Rangelands Partnership

2020 Rangelands Partnership Annual Meeting

Dear Rangelands Partners,

Thank you for making this year’s annual meeting a huge success!

The 18th Annual Rangelands Partnership (RP) meeting was held via Zoom for two full days on March 30th and 31st. More than 40 participants representing range scientists, ag/science librarians, and IT specialists from the 19 western land-grant university member collaboration were actively engaged through facilitated discussions, polls, and breakout rooms in a well-choreographed event. Special welcomes were given by Barbara Petty, University of Idaho Director of Extension and the Partnership’s Administrative Advisor for this WERA Multistate Research & Extension project, and Jerry Perry, Associate Dean of the University of Arizona Libraries. Also welcoming the membership were CALS’ Associate Dean Silvertooth, who provided a video, UA Cooperative Extension: Past, Present, and Futures, and SNRE Director, John Koprowski, who provided a virtual look into the ENR2 building. While RP members were disappointed not to be able to gather in person, they rose to the occasion with creativity and enthusiasm.

With only a few days’ notice, state teams prepared voice-over Powerpoint reports summarizing their year’s rangelands Extension programming and library activities, particularly noting special projects and innovative approaches. Other highlights included a panel session: Communication with Purpose: Science for Society Panel with speakers Theresa Crimmins (USA National Phenology Network), Elise Gornish (SNRE), and Rosemary Brandt (UA CALS Media Relations). Presentations were also given on the Natural Resource Users Law and Policy Center (NRULPC) and Clinic by George Ruyle (SNRE) and Priya Sundareshan (College of Law). Dr. Leslie Roche (UC Davis), gave a dynamic and thought-provoking keynote address: Socio-Ecological Systems – Emphasizing the Human Dimension. All sessions were recorded and will soon be available under the 2020 Annual Meeting link.

The meeting would not have been a success without the assistance of Dave Bogner (CCT) and excellent coordination by the Arizona RP team (Amber Dalke, Barb Hutchinson, Sheila Merrigan, Sarah Noelle and Jeanne Pfander) as well as the RP Executive Committee. A special thank you to meeting sponsors: The Kemper and Ethel Marley Endowment for Sustainable Rangeland Stewardship and The University of Arizona Libraries. Links to more about the RP: Introduction to the RP (7 minute video (Box)) and Global Rangelands.org.

Retta and Barb

Partner Resources