South Central CASC

Incorporating Indigenous Knowledges into Federal Research and Management
2023-04-06 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
April 6th – What are Indigenous Knowledges (IK)? with Melonee Montano (Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission) Daniel Wildcat (Haskell Indian Nations University).
Register: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/webinar-series-incorporating-indigenous-knowledges
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Adaptation Science Center (National CASC) is hosting a virtual webinar series on how to integrate Indigenous Knowledges (IK) into Federal ecological research and resource management programs. Running bi-weekly from April 6 to June 1, 2023 (3 PM ET), this series centers Indigenous perspectives to explore ethical, legal, and scientific considerations inherent in working within different knowledge systems and provides guidance and case studies reflecting best practices for collaborating with Tribes and Indigenous communities.
Nisogaabokwe Melonee Montano, is a mother, grandmother, and an enrolled member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge Outreach Specialist for Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) where she helps assess climate change impacts on treaty resources and potential threats t culture and lifeways. She is also a Grad Student at the University of Minnesota o Ojibwe the Natural Twin Cities in Resources Science & Management Program under the Forestry Department. Prior to GLIFWC, she was Red Cliff’s Environmental Programs Manage served on various r where she has also committees including EPA’s Regional Tribal Operations Committee, Alliance for Sustainability, Treaty Natural Resources, the Integrated Resources Management Plan, and is currently serving on the Great Lakes Compact degree in Healthcare Administration Commission. She holds a B.S. with a Native American and Environmental Studies emphasis. Lastly and most importantly, she is a lifelong student of her cultural ways.
Daniel R. Wildcat is a Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma. He is director of the Haskell Environmental Research Studies (HERS) Center and member of the Indigenous & American Indian Studies Program at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. In 20 13 he was the Gordon Russell visiting professor of Native American Studies at Dartmouth College. Dr. Wildcat received an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. In 1994 he partnered with the Hazardous Substance Research Cent er at Kansas State University to create the Haskell Environmental Research Studies (HERS) Center and subsequently start the HERS summer undergraduate internship program with KU professor Dr. Joane Nagel. He is a noted speaker on Traditional Ecological Know ledges and has offered programs for NOAA, NASA, AGU, ESA, NCAR, and many scientific organizations and universities.

South Central CASC Ideation Session
2023-04-03 - 2023-04-04
Greetings! The South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center is hosting an ideation session to connect researchers across our various consortium institutions.
This ideation session is designed to present information on the upcoming South Central CASC funding opportunity, provide a forum for researchers interested in conducting work on climate adaptation to connect with others from different departments across the consortium, and to facilitate the creation of multi-disciplinary teams to catalyze innovative projects.
This event is open to all researchers at the South Central CASC host and consortium institutions (Texas Tech, Louisiana State University, University of Oklahoma, University of New Mexico, Oklahoma State University, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma).
There will be two ideation sessions, both occurring on Zoom:
Monday, April 3rd from 3pm – 5 pm.
Tuesday, April 4th from 10 am – 12 pm.
**Each session will be capped at 40 participants**.
Breakout sessions will be focused on the intersection of climate change and the following topics: coastal resources, agroecosystems, cultural resources, natural resources, and freshwater ecosystems.
Within 48 hours after registration, you will receive more information about this event and a calendar invite.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Marina Tomer (mcucuzza@usgs.gov) or Rachel Koch (rachel.a.koch-1@ou.edu).

Wildland Fire: The Future of Fire Under a Changing Climate
2023-03-30 11:00 - 12:00
The Southern Plains Climate Science Webinar Series Presents: Wildland Fire: The Future of Fire Under a Changing Climate
Is prescribed burning an interest to you?

Prescribed fire provides a valuable option for land managers to conduct cost-effective habitat management, invasive species control, and restoration. Fire practitioners, either acting individually or with a network, have a huge impact on the results of an operation. Understanding how the arrangement and placements of individual actors influence the results may be helpful for networks that seek to improve the performance of prescribed fire operations.

