2026 Call for Abstracts

The Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association (FSBPA) and Resiliency Florida invite abstract submissions for the 5th Annual Florida Resilience Conference, to be held September 23–25, 2026, at the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida. 

The theme of this year’s conference is Advancing Resilience: Collaboration in Action! 

The conference program will feature four concurrent tracks focusing on Beach Management, Energy, Gray and Green Infrastructure, and Smart Planning. 

In addition, plenary sessions will bring all attendees together for discussions with invited speakers on resilience topics of statewide importance, including federal and state legislative policy and funding initiatives. 

Please note that the conference will be held in person only. 

Abstract Submission Details:

• Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026 
• Notification of Acceptance: June 16, 2026 
• Presentation  
• Abstracts will be reviewed by the Abstract Selection Committee. Authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by the date above. 
• Selected presenters will be allotted a 20-minute presentation time slot. 
• The abstract portal will conditionally accept submissions for panels if all speakers are confirmed to speak before March 31.  
• Abstracts should focus on policy, planning, budgeting, regulations, lessons learned, or project collaborations or innovations within one of the four conference tracks: 

1. Beach Management 
2. Energy 
3. Gray and Green Infrastructure 
4. Smart Planning 

Suggested topic areas are listed below; additional relevant topics are welcome. 

To see a sample abstract, view file here.

• Project Showcase: Beach, dune, and inlet management project implementation, including funding strategies, design challenges, environmental considerations, post-construction monitoring, and lessons learned 
• Local Government Funding Strategies: Mechanisms for funding beach and coastal resilience projects 
• Sand Resources: Availability and accessibility of beach-quality sand, regional sand management strategies, and beneficial use of dredged materials 
• Post-Storm Response: Emergency recovery efforts and lessons learned from past storm events 
• FEMA and FDEM: Compliance, reporting, and auditing requirements for emergency repair projects 
• Economic Impacts: The value of maintaining healthy beach and dune systems 
• Coastal Resilience and Adaptation: Strategies to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems 
• Legal and Regulatory Framework: Rules and regulations affecting implementation of coastal management and resilience efforts 

• Federal, state, and local policies and funding programs supporting renewable and sustainable energy 
• Innovations in power generation and renewable energy projects 
• Statewide, community-level, and individual retrofits, including costs and benefits 
• Effectiveness of rebates and other incentives for energy efficiency 
• Scalable battery storage and other emerging energy storage technologies 
• Preparing for increased energy demand associated with AI usage 
• Using AI and digital technologies to increase resilience 
• Local government strategies to enhance sustainability 
• Protecting local grids and energy infrastructure from climate-related hazards 
• Best practices and policy considerations for retrofitting or replacing energy infrastructure 
• Addressing increased heat loads on infrastructure and communities 
• Case studies highlighting innovative technologies or projects

• Nature-based project development and lessons learned 
• Vulnerability assessments and flood preparedness 
• Innovations in stormwater retention and management 
• Retrofitting and flood-proofing vulnerable infrastructure and assets 
• Design with Nature: Adapting gray and green infrastructure to changing landscapes 
• Emergency response, mitigation, and buyout programs 
• Cybersecurity considerations in a changing natural environment 
• Cyber resilience of electronic systems 
• Transportation resilience, including evacuation routes, ports, rail, and bridges 
• Elevation studies for flood risk assessment, coastal construction, and climate research 

• Government policies, grants, and initiatives supporting community resilience programs 
• Feasibility studies for nature-based solutions 
• Adaptation strategies for sea-level rise, flooding, hurricanes, and other climate hazards 
• Reimagining community infrastructure to withstand and recover from natural disasters 
• Energy-efficient buildings, redevelopment strategies, and energy audits 
• Sustainable land-use practices, including reduced urban sprawl, natural resource protection, and green infrastructure integration 
• Data development and modeling to support statewide efforts such as the Florida Flood Hub (USF) 
• Use of data and technology (GIS, remote sensing, AI) to inform planning, enhance emergency response, and monitor resilience indicators

All expenses are the responsibility of the speaker, including travel, lodging, and conference registration fees.