The 5th Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) Meeting will take place from 10-12 October 2023 (3 full days) at The Moorings, Knysna, South Africa.

This is the final call for abstracts, which are due by 30 June 2023.  See GRIN Website for submission (including abstract template) and registration details. If you are a student and would like to be considered for a waiving of the registration fee (funding for a limited number of student sponsorships have been secured), please indicate as such on your abstract submission. All abstracts will be evaluated and accepted based on their alignment with the aims of GRIN.

Considering the growth in abstract submissions we experienced last year, together with a limited number of presentation sessions and the importance of creating enough space for meaningful discussion and networking, we may not be able to accommodate all the submitted abstracts. We appreciate your understanding in this regard. To help us compile the programme, we ask that you please make it clear in your abstract how your presentation aligns with the values and scope of GRIN (see above, with further details on the website).

GRIN provides a space for researchers, managers, policymakers and rangers to share experiences and latest insights related to the management, research and sustainability of social-ecological systems (e.g. estuaries, conservation areas, agricultural landscapes, rural villages, cities and catchments) from around the world. The ‘GRIN space’ was designed to promote a diversity of perspectives and robust discussion, focusing not only on the latest social-ecological research, but particularly placing a high value on practitioner knowledge and practitioner-scientist engagement. The following quotes from 2022 delegates’ feedback reflect the general spirit of GRIN:

  • “I have found myself in a pool of scientist network that has changed my perspectives about research forever” (Student X)
  • “The workshop was an eye opener for me” (Manager Y)
  • “Hearing progressive voices in conservation agencies – how do we amplify those voices?” (Scientist Z)

Presentation themes that have emerged to date and that remain relevant for the 2023 meeting are:

  • Understanding human–nature connections;
  • Strategies used to promote knowledge exchange among science, policy and practice;
  • Sustainable resource use and balancing benefits and conflicts related to services and contributions from nature;
  • Governance and management approaches for social-ecological systems;
  • Monitoring and evaluation approaches for social-ecological systems;
  • Resilience, adaptations and transformations in social-ecological systems; responding to climate and other drivers of change;
  • Lessons from forums and processes that aim to promote co-learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration among diverse stakeholders; and
  • Methods/approaches for studying social-ecological systems.

Registration and final payment (R 2,500 per delegate and R 2,000 for registered students) no later than 15 August 2023. The registration fee includes refreshments and lunches on all three days as well as a GRIN dinner (braai). See GRIN Website for details.

Accommodation:

Delegates need to make their own accommodation arrangements. The Mooring offer a range of accommodation options at a discounted price for GRIN delegates (please enquire directly with The Moorings about prices and options that suit your requirements). However, there is no block booking for GRIN and to avoid disappointment we encourage prospective delegates to make early bookings. There are also many alternative accommodation options in Knysna catering for a range of budgets.