Join us on March 30, 2023, at 11:00 AM CT, to hear from Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Aaron Russell about the interesting results of this comparative analysis of prescribed fire practitioner networks in Oklahoma and North Carolina.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUudOusrzguEtdTriLAGOsicedNi65cbHOV

Introduction to using climate modeling for forest management
2023-03-28 - 2023-03-29
This virtual workshop is open to natural and cultural resource managers, especially in Tribal Nations and the southern US, and others who want a primer on climate modeling and using data tools for management.
This event will be held online from 8-11 am central on both March 28th and 29th.
Registration is now open! Spots are limited, so sign up today!
Hosted by:
US Forest Service
South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.

Earth to Sky - Climate in Your Pocket
2023-03-17 14:00 - 15:00
What notes and tools do you keep in your back pocket for unexpected questions? This series of mini-webinars offers bite-sized resources for fueling and supporting your conversations, programs, and climate communication products every day. Webinars are just 30 minutes long, with the remainder of the hour devoted to Q&A and a community discussion about the topic and resources.
Register today! https://earthtosky.org/events/climate-in-your-pocket.html

Bridging the Gap Meeting
2023-03-06 - 2023-03-09
22nd Annual Bridging the Gap Meeting, co-hosted by the Quapaw Nation and the USDA Forest Service.
Theme: Demystifying Consultation
March 6-8, 2023 at the Downstream Casino Resort
69300 E Nee Road, Quapaw, OK, 74363
Register today!

Earth to Sky (ETS) Climate Conversations
2023-03-02 14:00 - 15:00
Register today! https://earthtosky.org/events/climate-conversations.html
Please join Earth to Sky for a monthly series of informal community conversations! Bring your coworker, your supervisor, your friend, and your cat to dive deep into discussions at the intersections of climate change, current events, and communication techniques

National Nature Assessment Public Input Forum
2023-03-01 - 2023-03-02
The US Global Change Research Program is preparing to launch a nationwide assessment of the state of lands, waters, and wildlife and how they affect our lives. They would like your input on how to do it.
There are two Public Input Forums coming up where you can hear about the program and help shape this important assessment.
On the OU Campus March 1 from 10a-11:30a
iHub Building (a.k.a. Partners Place Three): 201 David L. Boren Blvd., Room 132, Norman, OK
On the OSU Campus March 2 from 2:30p-4p
Student Union Meeting & Conference: 416 Student Union, Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma Environmental Education Summit
2023-02-25 09:00 - 16:00
Join EcoRise, KidWind, Oklahoma Project Learning Tree, and the Oklahoma Green School Program for a day of inspiration and learning.
Saturday February 25, 2023, 9a-4p central. Oklahoma Memorial Union (OU Campus) 900 Asp Ave, Norman, OK, 73019
Details and registration information can be found here.

NASA OKSG Community STEM Engagement Event
2023-02-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Endeavor Lab, 215 N. Hester St., Stillwater, OK, 74078, United States
A free community event hosted by the NASA Oklahoma Space Grant Consortium with over 10 hands-on STEM booths demonstrating current NASA missions. Families will be able to take most of their activities home (bags will be provided). NASA prizes will be given to those who complete the activities, and door prizes will be drawn throughout the event!
Saturday February 18 from 1-3pm at the Endeavor Lab on the Oklahoma State Campus.
215 N. Hester St., Stillwater, OK 74078

Earth to Sky - Climate in Your Pocket
2023-02-17 15:00 - 16:00
https://earthtosky.org/events/climate-in-your-pocket.html
The special guest speaker will be Ed Maibach, George Mason University, talking about their Climate Change and the American Mind project.
What notes and tools do you keep in your back pocket for unexpected questions? This series of mini-webinars offers bite-sized resources for fueling and supporting your conversations, programs, and climate communication products every day. Webinars are just 30 minutes long, with the remainder of the hour devoted to Q&A and a community discussion about the topic and resources.

5th Annual Soil Health Symposium
2023-02-14 - 2023-02-15
Unlock the secrets of regenerative farming at the 5th Annual Soil Health Symposium, February 14-15, 2023 at the Overton Hotel in Lubbock, Texas.
John Zak is the PI at Texas Tech University for the South Central CASC Consortium.
Registration is available online or at the door. For more information head over to the website.
February 14th:
Registration, Speakers, Trade Show, Demonstrations, Lunch, and Happy Hour
February 15th:
Speakers, Trade Show, Lunch, and Panel Discussions.

