The Disasters and Environment Conference is divided into six themes, with the symposia and breakout workshops organized around each theme.  This website follows a similar logic.  You can find descriptions of symposia and breakout workshops as subtopics under their corresponding themes.

On Tuesday, January 15, there will be two sets of concurrent symposia to provide focused discussion on critical cross-cutting topics.  Symposia are 90-minute mini plenary sessions, comprised of coordinated presentations by a diverse panel of experts who provide insightful perspectives on the topic of the session, followed by moderated discussion among the speakers and a brief question-and-answer period and open discussion with all participants. 

On Wednesday, January 16, there will be 23 concurrent breakout workshops designed to develop recommendations for using science and education to address issues related disasters and environment.  Each session is organized around a particular topic and will involve experts in the field and a facilitated participant group discussion.  Participants will work in groups to develop a set of 8-12 recommendations to the Administration, Congress, state and local government, business, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities and others.