Ohio Avian Research Conference
We are happy to announce that the Ohio Avian Research Conference will be returning on Saturday, November 14th, 2026. The full-day event will be hosted by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, in Columbus, OH, and will include a full day of scientific presentations, and a keynote presentation by Dr. Olivia Smith, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University. Complete details for the conference will be available in the future.
Important Dates:
- October 16: Submission deadline for oral and poster presentations
- November 4: Registration deadline (registration closes at 12:00pm on 11/4/2026)
Click on a heading below for more information:
Program Overview
Keynote Presentation
Dr. Olivia Smith
Assistant Professor
College of Agriculture & Natural Resources
Department of Horticulture
Michigan State University
From pests to partners: Rethinking agricultural systems to support people and birds
Olivia Smith, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University, where she leads the Smith BIRDS Lab. Her research focuses on how working landscapes can be managed to support both people and nature. Taking an ecosystem services perspective, her work examines how birds contribute to ecosystem services such as pest control while addressing potential disservices, particularly food safety risks. Using large-scale observational studies, field experiments, and interdisciplinary approaches, she develops practical, incentive-based conservation strategies for working lands.
Smith earned a B.S. from Siena Heights University in 2013, where she was also a McNair Scholar. She then went on to earn her M.S. from The Ohio State University in 2015, and a Ph.D. in biology from Washington State University in 2019.
Location
Grange Insurance Audubon Center
505 W Whittier St,
Columbus, OH 43215
Submit an Abstract
The scientific committee of the Ohio Avian Research Conference invites you to submit an abstract for consideration as an oral presentation or poster. Submissions are open through 5 PM on Friday, October 16th, 2026. Abstracts are limited to 250 words and should have a concise and informative title of no more than 100 characters. We have limited space for oral presentations, thus, depending on the number of submissions, posters may be recommended for some presenters. Oral presentations are limited to 15 minutes in length. Formatting details for the posters will be provided soon. Questions on the scientific program can be directed to Matthew Shumar at obcicoordinator@gmail.com.
Registration
Registration comes with a boxed lunch of your choice. If you are a student and interested in volunteering to assist with the conference, we will cover your registration. Please email Matthew Shumar at obcicoordinator@gmail.com for more information.
Registration coming soon
Past Conferences
2025
The 2025 Ohio Avian Research Conference took place on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025. Dr. Michael Ward, Professor and Levenick Chair in Sustainability at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, presented his Eastern Whip-poor-will research to more than 140 attendees. The conference included nine oral and twelve poster presentations as well as a broad range of exhibitors that included bird observatories and wildlife agencies.
Photos courtesy of Jessica Caton Diefenbach and Matthew Shumar
2024
The 2024 Ohio Avian Research Conference took place on Saturday, November 16th, 2024. Dr. Ronald Mumme, Professor Emeritus at Allegheny College, presented his long-term research with Hooded Warblers to nearly 140 attendees. The conference included nine oral and nine poster presentations as well as a broad range of exhibitors that included artists, bird observatories and wildlife agencies.
Photos courtesy of Jessica Caton Diefenbach and Matthew Shumar
2023
The 2023 Ohio Avian Research Conference took place on Saturday, October 14th, 2023. Dr. Nathan Cooper, Research Ecologist with the Migratory Bird Center at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute gave an amazing keynote presentation to more than 100 attendees. Additionally, the conference included seven oral and seven poster presentations, and a career panel for students.
Photos courtesy of Jessica Caton Diefenbach