennial symposium June 1-3, 2026, in Annapolis, Maryland at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The theme of the 2026 Symposium is Chesapeake Bay Research and Restoration: Next Generation Tools for a Dynamic Future.
Scope and Aims
Significant progress has been made toward restoring Chesapeake Bay water quality and living resources. However, restoration efforts face significant challenges as we traverse the third decade of the 21st century. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is how to deal with an emerging generation of new tools for collecting and analyzing water quality data and for simulating physical and biogeochemical processes. These new tools for collecting data include high resolution (vertical, temporal, spatial) in situ monitoring and remotely sensed data, and new tools for analyzing data include a wide variety of machine learning techniques as well as applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Machine learning and AI are also now being used to emulate mechanistic models. Moreover, these tools are emerging in the face of a “dynamic future” where we must maintain progress in the face of a changing natural and human environment. The need for transdisciplinary and “team science” is also increasing, but these approaches also present challenges. Managing misinformation and maintaining effective communication are also becoming increasingly important as AI influences and interpretations emerge.
Background
By bringing together managers, scientists, and stakeholders for a series of plenary talks, panel discussions, and special sessions, the 2026 Chesapeake Community Research Symposium will not only highlight the progress that has been made toward restoring the Chesapeake Bay, but will also address future challenges to maintaining this progress in the face of the emergence of new tools and challenges in a dynamic future.
SPECIAL SESSIONS
We invite special session proposals for the 2026 Chesapeake Community Research Symposium. All topics that fall within the Symposium theme, described above, will be considered. Special sessions can consist of oral presentations or workshops.
We recommend collaborating with colleagues to build strong, unique session proposals. Browse examples of special sessions from the 2024 Symposium here.
The deadline for proposals has been extended to December 5, 2025, at 5:00pm EST. Proposals may be submitted on the Symposium website using the form below.
Timeline:
- September 9, 2025 – Special session proposals open
- Revised date December 5, 2025 – Special session proposals due
- Revised date December 12, 2025 – Special session proposal decisions announced
- December 15, 2025 – Call for abstracts opens
- February 13, 2026 – Call for abstracts due
- March 6, 2026 – Acceptance of presentations abstract announced
We encourage session organizers to invite presenters to submit to their session. Sessions that do not receive enough abstracts may be merged or canceled. Special sessions typically have 6 or more abstracts.
Proposal Format:
- Session lead (Required: name, affiliation, email)
- Co-lead(s) (Optional: name, email)
- Session format (oral presentations or workshop)
- Session title
- Session description (500 words or less)
Session leads agree to be the point of contact for correspondence with conference organizers regarding their session. Session leads will be asked to make decisions during abstract selection and communicate with their session’s presenters regarding acceptance and presentation logistics. During the session, leads and co-leads will be responsible for speaker introductions, presentation management, and time management.
Contact Allison Burbach with any questions regarding special session proposals.
GUARDIAN AWARD
History
The “Chesapeake Guardian Award” was first presented to Kevin Sellner at the 2014 Chesapeake Modeling Symposium for “Exceptional Service Dedicated to the Advancement of Community Modeling in the Chesapeake Bay Region”. The CCMP has established this award in Sellner’s honor in appreciation for his more than 30 years of research, guidance and service to the Chesapeake Bay research, management and policy maker communities. Subsequent awards have been given to Gary Shenk, Carl Cerco, Marjorie Friedrichs, Karl Blankenship, Denice Wardrop and Kurt Stephenson.
This is a standing award presented every 2 years. The eighth awardee will be recognized at the Chesapeake Community Research Symposium in June, 2026.
Nominations
The CCMP is soliciting nominations for the 2026 Guardian Award. In keeping with the evolution of the Chesapeake Community Research Symposium toward a broader scope, the award will be made based on contributions to management-relevant science generally.
Individuals nominated should have made significant and selfless contributions to the research, management and policy maker communities in Chesapeake Bay and/or its watershed. The nominee should have demonstrated sustained contributions. A worthy recipient might also be someone who has influenced Chesapeake research and/or management via teaching and training. Efforts in support of community and open source databases and models are also valued.
Please submit nominations for the 2026 Chesapeake Guardian Award to Raleigh Hood (rhood@umces.edu) by December 15, 2025. The nomination should include a brief nominating letter (no longer than one page) that summarizes the nominee’s contributions.
Selection
A subcommittee of the CCMP will evaluate the nominations and select the award recipient. The awardee will be identified by the 1st of March, 2026.
SPONSORS
Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!
Questions?
For questions about the 2026 Chesapeake Community Research Symposium, please contact Allison Burbach.