2024 Annual Meeting
May 29-31, 2024 - Blacksburg, VA
Field Tours & Socials
Field Tours
All field tours will depart from and return to the Inn at Virginia Tech. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the listed start time of your tour.
StREAM Lab – 15 Years Post-Restoration | May 29th 3-5 PM *CED/AED tour site
Tour the StREAM Lab @ Virginia Tech approximately 15 years post restoration. The StREAM Lab is an outdoor laboratory with over 1.3 km of streams and floodplains. This facility provides faculty and students with unique opportunities to concurrently conduct research, education, and outreach just kilometers from campus.
Picture source: Virginia Tech News
Mussel Restoration Efforts | May 29th 3-5 PM
Southwestern Virginia is global biodiversity hotspot for freshwater mussels, with over 54 species. Visit laboratories in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation department focused on saving our native mussels and utilizing their filtering abilities to improve water quality in urban streams.
Picture source: Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Stormwater Management Facilities | May 29th 3-5 PM
Tour our campus stormwater management facilities and learn what works and what could use improvement. The tour will be led by members of the Virginia Tech Site and Infrastructure Development team who manage our MS4 permit.
Picture source: Virginia Tech
Sustainable Waste & Living Materials Management | May 29th 3-5 PM
Learn about innovative research ranging from sustainable waste management, by-product use and management, and sustainable living materials.
New River and Sinking Creek | May 31st 1:30 - 5:00 PM
Visit one of the oldest rivers in the world, the New River, and the adjacent karst tributary, Sinking Creek. The tour will visit multiple locations along the New River, including McCoy Falls, where the river cuts through a major ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, and at Eggleston, where bedrock palisades flank the bank of the river. Also included is a stop at Sinking Creek, where at times the entire 20-m width stream disappears underground, leading to the growth of trees in the channel and where construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is affecting the stream.
Picture source: Jon Czuba
Socials
Pre-Conference Social - The Maroon Door | May 28th 5-8 PM
Join us for an informal gathering at one of Blacksburg's local breweries, located in the heart of downtown just across Main St. from campus. Great opportunity to catch up with colleagues you haven't seen in a while or to meet new folks! All are welcome!
Student Social at Eastern Divide Brewing | May 29th 5:30 - 6:30 PM
All students are welcome to join for the student social at Eastern Divide Brewing! Come learn more about ongoing initiatives in the AEES Student Chapter Committee, including information on how to start your own AEES Student Chapter at your home institution! Transportation will be provided from the Inn to Eastern Divide.
Social and Dinner at Eastern Divide Brewing | May 29th 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Join us at Eastern Divide Brewing for a social and dinner! A buffet style meal and one drink ticket will be provided to each attendee (included in registration cost). Transportation to and from the Inn will be provided at regular intervals throughout the evening (details to come).