The Opportunity of Change: Building and Being the Future Together
Estuaries are characterized by constant change—through the mixing of salt and fresh water, the movement of sediment, and the cycling of nutrients. They are zones of transition where disturbance and recovery are both essential for growth. The Bay-Delta Estuary is also a critical hub for water supply, agriculture, and biodiversity. In this moment, the Bay-Delta’s human and natural systems, and
the landscapes and resources we all depend on to live, work, and play, are experiencing profound change.
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The 2026 Bay-Delta Science Conference’s theme, “The Opportunity of Change: Building and Being the Future Together,” is an invitation to envision a more connected and resilient system in which science serves not only as a source of insight, but as a keystone in the architecture of coherent solutions. The theme welcomes all communities, knowledge holders, scientists, practitioners, leaders, and others invested in the Bay-Delta to come together, embrace this moment of change, and co-create.
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Throughout this year’s conference, participants will be encouraged to re-imagine their roles and contributions in the Bay-Delta science community, move beyond silos, form new connections, and build cross-functional collaborations grounded in diverse voices and ways of knowing. We hope this theme will inspire curiosity, courage, joy, and discovery.
Can we lean into change as an opportunity to frame a new future and our roles within it?
Can we rise to the challenge required to learn as a community and reshape how we think about the role of science and scientists in the future of the Bay-Delta?
“Science gives us the knowledge we need to protect what we love.”