International Oak Symposium
October 7-10, 2024 – Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
The University of Tennessee’s School of Natural Resources is proud to host an International Oak Symposium in 2024 to provide a platform to exchange information and build collaborations around the best available science and technology on oak ecology and management for a global audience. The meeting will provide innovative and progressive formats to deliver and exchange information and foster collaborations between researchers and practitioners. Field trip(s) will be offered that showcase multi-disciplinary research of the USDA Forest Service and other partners.
The overall goal of this symposium is to cultivate and promote synergy among natural resource managers and researchers working towards practical applications to sustain or restore oak ecosystems around the world. The symposium will address the most current issues and complexities related to science-based management of oak species and forests at global, regional, and local scales. The four-day program seeks to engage a diverse audience of managers and scientists in a forum that fosters innovation in silviculture and management for sustainability of oak forests.
Our specific objectives are to provide platforms, products, and opportunities for:
- technology transfer and dialogue between researchers and managers
- scientific exchanges among researchers
- fostering collaborations between managers and researchers
- production of peer-reviewed research papers
- Contribute towards professional development of students and early-career scientists
Oak (Quercus) trees and forests have provided a myriad of wood resources and ecosystem services for millennia. Oaks are considered a keystone species in many regions of the world but are increasingly threatened by deforestation, nonnative invasive pests and pathogens, climate change, altered disturbance regimes, and gaps in critical knowledge for silviculture and management. Despite commonalities of these threats across many oak ecosystems around the globe, general applications of solutions are often elusive and difficult to develop. Rural and urban communities will continue to lose vital ecosystem services and values provided by oak trees and forests without further development and application of practical science-based silviculture and management at stand and landscape levels.
Substantial progress has been made in research and science delivery for oak ecology, silviculture, and management since the mid-20th century.
International meetings have been hosted and sponsored in part by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) Research Groups or Working Parties, particularly Unit 1.01.06, Ecology and Silviculture of Oaks: In 2000, the “IUFRO International conference ‘Oak 2000 – improvement of wood quality and genetic diversity of oaks‘” was held in Zagreb, Croatia.
Several regional symposia have been held in the Central Hardwood Region of eastern North America to synthesize the state of the knowledge and provide opportunities for exchanges among researchers and practitioners: A 1992 symposium, “Oak Regeneration: Serious Problems, Practical Recommendations” was held in Knoxville, Tennessee; In 2002, “Upland Oak Ecology Symposium: History, Current Conditions, and Sustainability” was held in Fayetteville, Arkansas; “Oak symposium: sustaining oak forests in the 21st century through science-based management” was held in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2017.
A series of western regional meetings have been held as part of the California Oak Symposium, from 1979 to 2022 focusing primarily on oak conservation in northern and southern California.
The schedule is subject to change as activities for the Symposium are developed. The full schedule of events is available here!
Across three days, 12 Plenary Session speakers will provide their insight and expertise on foundational and emerging research and management topics. Click here to learn more!
Please join us on Slack where you can find out the latest details, interact with colleagues attending the Symposium, and ask questions! Click here to join.
Presentation Guidelines
We are excited to welcome you as a speaker at the inaugural International Oak Symposium! Please find below the information you need to deliver a successful and impactful presentation.
Oral Presentation Guidelines
Your powerpoint presentation will need to be transferred to us the day before your presentation (by 1630 EST). You can transfer your talk to us at the registration desk or you can upload your presentation through this G: drive link.
Avoid idiomatic expressions and undefined acronyms because the audience may not share the same cultural context and connotations.
Please use scientific names/binomial nomenclature at the first mention of species and use the metric system for measurements. We encourage presenters to use the Imperial system in tandem with metric [e.g., The trees averaged 10.0 m (32.8 ft) in height].
Designing Your Oral Presentation
All presentations must be made in MS PowerPoint.
Feel free to use our template to ensure maximum readability.
Ensure graphics are high resolution to maintain quality on large screens [at least 300 ppi (pixels per inch].
Please finish on time! The schedule is tight and there will be no exceptions to exceeding allotted time. Offered oral presentations in concurrent sessions should not exceed 15 minutes. Plenary presentations should not exceed 25 minutes. These allotted times will allow for transitions and questions from the audience.
Poster Presentation Guidelines
Posters will be physically displayed (not electronic), and each presenter will need to bring the poster with them or mail the poster to the Symposium organizers (email stacy.l.clark@usda.gov for mailing information).
Please set your poster size to a maximum of 46 inches tall (117 cm) and 32 inches wide (81 cm). In MS Powerpoint, this is on the Design tab – customize slide size.
Avoid idiomatic expressions and undefined acronyms because the audience may not share the same cultural context and connotations.
Please use scientific names/binomial nomenclature at the first mention of species Please use Latin names at the first mention of species and use the metric system for measurements. We encourage presenters to use the Imperial system in tandem with metric [e.g., The trees averaged 10.0 m (32.8 ft) in height].
Design the poster to favor visuals like graphs, images, and charts over plain text.
