16th Biennial Conference on University Education in Natural Resources

About Your Host

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science is currently home to the fastest growing undergraduate program at Michigan Technological University, nearly doubling in size in the last decade. Six undergraduate degree programs and eight graduate specializations are offered, including new B.S. degrees in Environmental Data Science and Environmental Science and Sustainability designed to meet the needs of today’s environmental challenges. Home to award winning faculty, world-class research initiatives including the Isle Royale wolf-moose predator prey study, and immersive field-based learning opportunities, the college is dedicated to serving as a vital hub for students, faculty and researchers working to advance understanding of the natural world.

About the Venue

Abstract submission now open!

Proposal FormThe proposal submission form will close on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Registration will open in January.

About the Event

The Biennial Conference on University Education in Natural Resources provides a unique opportunity for college- and university-based natural resource educators from across the country to share and explore pedagogical innovations and strategies. The two-day event (May 4 and 5, 2026) combines plenary, breakout sessions, and workshops that encompass diverse subject matter and perspectives.

We welcome a broad spectrum of participation that includes support programming, extension and outreach, and non-formal natural resources education. Our virtual platform allows a range of instructors to receive and provide valuable insight into best practices that shape traditional educational programming.

The biennial conference originated in the 1990s. The BCUENR is unique as there is no supporting professional organization. The conference depends on participants to propose host sites and carry on the vision of the founders. The educational experience continues to evolve and provide natural resources educators with information on national trends, groundbreaking teaching methods and resources that provide meaningful learning experiences for our students.

Exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula

The Keweenaw Peninsula is surrounded on three sides by the largest freshwater lake, by surface area on Earth. Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center is home to research vessels and dozens of scientists studying regional and global ecosystems. Conference attendees will have opportunities to join trips on the Portage Waterway and Lake Superior, the old-growth forests of the Porcupine Mountains, the rugged forests and nationally famous mountain bike trails near Copper Harbor, and the Ford Center, the College Natural Resource teaching and research station with over 4,000 acres of land.

Previous Hosts

Thank you to the previous hosts who have helped bring a new perspective and experience!