2027 North Carolina Student Parks and Public Lands Symposium

Call for Proposals

April 29-31st, 2026

Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment - Durham, NC

The future of public lands starts here.

The 2027 North Carolina Student Parks and Public Lands Symposium will connect undergraduate and graduate students to high-quality resources, professional networks, and individuals working across parks, public lands, conservation, and related fields.

Through speakers, panels, workshops, affinity groups, and opportunities for direct connection with park professionals and organizations, the symposium will help students explore career pathways, build meaningful relationships, and better understand opportunities within the parks and conservation workforce.

The event will seek to reduce barriers to entry by creating an accessible, welcoming space where students—particularly those from underserved communities—can connect with the knowledge, people, and resources they need to envision and pursue careers in parks and public lands.

About the symposium

Registration will open in December, 2026.

Submit your Proposal Here

(something inspirational)

Topics

Current Research

Research plays an integral role in understanding, managing, and protecting our parks and public lands. From ecosystem restoration to visitor management, research informs the decisions that determine the future of these spaces. Universities are at the forefront of addressing the challenges that parks face today, yet students’ access to this material is limited to the classroom. The Student Symposium aims to highlight these efforts and connect students to the researchers and practitioners at work, showing how their research can translate to meaningful impacts in parks and public lands.

Park Career Pathways

Parks and public lands offer a wide range of career opportunities, yet many students are unaware of the pathways available or how to get involved in the field. In the conservation sector, there is a growing need for passionate and skilled professionals to fill the critical workforce gaps and address the challenges facing parks today. The Student Symposium is committed to bridging the gap between students and professionals by highlighting the diversity of careers available, identifying current workforce needs, and providing students with the connections and resources needed to pursue a career in conservation.

Finding Community

Conservation benefits all people, but parks have unfortunately often been exclusionary spaces. Historically, many groups have struggled to gain a foothold or find a sense of belonging in the outdoor world. Given the recent exclusivity and restrictive sentiment towards conservation, it is important, now more than ever, that we foster community. The Student Symposium will address this issue by facilitating conversations and connecting passionate individuals through affinity groups, presentations, and panels that highlight diverse voices.

We hope to directly address students of color, queer students, first generation students, low income students, and anyone else who has historically struggled to find space in this field.