Ensure graphics are high resolution to maintain quality [at least 300 ppi (pixels per inch].
Technical Specifications for Oral and Poster Presentations
Oral – Session rooms will be equipped with a presentation laptop and/or a confidence monitor. You cannot use your own computer. Your presentation will be ready for you at your allotted time. Each room will have slide advancers/pointers.
Posters – Each poster presenter will be provided with a unique number about one week before the Symposium to match to a specific poster board for display. The poster session will be held in the Mezzanine area on the 2nd floor of the Hilton hotel (above the lobby) on the evening of Tuesday, October 8th (see agenda). Posters can be displayed on the provided poster boards starting Tuesday, October 8th, after breakfast (0800). Posters will need to be taken down following the poster session (around 2000). Thumbtacks will be provided. Presenters will be expected to stand by their poster during the poster session to answer questions and provide a presentation to attendees if requested. We encourage the use of QR codes to link to supporting papers or webpages. We also encourage having handouts of the poster available for attendees that request one.
Field trips will be on Wednesday, October 9, and are part of the registration fee. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Registrants will have the choice of selecting one field trip. If your first selection is not available, then that field trip is full, and you will need to select another field trip. First come, first served.
Field trip descriptions:
Great Smoky Mountains Biosphere Reserve (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN) – The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is governed by the U.S. Department of Interior. It is part of the UNESCO’s Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve due to its rich biodiversity and ancient geological features. As a National Park Service Unit with a preservation mission, commercial forestry operations and hunting are not permitted; however, the park is actively managed using fire and nonnative invasive species control. This field tour will focus on community ecology, wildland and prescribed fire, stand dynamics, and biodiversity of Southern Appalachian forests with a focus on oak species and forests. Participants will also learn about the cultural history of the region as well as discuss the evolving challenges to forest health.
Catoosa Wildlife Management Area (Crab Orchard, TN) – The Catoosa WMA is managed by the state of Tennessee’s Wildlife Resources Agency and is located on the Cumberland Plateau. The Catoosa WMA is actively managed through commercial regeneration harvesting, prescribed fire, and hunting, among other activities. This tour will focus on the use of prescribed fire and other silvicultural practices to regenerate oak species, restore ecosystem processes, and protect threatened and endangered species. The field tour will feature the Oak Savanna Restoration Project that maintains open oak woodlands and native grass systems that were hypothesized to historically occur in the region. There will be opportunities to discuss wildlife management, a wide variety of natural oak regeneration practices, and responsible management under forest certification.
Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center (Oak Ridge and Wartburg, TN) – The Oak Ridge Forest and Cumberland Forest are The University of Tennessee’s AgResearch and Forest Education Centers. The Oak Ridge Center is located in the Ridge and Valley near the ‘Secret City’ (home of the Manhattan Project during WWII), and the Cumberland Forest Center is a short drive to the west in the Cumberland Mountains. This tour will focus on long-term research of silvicultural practices, including commercial regeneration harvesting, herbicide control, and planting to assist in oak and mixedwoods regeneration processes. The University’s Tree Improvement Program and Forest Service research on artificial regeneration, as well as forest reclamation practices to restore former surface mining sites will be showcased. Forest certification to ensure responsible forest management will be a topic for discussion.
The Symposium will be held at the Hilton Knoxville (501 W Church Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA) in the heart of downtown. The room block is currently SOLD OUT! At this time, we are not securing rooms at alternative hotels, but you can continue to check the direct online link to the Hilton for availability as some guests may cancel.
Please click here to see a list of alternative hotels within walking distance and close driving distance.
Please be aware that public transportation in the Knoxville area is not very good, but Uber, Lift, and taxi services are available.
Parking is available adjacent to the Hilton Hotel in a privately owned garage for a discounted fee for registrants (registrants will be charged approximately $20-$30 per day). To save time, please take a photo of your license plate before you park! Your license plate number is required to get the discounted rate for parking at the Hilton.
The closest airport to the Symposium is the Knoxville McGhee-Tyson Airport (Airport code TYS), which is approximately 14 miles (26 kilometers) from downtown Knoxville.
For tips on fun things to do around the area, we encourage you to visit https://www.visitknoxville.com/. The conference hotel is in the heart of downtown and only about a 5-minute walk from a variety of unique entertainment, local shopping, and dining options!
Please join us on Slack where you can find out the latest details, interact with colleagues attending the Symposium, and ask questions! Click here to join.
Registration for the International Oak Symposium is now open until September 30, 2024.
Professionals: $550
Students: $250
What’s Included in Registration?
- 3 full days of Plenary and Concurrent Sessions (Monday-October 7, Tuesday-October 8, and Thursday-October 10)
- 1-day field tour with lunch included (Wednesday-October 9) (see Field Tour Tab to help make your decision during registration)
- 4 breakfasts (October 7-10)
- Coffee and tea breaks
- Reception and social (Monday evening-October 7)
- Poster reception (Tuesday evening-October 8)
- Student and early career panel and mixer (Wednesday-October 9; students and early career professionals only)
- See Agenda tab for more information
To register for the Symposium, please visit https://utconferences.eventsair.com/international-oak-symposium/ios-2024/Site/Register
Read this before you register!
