The 2020 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention: Conserving Lakes in a Changing Environment has been moved to a virtual format, September 16-18. The novel coronavirus has greatly impacted the way we work and live, and we are adapting our Convention to match the fluid environment of our lives during this pandemic. Though we realize there is huge value to the in-person networking that takes place between sessions, we must prioritize the safety and health of our participants, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and staff. The new format also has some major benefits, such as the ability to reach a much larger audience, archived presentations that will be available to the public, and significantly decreased cost.

There are some unknowns regarding future programming, but we feel it is in the best interest of everyone involved to make the switch to a virtual program now to ensure a successful event in the fall. We are exploring appropriate formats and platforms for the conference, and we will be communicating more details regarding programming soon.

Registration fees will be dramatically reduced, but a nominal fee will still be requested to support technical and administrative costs as well as scholarships to support student participation.