Cary Conference VIII Convened: April 27 - 29, 1999 Institute of Ecosystem Studies Millbrook, NY
Anticipated Products from Cary Conference VIII One of the most important outcomes of the Conference will be the beginning of a dialogue between ecologists and other natural and social scientists that study urban ecosystems and people concerned with teaching and learning about urban ecosystems. The fruits of this dialogue will be valuable to many groups, including: Educators, who will get up-to-date insights into ecology and other natural and social sciences that form our understanding of cities; gain practical ideas about what works, what doesn’t work, and why; help forge a new vision for their work in urban ecology education; and build new partnerships.

Education researchers, who will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities faced in teaching about urban ecosystems, leading to new avenues for research in teaching and learning, and new partnerships with scientists and education practitioners.

Natural and social scientists, who will be forced to crystallize their current understanding and highlight what they think are the most important ideas. In the process, they are likely to identify key areas needing additional attention within their own ranks. They also stand to gain new collaborators and new visions for linking their research with vital education efforts.

Other Conference products will include:

• A book on understanding urban ecosystems that synthesizes the best thinking of leading scientists and educators. The book will build on the papers prepared for the Conference, addressing a crucial need for elaborating the importance of understanding urban ecosystems, and for guiding researchers and practitioners dedicated to fostering this understanding in people around the world. The chapters will be shaped by discussions among the authors and the comments of reviewers on 2-page paper summaries prepared before the Conference, discussions during the Conference, and reviews of draft papers submitted to the editors before final drafts are completed in the fall of 1999. This procedure distinguishes the Cary Conference volumes from traditional conference proceedings and results in a more integrated and unified body of work.
• Recommendations to scientists, educators and administrators for developing, implementing and sustaining effective programs in urban ecosystem education.
• Brochures or booklets summarizing our key recommendations, tailored for distribution to different audiences including education leaders, decision makers, researchers and citizens.
• Articles in professional journals, teachers’ magazines and newsletters.
• Symposia at national and international meetings,
• The Conference Web Site, which will include summaries of the papers presented at the Conference (projected to be available June 1999).