Iowa Nature Summit 2026
A gathering focused on Iowa's natural heritage, conservation, and practical discussions.
Drake University Olmsted Center
- Date
- November 18, 2026
- Venue
- Drake University Olmsted Center
- Location
- Des Moines, IA
About
The summit convenes people working on Iowa's natural heritage through talks, discussion, and collaboration. Its audience description names conservationists, scientists, farmers, policymakers, educators, and nature advocates, while the listed program includes speakers from academic, government, nonprofit, and media organizations.
Who you'll find in the room
Conservationists
Conservation professionals and advocates are among the audiences named by the organizer.
Scientists
Scientists are included in the organizer's audience description.
Farmers
Farmers are included in the organizer's audience description.
Policymakers
Policymakers are included in the organizer's audience description.
Educators
Educators are included in the organizer's audience description.
Nature advocates
Nature advocates are included in the organizer's audience description.
Featured speakers
45 listedProf. Neil Hamilton
Emeritus Professor of Law · Drake University
Joe McGovern
President · Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Prof. Audrey Tran Lam
MPH · University of Northern Iowa
Sarah Green
Iowa Environmental Council
Dr. Richard Deming
Deming Foundation: Cultivating Compassion
John Norris
Horizon Group
Jodi Reese
Nishnabotna Water Defenders
Dr. David Cwiertny
CHEEC and University of Iowa
Prof. Jesus Gomez Valez
Civil and Environmental Engineering · University of Iowa
Elle Gadient
Niman Ranch Pork Company
Zack Smith
Matt Bormann, and James Hepp
Jen Terry
Director, Hubbell Environmental Law Institute · U of Iowa College of Law
Keith Schilling
State Geologist and director, Iowa Geological Survey
Elizabeth Owens
Project Manager · TNC
Anna Buckardt Thomas
Avian ecologist · DNR
Doug Haar
Iowa Audubon
Lisa Hein
INHF
Tyler Harms
Executive Director · Iowa Young Birders
Brenda Mainwaring
Iowa West
Lance Brisbois
Executive Director · Golden Hills RC&D
Graham McGaffin
Director · Iowa TNC
Mike DeCook
Pete Ehryalde, William Penn College
Anna Gray
Policy director · INHF
Morgan Georgeff
INHF
Tatum Watkins
Grinnell
Katie Das
SILT
Casey Greufe
Prairie Rivers RC&D
Betsy Penisten
IWF
Kaycie Waters-Broka
IWF
Sam Bryson
Drake Law student
Emily Kavanagh
Iowa TNC
Prof. Jennifer Zwagerman
Moderator
Cami Koons
Iowa Capital Dispatch
Todd Dorman
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Rachel Cramer
IPR Harvest Public Media
Anika Jane Beamer
Inside Climate News
Pat Boddy
Moderator
Tommie Hexter
Director, Iowa Food System Coalition; team leader, Volgenau Climate Initiative
Sally Worley
Executive Director · Practical Farmers of Iowa
Ray Young Bear
Poetry reader
Linda Applegate
2026 Iowa Nature Champion
Dianne & Bill Blankenship
2026 Iowa Nature Champions
Mary Ellen Miller
2026 Iowa Nature Champion
Bob Riley
2026 Iowa Nature Champion
Dean Roosa
2026 Iowa Nature Champion
Partners on record
2 listedVenue & travel
Venue
Drake University Olmsted CenterQuestions people ask
5 answeredIowa Nature Summit 2026 starts on November 18, 2026.
The summit is held at Drake University Olmsted Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
The organizer identifies conservationists, scientists, farmers, policymakers, educators, and nature advocates as its audience.
It suits Iowa conservation staff, farmers, policy people and educators, since the speakers come from groups such as the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Practical Farmers of Iowa, the Iowa Environmental Council and the Iowa Geological Survey, and they include journalists from Iowa news outlets. Researchers who want a technical paper-driven meeting, and people working outside Iowa, would get less, because the program centres on the state's natural resources and mixes law, water, farming and media voices.
Conservation and agriculture gatherings usually call for business casual or relaxed smart casual, with layers for Des Moines in mid-November and sturdy, comfortable shoes for a full campus day.
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