Earth to Sky Climate Conversations
2023-02-02 14:00 - 15:00
In this next installment, we will have a dialogue about how, and if, you and your staff, are integrating climate science and messages into your existing exhibits, publications, and programs – in micro-doses – to tell your climate stories.
Register today! https://earthtosky.org/events/climate-conversations.html

Climate Change and Human Health Webinar Series
2023-02-01 - 2023-03-22
Climate Change and Human Health Project Echo
This series on Sustainability in Healthcare starts February 1 and runs each Wednesday through March 22 at 1pm central.
Register here

CCHH_sustainability_flyer_12.6.22

Oklahoma Governor's Water Conference
2022-12-07 - 2022-12-08
The South Central CASC will be on hand for this event, and you can meet us at our booth. Registration link below.

Restoration of Coastal Wetlands in the Face of Sea-level Rise Webinar
2022-11-17 10:00 - 11:00
Restoration of Coastal Wetlands in the Face of Sea-level Rise
November 17, at 10 am – The Southern Plains Climate Science Webinar Series will have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Camille Stagg from the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center. She will present on her recently completed South Central CASC-funded project, Understanding Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Land Management on Critical Coastal Marsh Habitat. Join us to learn about this novel research, which informs the Louisiana Climate Initiatives Task Force. State-of-the-art methods identified uncertainties for current and future soil carbon sequestration in the face of sea-level rise and wetlands loss.

Register in advance here:
https://oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwvduqopjovGdGX72tqpgohmtMaP2MqzSj-

GIS Day at OU
2022-11-16 10:00 - 15:00 | Molly Shi Boren Ballroom (OU Memorial Union), 900 Asp Ave, Norman, OK, 73019, United States
Join the South Central CASC at GIS Day, presented by The Center for Spatial Analysis.
There will be door prizes, giveaways, and cash prizes for undergraduate and graduate posters! ALL are welcome!
Matt Davies, our undergraduate research assistant, will be presenting work related to the Flood Report for the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana that he helped create. We will also be on hand with a booth, so come out and say hi!

2022 Fall Science Meeting
2022-11-09 - 2022-11-11
REGISTER TODAY!
The South Central CASC is excited to once again host our Fall Science Meeting! This year, the meeting will have a hybrid format with in-person and virtual options. The meeting is open to individuals interested in climate change science and adaptation. This year’s meeting will emphasize partnerships between scientists and resource managers. There will be a special focus on how to market your science, including a poster session designed to showcase your work and network with other attendees. This is an excellent opportunity to display the amazing work you have done and connect with others! While you’re there, enjoy a field trip to the Center for River Studies and indulge in amazing Louisiana food! See below for more information, including a draft agenda and the meeting flyer.
Interested in sharing your research at our poster session? Apply when you register!
November 9, 10, and 11th, 2022
Hybrid Event – In-person at LSU with Virtual Options.
Register Here by Oct 31*!
*Applicants wishing to submit their abstract for consideration in the poster session, must do so by Sept 30th.
Event flyer: https://southcentralclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Fall-Science-Meeting-Flyer.pdf
Agenda:
Fall Science Meeting Final Agenda

Oka' 2022 Sustainability Conference
2022-11-08 - 2022-11-09
Join us on November 8th and 9th
The Oka’ Water Sustainability Conference hosts top leaders, scientists, and stakeholders, with presentations, panels, and an immersive dinner.
Click here to learn more and to register: https://lnkd.in/gdq9g8bA

2022 National Weather Festival
2022-10-29 10:00 - 14:00 | National Weather Center, Norman, Oklahoma
We will be participating in this year’s National Weather Festival, set to return to an in-person event, on Saturday, October 29th from 10 am to 2 pm.

