Past Summits & Working Groups

Title: Thinking Outside the Box: How to Increase Synergy Across Observational, Experimental and Modeling Approaches to Understand and Predict HABs

Dates: Late Oct – Early November, 2026

Steering Committee: Lead: Elena Litchman (Michigan State University); co-Leads: Casey Godwin (University of Michigan – CIGLR); Reagan Errera (NOAA GLERL)

CIGLR Research Theme: Observing Systems & Advanced Technology; Invasive Species & Food-web Ecology; Hydrometeorological & Ecosystem Forecasting; Protection & Restoration of Resources

Title: Integrating Human Dimension Indicators into Great Lakes Monitoring and Management

Dates: August 2026

Steering Committee: Lead: Mike Shriberg (University of Michigan); co-Leads: Jess Rudnick (University of Iliinois/U.S. Forest Service); John Bratton (LimnoTech); Sophee Langerman (National Wildlife Federation / Healing Our Waters); Patrick Doran (The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Division); Julie Simmons (NOAA)

CIGLR Research Theme: Protection & Restoration of Resources

Title: Great Lakes Marine Science and Technology Users Group (GLTUG): Strategy Development and First Meeting

Dates: January 21 & 22, 2026

Steering Committee: Lead: Ed Verhamme (LimnoTech); co-Leads: Kyle Beadle (NOAA GLERL); Russ Miller (University of Michigan – CIGLR); Ebie Holst (Cleveland Water Alliance)

CIGLR Research Theme: Observing Systems & Advanced Technology

Understanding Recreational Fishing for Food in the Great Lakes

Dates: April 10-12, 2024

Steering Committee: Leads: Aaron Fisk (University of Windsor); Vivian Nguyen (Carleton University); Ed Rutherford (NOAA GLERL)

CIGLR Research Theme: Protection & Restoration of Resources

The Use of Archival Environmental DNA in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Dates: June 10-13, 2024

Steering Committee: Leads: Ryan Newton (University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee); Trisha Spanbauer (University of Toledo); Craig Stow (NOAA GLERL); Steve Ruberg (NOAA GLERL)

CIGLR Research Theme: Observing Systems & Advanced Technology & Invasive Species & Food-web Ecology

AI Horizons: How machine learning and artificial intelligence will shape Great Lakes observations, modeling, and forecasting in the coming decade

Dates: June, 2024

Steering Committee: Leads: Jing Liu (University of Michigan); Bill Currie (University of Michigan); Silvia Newell (University of Michigan); Scott Steinschneider (University of Michigan); Dani Jones (University of Michigan – CIGLR); Lauren Fry (NOAA GLERL); Lacey Mason (NOAA GLERL); Andrea VanderWoude (NOAA GLERL)

CIGLR Research Theme: Observing Systems & Advanced Technology & Hydrometeorological & Ecosystem Forecasting

Discerning the “Bricks and Mortar” Required to Implement the Societal Components of Comprehensive Great Lakes Restoration

Dates: May 17-19, 2023

Steering Committee: Leads: Paul Seelbach (University of Michigan); Laura Rubin (Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition)

CIGLR Research Theme: Protection & Restoration of Resources

Developing a Conceptual Framework and Vision for Coordinating Great Lakes Connecting Waters Research and Monitoring

Dates: July 17-19, 2023

Steering Committee: Lead: Robin L. DeBruyne (U.S.G.S. Great Lakes Science Center); co-Leads: Lauren Fry (NOAA GLERL); Ashley Moerke (Lake Superior State University); Edward F. Roseman (U.S.G.S. Great Lakes Science Center)

CIGLR Research Theme: Protection & Restoration of Resources

Disturbance Ecology: Effects on Great Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms and Phycology

Dates: September, 2023

Steering Committee: Lead: Heather Raymond (Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences); co-Leads: Andrew Bramburger (Environment Climate Change Canada); Mary Anne Evans (USGS); Katie Stammler (Essex Region Conservation Authority); Nicole Zacharda (Great Lakes Commission); Connor Roessler (Great Lakes Commission); Reagan Errera (NOAA-GLERL)

CIGLR Research Theme: Invasive Species & Food-web Ecology

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management

Dates: November 14-16, 2022

Steering Committee: Leads: Lars Rudstam (Cornell University) and Aaron Fisk (Univesity of Windsor)

CIGLR Research Theme: Healthy Communities

Benchmarks for Great Lakes Fish Habitat Restoration

Dates: 2022

Steering Committee: Lead: Karen Alofs (University of Michigan); Co-leads: Ed Rutherford (NOAA-GLERL) & Andrew Miller (Postdoc, University of Michigan)

