Call for Contributions, 2026 Rural Symposium

Are you interested in sharing your research with government, rural community leaders, and researchers? Consider making an oral presentation or poster presentation at the upcoming 2026 Rural Symposium.

The Rural Symposium is an annual opportunity for University of Guelph graduate students to showcase their rural research to policymakers, policy analysts, and program staff from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and the Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs. The event facilitates knowledge mobilization and network building between graduate students at the University of Guelph, researchers, and the Government of Ontario. The event is co-hosted by the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, and the School for Environmental Design and Rural Development. The 2026 Rural Symposium will take place on April 1, 2026 from 9.00 am - 4.00 pm at the Conference Centre at 1 Stone Road in Guelph or online.

The event is currently accepting the submission of abstracts for both oral presentations (10 minutes in length) and poster presentations. The deadline for submitting a contribution (oral or poster presentation) is March 1, 2026. Do not hesitate to connect with your advisor if you have any questions about the upcoming event or a potential contribution. Please complete the online form to submit your contribution. Examples of previous Rural Symposium contributions can be found at https://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/ruralReview.

Registration for the Rural Symposium is also open. The event is open to all to register and free to attend. A lunch will be provided to those attending in-person.

If you have any questions please contact Heather Douglas or Charlotte Potter.