Reflecting on IALE-NA 2025: A week of learning, sharing and connecting

Editor’s note: Each semester, students in the Geospatial Analytics Ph.D. program can apply for a Geospatial Analytics Travel Award that supports research travel or presentations at conferences. The following is a guest post by travel award winner Margaret Lawrimore as part of the Student Travel series.

Every year, the International Association of Landscape Ecologists (IALE, North America Chapter) brings together a multidisciplinary group of students, scientists and researchers to exchange ideas and forge collaborations. Last month, thanks to support from NC State’s Center for Geospatial Analytics, I had the pleasure of attending and presenting at the IALE-NA annual meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

The conference kicked off Sunday evening with a welcome social, bustling with excited first-time conference-goers and seasoned IALE regulars. It provided an excellent chance to reconnect with colleagues and make new connections, setting the tone for the week ahead. 

Monday started strong with a thought-provoking talk on green infrastructure’s social, economic, and environmental impacts. Later, I attended sessions on human migration, landscape change, and fire risk modeling. Over lunch, I had the pleasure of attending a networking luncheon and gained insights from early-career and established professionals. The day wrapped up with a poster session where I discovered exciting new datasets and innovative models. 

Tuesday’s first session highlighted the importance of small-scale, local actions in preserving natural landscapes. The rest of the day covered diverse topics, from landscape change to invasive species, all sharing innovative perspectives.

On Wednesday, the final day, I attended and presented in a session on land use change. Presenting part of my dissertation research—on how zoning shapes development patterns across North Carolina—was a great chance to garner feedback about my research and practice my science communication skills.

Overall, IALE-NA 2025 was an incredible opportunity to learn, share ideas and connect with colleagues in the landscape ecology community. I am grateful for the experience!