How Communities Contend with Climate: Rainwater Harvesting and Restoration
2022-10-18 16:00 - 17:00
The South Central CASC’s Building Resilient Communities presents
How Communities Contend with Climate: Rainwater Harvesting and Restoration.
Featuring
Dr. Joaqui Murrieta-Saldivar, Community Resilience to Climate Change: From Treats to Community Empowerment
and
Flor Sandoval, Promoting Economic Justice in Rainwater Harvesting
Over Zoom October 18th at 4p CT/3p MT/2p PT.
Click here to register

Southwest Adaptation Forum
2022-10-10 - 2022-10-12
The 2022 Southwest Adaptation Forum (SWAF), hosted by the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center(CASC), the South Central CASC, USDA Southwest Climate Hub, and Southwest Decision Resources, will be held at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM.
The SWAF will begin in the afternoon of October 10th, and end in the afternoon of October 12th, and will build on work started at the 2018 and 2021 SWAFs, further exploring topics relevant to adaptation practitioners in the Southwest, such as cultural burning, drought, and ecosystem transformation. There will be no fee to attend.
If you are interested in attending the 2022 SWAF, please complete the pre-application form which puts your name on the list to receive more information in the coming months as well as be notified when the application becomes available. The 9-question form is very important as in-person space is limited!

Monarch Day
2022-09-10 08:00 - 18:00 | Chickasaw Cultural Center, 867 Cooper Memorial Rd, Sulphur, OK, 73086, United States
The South Central CASC will be attending Monarch Day at the Chickasaw Cultural Center on Saturday, September 10th.
We will be hosting a booth on The Stories of Penology as a part of the Time to Restore project.

There will be a matching game for the kids to match the names of the phenophase to its corresponding image for both Monarch Butterflies and Milkweed plants.
There will be a nature’s notebook sheet to allow everyone to collect data while investigating plants and determining their phenophase.
You can craft butterflies using coffee filters and pipe cleaners.
And of course, there will be handouts related to all of the above available.

You can also become a citizen scientist by helping to track flowering and seed timings of plants through Nectar Connectors, a campaign of Nature’s Notebook, the USA National Phenology Network’s plant and animal data collection program. Learn how to get started at www.usanpn.org/TimetoRestore

TImetoRestoreFlyer

2022 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference
2022-08-29 - 2022-09-01
Save the date! August 29th – September 1st.

The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is excited to host the second Biennial National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) which will be offered as a hybrid event to ensure that our relatives from across turtle island can join us whether in-person or virtually.

As we did in 2020, we welcome all who are interested in participating or attending. This event will convene knowledge holders on climate change and resilience efforts with an emphasis on the intersection, inclusion and honoring of Traditional and Indigenous Knowledges.

We welcome and encourage all U.S. Tribal and Indigenous nations and Indigenous Peoples from throughout the world, including our Elders and Youth.

Climate 101 Workshop - Tribal Transportation
2022-08-18 - 2022-08-19
Save the date!
August 18th and 19th, 9 am to 3 pm virtually.
Climate 101 Workshop for Tribal Transportation staff. Tribal Transportation Staff, Members, and others working in those areas in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas are encouraged to participate.
Click to register.

Southern Plains Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) Partners Dialogue
2022-08-02 - 2022-08-03
Southern Plains DEWS Partners Dialogue
August 2-3, 2022, Norman, OK.
This regional gathering will bring together partners within the Southern Plains Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) network. The objectives of this 2-day meeting are to:
-Build/rebuild partnerships that may have lagged during the pandemic
-Reiterate the presence of climate service providers and other partners in the region and make plans for working together
-Showcase tools, resources, assessments, and capacity building that each network has to offer
-Refresh the dialog about drought and other climate extremes.

Location: NCED Hotel and Conference Center, ​2801 East State Hwy 9, Norman, Oklahoma

Who Should Attend: This dialogue is particularly relevant to those entities that engage in the following activities:
-Monitor drought conditions
-Engage in drought and water planning
-Utilize climate information in decision making
-Provide information on climate conditions, extremes and impacts
-Conduct research related to drought monitoring, prediction, and risk.
Register here!

