SCHEDULE

Four days. Dozens of sessions. Immersive field trips. Hands-on workshops. Conversations with leading scientists, local organizers, policy experts and award-winning journalists. SEJ2026 brings together the people and stories shaping our climate, communities, food systems, water, health and future — all through the lens of rigorous, independent environmental journalism.

April 15–18, 2026 | University of Illinois Chicago

Schedule at a Glance | Tracks & Themes | Keynotes & Featured Speakers | Full Agenda

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Get an at-a-glance view of each day’s flow — from tours and workshops to keynotes, panels and community gatherings.

  • Wednesday: Hands-on all-day workshops, opening events

  • Thursday: Reporting tours, networking, receptions

  • Friday: Plenaries, beat sessions, mini-workshops, Beat Dinners

  • Saturday: Beat sessions, mini-workshops, optional post-conference mini-tours

TRACKS & THEMES

Explore sessions organized around major beats shaping environmental journalism today. These tracks help attendees plan their time and follow the themes most relevant to their reporting.

Track Descriptions:

  • Agriculture & Food Systems — Soil, supply chains, climate impacts, food justice

  • Clean Energy, Renewables & Green Tech — Power sector transition, innovation, policy, equity

  • Climate, Science & Extreme Weather — Attribution science, preparedness, global and local trends

  • Conservation, Land & Indigenous Stewardship — Biodiversity, land use, sovereignty, restoration

  • Public Health & Environmental Justice — Pollution, heat, housing, health systems, community voices

  • Water, Oceans & Great Lakes — Freshwater crises, coastal reporting, the Great Lakes region

KEYNOTES & FEATURED SPEAKERS

SEJ2026 will showcase journalists, scientists, community leaders and innovators working at the forefront of environmental and climate reporting — with a special emphasis on Chicago, the Midwest and the Great Lakes region.

Expect headliners who bring fresh insights, challenge assumptions and spark conversations across beats and borders.

FULL AGENDA

The complete 2026 agenda will be posted on the conference app - Whova. This will include session descriptions, speakers, tours, workshops and networking events.