Welcome to the RAE 2024 Coastal & Estuarine Summit
Restore America’ Estuaries is proud to welcome attendees to the 2024 Coastal & Estuarine Summit, located at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia from October 6 – 10. With our partners, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, we are excited to welcome you to our nation’s capital, situated on the shores of the largest estuary in the country. This year’s Summit features more than 600 presenters, 100 sessions, 120 posters, as well as numerous field sessions, workshops, and receptions and promises to be the most engaging and successful to date.
The Coastal & Estuarine Summit is made possible through the generous and ongoing support of our lead sponsor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Since 2000, Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) and NOAA have worked in close alignment to advance our shared mission of protecting and restoring estuaries, particularly in the face of a warming climate. Through continued collaboration, we can address these challenges directly and together to build a more sustainable future.
With over 100 sessions spread across three days, there is no shortage of coastal content to engage with so be sure to utilize the Summit Attendee App to set your schedule and stay up to date with the latest agenda. While you are here, if you ever need any assistance, please find one of the RAE staff located at registration and we will be more than happy to help.
The Coastal Innovation Hub is a central gathering place for those curious about the future of coastal restoration. The Hub will feature 30-minute presentations from the leaders in the field showcasing their innovations, tools, and technologies and offer a space to engage in a dialogue about what these practices mean for your community. If you are exploring practical, action-oriented resources to protect or restore your estuary or have thoughts on how organizations can improve their current offerings, drop into one of the sessions to learn more. A full schedule of presentations is available on the Summit app and website.
Workshops provide attendees with valuable practical skills to take into the field as they tackle their own coastal restoration and preservation challenges. From “Advancing Resilience with the Coastal Inundation Community of Practice” to “Engineering with Nature: Use of Natural and Nature-Based Features in Estuarine Systems” attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of how nature-based solutions can protect the communities we live in. Those attending the “COMPASS Strategic Communication” and “Facilitation Basics for Coastal Managers” workshops will give managers tools to lead and communicate effectively.
The Summit is as much about convening with other coastal professionals as it is learning – we are pleased to offer multiple opportunities to do so.
President’s Opening Reception
Sunday, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Summit Expo & Poster Hall
Welcoming you to the Summit, the President’s Reception offers you time to explore the expo and poster hall, participate in the Summit Book Club, visit with vendors, connect with friends, and get ready for the week!
Poster Session Happy Hour
Sponsored by: NOAA Sea Grant
Monday, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Summit Expo & Poster Hall
Poster presenters will be onsite to discuss their submissions and showcase their work! Be sure to stop by the RAE Booth to vote for your favorite poster and enter for a chance to win our Chesapeake-themed prize, a dozen blue crabs!
RAE Summit Networking Reception
Presented by: Freese & Nichols
Tuesday, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Bowlero Arlington
Put your arcade skills to the test with your fellow attendees and join us for an evening of camaraderie a short walk from the Summit venue!
This year’s Summit asks us to Capitalize on Our Coasts to solve some of the most pressing issues facing coastal and estuarine communities. These ecosystems are at the frontline of both environmental well-being and economic prosperity. The natural capital of coastal and estuarine ecosystems can only provide these benefits when they are protected, restored, and healthy. This requires our combined human capital to work together – across disciplines and across communities to find and implement the best solutions for our coasts and estuaries. No matter how you interact with the countless opportunities at the Summit, we hope your experience is fulfilling and engaging.
Above all, we hope that you have an amazing experience and are excited for what the upcoming days have in store!