The Premier Gathering for Plains Scholarship
Each autumn, the Nebraska Institute of Great Plains hosts its flagship event: the Great Plains Interdisciplinary Symposium. For three days, the campus becomes a buzzing hub where several hundred researchers, practitioners, students, community leaders, and interested members of the public converge to share the latest findings, debate emerging issues, and forge new collaborations. The symposium is the most tangible manifestation of the Institute's role as a convener and thought leader, setting the agenda for plains-related scholarship and action for the year ahead.
Structure and Format: Beyond the Standard Academic Conference
The symposium deliberately breaks from the mold of staid, discipline-specific conferences. Plenary sessions feature paired talks—for example, a hydrologist and a novelist both reflecting on "The Meaning of a River." Concurrent sessions are organized around themes, not disciplines, so a session on "Dust" might include a climatologist, a historian, a painter, and a public health expert. A significant portion of the schedule is devoted to workshops, field trips to nearby research sites, and structured networking sessions designed to connect people who wouldn't normally meet. The tone is intentionally collegial and forward-looking, focused on synthesis and application.
Highlighted Themes from Recent Years
Recent symposia have tackled some of the region's most pressing questions. The "Water 2050" symposium featured a mock negotiation of a future interstate water compact, revealing the deep tensions and potential compromises ahead. The "Rehoming: Migration and Belonging on the Plains" symposium brought together historians of the Homestead Act, sociologists studying new immigrant communities in meatpacking towns, and wildlife biologists discussing assisted migration of species, creating powerful parallels across human and natural worlds.
Another memorable theme was "Fire and Renewal", which explored the ecological necessity of prescribed fire, the cultural history of Indigenous burning practices, the increasing risk of catastrophic wildfires, and the psychological concept of post-traumatic growth in communities that have experienced disaster.
The Art and Culture Salon
A beloved evening event is the Art and Culture Salon, where symposium themes are explored through creative expression. This might include a staged reading of a new play about a farm family, a gallery exhibit of sculptures made from reclaimed agricultural plastic, or a concert featuring music composed from converted climate data. This event underscores the Institute's commitment to holistic understanding and ensures the symposium engages the heart as well as the mind.
Outcomes and Lasting Impact
The impact of the symposium extends far beyond the three days. It routinely leads to new interdisciplinary research proposals, the formation of working groups that continue throughout the year, and policy white papers that are disseminated to state and federal agencies. Student presentations often lead to job offers or publication opportunities. For many attendees from isolated rural communities or specialized academic fields, the symposium is a vital source of intellectual renewal and a reminder that they are part of a larger community striving for a common purpose.
The annual symposium is more than a conference; it is a ritual that reaffirms the collective mission of the Nebraska Institute of Great Plains. It is where the threads of disparate research are woven together into a coherent tapestry, where difficult conversations are held in a spirit of shared respect, and where the future of the Great Plains is actively imagined and debated by the people who know it best.