All presenters (oral and poster) need to be registered by August 6 or they will be dropped from the program!
After you submit your registration, please check your Spam folder if you do not receive email confirmation. Do Not Re-register! Contact Jenny Lackey at jlackey2@utk.edu with any questions.
Sponsors with complimentary registrations, please contact Stacy Clark before you register!
Payments Accepted:
You can register for the symposium by using a credit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. An email confirmation will be sent upon completion of this form.
University of Tennessee Employees:
Please note: The University of Tennessee Conferences and Event Services is responsible for processing all registration fees for this event.
NOTE: University of Tennessee employees should register online and check-out of the site with the Invoice option. Please send the departmental account number we should charge to email: Conferences@utk.edu. Our office will initiate the payment.
Please do not use a procurement card for your registration fee. If you will be asking for a UT reimbursement for this meeting, please do not register with a personal credit card, register with a departmental account to avoid additional processing fees. For any credit card refunds processed due to not paying with a departmental account number, there will be a 6% credit card processing fee based on the sale amount. The 6% fee will be withheld from the refund to the card used.
Cancellation Policy:
A fee of 20% of fees paid will be retained for cancellation requests received before June 9, 2024. A fee of 50% of fees paid will be retained for cancellation requests received between June 10 and July 9. A fee of 80% of fees paid will be retained for cancellation requests received between July 10 and August 17. No refunds will be provided after August 17.
If you are interested in sponsoring the 2024 International Oak Symposium, click here for sponsorship packages.
The Conference Planning Committee thanks the following sponsors!
Symposium Lead Coordinator:
Stacy L. Clark, Research Forester, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Knoxville, Tennessee (USA); stacy.l.clark@usda.gov
Symposium Deputy Coordinators:
Callie Schweitzer, Research Forester, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Huntsville, Alabama (USA); callie.schweitzer@usda.gov
Emile Gardiner, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Stoneville, Mississippi (USA); emile.gardiner@usda.gov
Technology Transfer Chair:
Christine Martens, Science Delivery Specialist, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service (USA); christine.martens@usda.gov
Program and Technical Committee:
David Buckley, School of Natural Resources, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (USA); dbuckley@utk.edu
Magnus Löf, Head of Department & Professor, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Lomma (Sweden); Magnus.Lof@slu.se
Jaq Payne, National Director of the Champion Tree Program, Knoxville, TN (USA); jaqpayne@utk.edu
Stephen Peairs, Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (USA); speairs@tennessee.edu
Yana Valachovic, University of California Cooperative Extension, Eureka, California (USA); yvala@ucanr.edu
Student Activity Committee Chair
Tara Skiba, PhD candidate, School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (USA); tskiba@vols.utk.edu
We ask that all oral and poster presenters submit an extended abstract for the proceedings by July 5, 2024. A special issue will be offered as an additional outlet for publications related to the Symposium (details to be determined). The goal of the proceedings is to provide synthesized information to practitioners; please be brief.
- Do not include information in the extended abstract that would preclude publication in a scientific journal.
- The proceedings will be published as a General Technical Report by the Southern Research Station of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
- The proceedings will be available in hardcopy for attendees at the International Oak Symposium on October 7, 2024, and will be available in electronic format following the meeting.
Please download the ‘Oak Symposium Abstract Submission Template – Instructions.pdf’ and the ‘Extended Abstract Example – 2024 Oak Symposium‘ to assist you in developing your extended abstracts.
For questions, please email:
Christine Martens, Science Delivery Specialist, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service
Christine.martens@usda.gov
Call for Abstracts is now closed
We will offer Continuing Education Credits for the following Professional Societies:
Society of American Foresters –
SAF CFE credits by day are:
10/07 = 5.5
10/08 = 6.5
10/09 Field Tours = 7 for each tour
10/10 = 4.5
Total in Cat 1: 23.50
Anyone who needs SAF CFE credits should contact Callie Schweitzer at callie.schweitzer@usda.gov.
The Wildlife Society – Participants can earn up to 20 CEUs in Category I of the Certified Wildlife Biologist®/Professional Development Certificate Program. One CEU can be earned for every hour of classroom-style learning, and one CEU can be earned for every 3 hours of a field trip. The TWS Development Certificate programs operate on an honor-based system, so all applicants need to log their completed hours on their Renewal application or their Professional Development Certificate application. Click here for more information.
International Society of Arboriculture – Approval of CEUs has been granted for each session and field tour. Sign-in sheets will be available in each session. A cert ID is required to receive CEUs. While the cert ID is not case sensitive, it must be formatted correctly with regard to dash placement and corresponding credential letter (i.e. IL-0001T). We will be submitting the CEUs directly to ISA on your behalf. For more information, contact Samantha Ramirez Etheridge, sramirez@isa-arbor.com.
Additional information on credits will be forthcoming as the agenda is being developed.
