Hannah Grip is the Iowa Environmental Council’s Energy Communications Associate.
Iowans who are concerned about the state’s interconnected water quality and public health crises have the opportunity to learn more and engage in solutions at the 2026 Iowa Environmental Council Annual Conference.
The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, at the Olmsted Center at Drake University in Des Moines. General admission tickets are just $60, and students can attend for free (pre-registration is required.) Click here to see the full line-up and to register.
The conference includes two keynote sessions that offer different lenses on water quality.
Tamara Dean, noted writer, teacher, and advocate, will deliver the opening keynote address, “River Bellwethers.” Dean is a widely published author of fiction and nonfiction. “River Bellwethers,” based on an essay from Dean’s new collection, Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless, presents the stories of determined individuals who battled government officials, changed policy, and set new standards to protect native freshwater mussels. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and Beaverdale Books will host a book-signing with Dean immediately after her presentation.
The closing keynote panel, “Protect Water Prevent Cancer: Agriculture, Environment, and Public Health United for the Change Iowa Needs,” is a discussion with Iowans working at the intersections of environment and health, including farmers, advocates, volunteers, and organizations advancing policy solutions.
Throughout the day, conference attendees can choose from nine educational sessions. A few session highlights:
“Pesticides in Iowa: Emerging Research and Innovative Alternatives” will highlight efforts to address pesticide overuse and protect public health. Audrey Tran Lam of the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy & Environmental Education will share emerging research on the connections between pesticides used in Iowa and human health. Rodale Institute researcher Sean Stokes will explore how regenerative management practices improve water quality and soil health. Grant Niver with the Michael J. Fox Foundation will share information about the connection between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease, as well as the organization’s efforts to have the pesticide banned.
The “Youth Leadership on Climate and Justice” session will feature Isla Tempero of Drake University, Olivia Moody of Iowa State University, Preet Shukla of Waukee High School, and Lilliana Haverhals-Nyren, a high school student in Iowa City. These inspiring student advocates will share the ways they’ve launched environmental initiatives at – and even beyond – their schools.
In “From Pinhook Farm to the Gulf: With Privilege Comes Responsibility,” Iowa farmer Seth Watkins and his daughter Tatum Watkins will share thoughts and images from their family’s fact-finding trip along the Mississippi River Watershed. They followed the water, starting from a stream on their farm all the way to the Gulf, took water samples, talked to local folks impacted by pollution and changing waterways, and came home with a renewed sense of responsibility about Iowa’s role in healing the watershed.
In “Planning Iowa’s Energy Future,” attendees will hear from Sarah Martz, Chair of the Iowa Utilities Commission, and IEC Senior Energy Policy Counsel Steve Guyer, about the current landscape and future projections for electricity generation in Iowa.
Every session will be centered on solutions. Instead of just describing the scale of the challenges facing Iowa, attendees will gain practical knowledge about how to advocate for real solutions, learn from leading experts, and hear inspiring stories from people who are making a difference.
Click here to see the full schedule and to register for the IEC Annual Conference.