CIGLR Research Theme: Healthy Communities

Great Lakes Integrated Mesocosm Research (GLIMR)

Dates: 2022

Steering Committee: Lead: Allen Steinman (Grand Valley State University AWRI); Co-leads: Casey Godwin (CIGLR); Craig Stow (NOAA GLERL); Hank Vanderploeg (NOAA GLERL); Ed Rutherford (NOAA GLERL); Donna Kashian (Wayne State University); Don Uzarski (Central Michigan University)

CIGLR Research Theme: Healthy Communities

Oil Spills Under Ice – Challenges and Solutions

Dates: March 9-12, 2022

Steering Committee: Lead: Volodymyr (Vlad) Tarabara (Michigan State University); Co-leads: Ayumi Fujisaki-Manome (UM CIGLR), Melissa Baird (Michigan Technological University) & Edoardo Sarda (Lake Superior State University)

CIGLR Research Theme: Healthy Communities

Smart Lake Erie Citizen Science

Dates: March 14-15, 2022

Steering Committee: Co-leads: Chris Winslow (Ohio State University) & Max Herzog (Cleveland Water Alliance); Committee: Andrea Paine (Huron River Watershed Council), Casey Godwin (UM CIGLR), Laura Johnson (Heidelberg University), & Steve Ruberg (NOAA-GLERL)

                                                                   CIGLR Research Theme: Advanced Warning Systems

State of the Great Lakes Reporting and the Prescription White Paper

Dates: February 23-24, 2021

Steering Committee: Lead: Michael Murray (National Wildlife Federation); Co-leads: John Bratton (LimnoTech), Ashley Elgin (NOAA GLERL), Casey Godwin (UM CIGLR), Tian Guo (Michigan State University), Tom Johengen (UM CIGLR & Michigan Sea Grant), Catherine Riseng (University of Michigan, Michigan Sea Grant)

CIGLR Research Theme: Coastal Resilience

Groundwater in Crisis? Addressing Groundwater Challenges in Michigan as a template for the Great Lakes

Dates: June 3-4, 2021

Steering Committee: Lead: Al Steinman (GVSU-AWRI); Co-leads: Philip Chu (NOAA-GLERL), Patrick Doran (TNC), Carol Miller (Wayne State Univ), Don Uzarski (CMU), Tom Zimnicki (MEC)

White Paper: Groundwater in Crisis? Addressing Groundwater Challenges in Michigan as a template for the Great Lakes

CIGLR Research Theme: Healthy Communities

Lake Erie Central Basin Hypoxia: State of the Science Review and Approaches to Track Future Progress

Dates: October 2021

Steering Committee: Lead: Mike McKay, (University of Windsor); Co-leads: Craig Stow, (NOAA-GLERL); Casey Godwin, (UM CIGLR); Elizabeth Hinchey-Malloy, (US EPA)

CIGLR Research Theme: Healthy Communities

Winter Limnology on the Great Lakes – Prospects and Research Needs

Dates: May 13-15, 2019

Leads: Dr. Ted Ozersky, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Henry Vanderploeg, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory; Andrew Bramburger, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Jia Wang, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory; Ashley Elgin, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

GLERL Research Program: Integrated Physical and Ecological Modeling and Forecasting icon Integrated Physical and Ecological Modeling and Forecasting and Ecosystems Dynamics

Revisiting the Prescription: Identifying a Conceptual Framework for Approaches to Restoring and Protecting the Great Lakes

Dates: June 27-29, 2018

Leads: Michael Murray, National Wildlife Federation; David Allan, University of Michigan;John Bratton, LimnoTech; Jan Ciborowski, University of Windsor; Lucinda Johnson, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Alan Steinman, Grand Valley State University; Craig Stow, NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

 GLERL Research Program: Integrated Physical and Ecological Modeling and Forecasting

Improving Models of Nutrient Loading and Harmful Algal Blooms though a Watershed-scale Approach that Emphasizes Soil Health and Upland Farming Practices

Dates: July 16-18, 2018

Leads: Tom Zimnicki, Michigan Environmental Council; Robyn Wilson, Ohio State University; Craig Stow, NOAA-GLERL;                                                    Mark Rowe, UM-CIGLR

                                                                GLERL Research Program: Integrated Physical and Ecological Modeling and Forecasting

The Superior Challenge: Forecasting the Impacts of a Strong El Niño on the World’s Largest Lake

Dates: May 17-19, 2016

Leads:Branko Kerkez, University of Michigan; Peter Blanken, University of Colorado-Boulder; John Lenters, LimnoTech; Chris Spence, Environment Canada; Drew Gronewold, NOAA GLERL

GLERL Research Program:Integrated Physical and Ecological Modeling and Forecasting