- Time:Sep 2 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, 2026
- Location:Delta Hotels Grand Ballroom, 3100 Glendale Ave, Toledo, OH 43614 | Get Directions
- RSVP Contact:Lillyann Nahar | Email Me
- Event Organizer:Christopher Winslow | Contact Host
- Event Category:Conferences | Show Similar
The 2026 Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science Conference will have a student poster session!
The 2026 Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science Conference will be on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, and highlights current scientific knowledge related to algal blooms. This year, in conjunction with the State of the Science Conference, the state and its partners are also hosting an in-person Ohio Domestic Action Plan (DAP) workshop. The DAP workshop will be on the following day, Thursday, September 3, 2026. The focus of the DAP workshop will be on actions being taken by the state and partners under the implementation phase of the action plan. Participants are invited to attend both events.
Expected audiences include academic researchers, municiple, state, and federal agencies and the agricultural community interested in the latest algal bloom science and technology. Members of the aforementioned communities are especially encouraged to attend, but all are welcomed.
Research and outreach leaders will present findings from recent studies and identify important areas of uncertainty.
The conference will take place at the Delta Hotels, located near The University of Toledo’s Medical Campus.
The 2026 Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the Science Conference will also have a student poster session. Students working on projects related to algal blooms or this year’s topics are encouraged to submit a poster application. Note, those participating in the poster session will be expected to register for the conference.
Registration deadline:
September 2, 2026
General Registration: $50
Student Registration: $10
This event will be livestreamed. During registration, please select virtual or in-person attendance. Please note, the recording of the event will be shared only with those registered.
If you are interested in earning Ohio EPA Contact Hours for this conference, please complete this form.
For media coverage, please contact Lillyann Nahar prior to registration.
Sponsors
Lake Erie $5,000 and above
Maumee $2,500
Auglaize $1,000
Blanchard $500
If your organization is interested in being a sponsor of this conference, please contact Lillyann Nahar.
Agenda and Speakers
Registration and Networking
Welcome and Morning Introductions
Morning Session: Water Management to Address Nutrient Loss and Transport
Agricultural Water Retention and Reuse in Ohio – Opportunities and Challenges
Vinayak Shedekar, Assistant Professor & State Extension Specialist of Agricultural Water Management, The Ohio State University
On the Ability of Cascading Waterways to Reduce Nutrient Loads in Agricultural Runoff
Steve Lyon , Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources, The Ohio State University
Assessing Ohio Wetland Plants for Nutrient Capture to Guide Construction and Management
Lauren Brown, Research Coordinator, Bowling Green State University
Morning Session Questions and Summary
Panel: Human Dimensions Tied to Nutrient Losses and Blooms
Shannon Jones, Deputy Health Commissioner, Toledo Lucas County Health Department
Robyn Wilson, Professor of Risk Analysis and Decision Science, The Ohio State University
Dusty Sonnenberg, Field Leader Journalist, Ohio Ag Net and Ohio Country Journal
Jim Stouffer, Chairman and CEO, Catawba Cleveland Development
Lunch, Networking, and Student Posters
Welcome Back
Afternoon Session: Watershed-scale Impacts and Legacy Phosphorus Fields
Advancing Phosphorus Management: Watershed Responses and Legacy Phosphorus Fields
Jay Martin, Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in Ecological Engineering, The Ohio State University’s Department of Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering
The Role of Elevated Soil Test Phosphorus on Western Lake Erie Basin Dissolved Phosphorus Loads
Laura Johnson, Chief Science Officer, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)
What Do We Know About Soil P in Relation to Crop Yield and Legacy P in Fields?
Manbir Rakkar, Assistant Professor of Soil Fertility, The Ohio State University
Afternoon Session Questions and Summary
Conclusion
Another Chance to View Student Posters
Event Code of Conduct
Before attending, please take a moment to review the event’s Code of Conduct.