Regional Early Career Workshop
2022-07-24 - 2022-07-29 | University of Oklahoma
The South Central CASC is proud to present the 2022 Regional Early Career Workshop. This year we will be at The University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK from July 24-29th. This training will include:
Science communication strategies and engagement with decision makers.
Field trips and immersive case studies focusing on the region and sites impacted by weather and climate extremes.
Team building: sharing research, round-table discussions, and professional development activities.
Applicants should be graduate students, post-docs, or early career researchers who are conducting climate-related research of relevance to the south-central US.
Transportation and lodging provided. Subsistence funding is available during training hours.
For more details, and to register, please click here. The application deadline has been extended and is now due by 5 pm central time on Friday, April 29, 2022.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION TRAINING FOR GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS
2022-07-20 14:00 - 15:00
To learn more about the Grasslands Training events, and to see past event recordings, please see this page.
North American grasslands are a regional priority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The South Central CASC, in partnership with the US FWS Science Applications Program, the Northwest CASC, and the North Central CASC, will be implementing a training series for grasslands conservation practitioners starting in May 2022. Through our training series, we will introduce practitioners to the science of climate change, explore the impacts, and discuss adaptation options available.
To this end, we have created several pieces of training to facilitate grasslands conservation practitioners’ knowledge both online and in-person.

May 16-27, 2022 – Introduction to the Basics of Climate Change. Designed for grasslands managers (online course). There will be a live group activity on May 27th at 2:30 pm central.
June 13, 2022 (11:00 am central) – Overview of Climate Change Impacts to Grasslands Ecology (Webinar)
July 20th at 2pm Central Time / 1pm Mountain Time / 12pm Pacific Time – Understanding and Using Future Projections for Landcover Changes (Webinar) Register Here
Central North American grassland ecosystems are projected to experience transitions at fine and coarse scales resulting from climate change and human land uses. Following the first two sessions of this series (climate change fundamentals, grassland climate projections, and phenology), this session will focus on landcover/vegetation responses to future climates. Themes include drought impacts, changes in water availability, and woody plant encroachment. Three summary presentations by climate scientists will be followed by grassland manager dialogs (via breakout rooms) that build knowledge among grassland conservation practitioners. Participants will be rewarded with information on cutting-edge grassland-climate science and the opportunity to engage peers in solution-finding.

August 31st at 1pm Central Time / 12pm Mountain Time / 11am Pacific Time – Understanding and Using Future Projections for Trust Species (Webinar) Register Here
For the past half-century, grassland birds have been declining faster than any other group of birds. Habitat loss and degradation are driving many of these declines, but the emerging threat of climate change and associated increases in extreme events pose even more challenges. Using grassland birds as a case study, we will discuss new research on how climate change impacts grassland birds, from range shifts to demographic consequences. We will also explore ongoing efforts to identify how climate adaptation strategies can increase the resilience of grassland birds to future climate change.
Fall 2022 – In-person Climate Adaptation Workshop (Invitation only)

Please check back for further information and registration details.

Earth to Sky Workshop
2022-07-20 - 2022-07-22 | The Chickasaw Nation Retreat and Conference Center, 4205 Goddard Youth Camp Road, Sulphur, OK, 73086, United States
Registration is now open!
Join us for three days of training with native informal educators from across the South Central Region who recognize the importance of teaching climate change. This workshop will be packed with exciting topics and fun activities for you to bring back to your community, including;

NASA Arctic & Earth Signs Training
NASA Living Landscape Project
Shar-A-Thon of Youth Activities
Field Trip to Chickasaw National Recreation Area

When & Where
July 20-22, 2022
Chickasaw Retreat and Conference Center
4205 Goddard Youth Camp Road
Sulphur, OK 73086
Travel Support is available!
Contact April.Taylor@chickasaw.net to be notified when registration begins
Participants are encouraged to register with teams of relevant collaboration. (Ex. Tribal Environment and Education Staff) You will work with these teams to develop plans to implement these trainings in your tribe!

Earth to Sky (ETS) is a partnership between NASA, NPS, and USFWS that enables and encourages informal educators to access and use relevant NASA science, data, and educational & outreach products in their work. The partnership’s focus is on climate change science and communication.

Wildfire Probability Mapping Based on Regional Soil Moisture Models - Dr. Matthew Levi
2022-07-07 11:00 - 12:00
Thursday, July 7th at 11 am CT – The Southern Plains Climate Science Center is hosting Dr. Matthew Levi, Assistant Professor of Soil Science at the University of Georgia, and Co-PI on the South Central CASC-funded project Wildfire Probability Mapping Based on Regional Soil Moisture Models. Join us to learn about some recent advances in predicting soil moisture in the Red River and Rio Grande Basins and how it could lead to an improved understanding of wildfire across the region and benefit fire managers.
Be sure to join us by registering here.
