NE-Paleo

1st New England Paleoclimate One-Day Workshop

Facilitating interaction and collaboration across the New England paleoclimate community

August 28, 2026
Boston College · 245 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
80 participants  ·  24 institutions
Workshop Concluded

About the Workshop

Format

One-day workshop featuring four oral sessions and two poster sessions, designed to maximize interaction and collaboration opportunities.

Goal

Build connections across the New England paleoclimate research community, foster new collaborations, and discuss key open questions in the field.

Participation

There was no registration fee. Participants covered their own travel and lodging, and the day closed with an optional self-pay dinner at Mighty Squirrel in Fenway.

Schedule

9:00 – 17:15  ·  Full day program  ·  16 talks and 26 posters

9:00 – 9:50 Arrival, Coffee & Check-in
9:50 – 10:00 Welcome & Framing
Goals, format, community norms
Oral Session 1
10:00 – 11:00 Oral Session 1
4 talks · 10 min talk + 5 min discussion each
11:00 – 11:20 Coffee Break
Oral Session 2
11:20 – 12:20 Oral Session 2
4 talks · 10 min talk + 5 min discussion each
12:20 – 12:50 Lunch
Hand-held sandwiches · food stays out through the poster session
Poster Session 1
12:50 – 13:50 Poster Session 1
Higgins Hall, connected to Hayden Hall · 13 posters · boards 1–13
Oral Session 3
13:50 – 14:50 Oral Session 3
4 talks · 10 min talk + 5 min discussion each
14:50 – 15:10 Coffee Break
Poster Session 2
15:10 – 16:10 Poster Session 2
Higgins Hall, connected to Hayden Hall · 13 posters · boards 1–13
Oral Session 4
16:10 – 17:10 Oral Session 4
4 talks · 10 min talk + 5 min discussion each
17:10 – 17:15 Closing Remarks
And plans for the group dinner
Evening Optional Informal Group Dinner
Self-pay · Mighty Squirrel Taproom & Kitchen, Fenway

Getting There

245 Beacon Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Boston College, John T. Hayden Hall
Check-in and coffee in Room 102 · talks in the auditorium, Room 107 · one floor below the entrance

By MBTA
Take the B, C, or D branch of the Green Line
The B branch terminates on campus at Boston College, on Commonwealth Avenue. The C branch terminates at Cleveland Circle, and the D branch stops at Reservoir, which is also at Cleveland Circle — from either, walk out Beacon Street past the reservoir. The D branch also stops at Chestnut Hill on Hammond Street, a longer approach from the far side of campus.
By Car
Park in the Beacon Street Garage
Do not drive to 245 Beacon Street; vehicle access to the building is restricted. Park in the Beacon Street Garage at 2601 Beacon Street, next to Alumni Stadium. Take a ticket on entry and hold on to it. The workshop provides an exit ticket, so parking is free to participants. Please carpool where you can.

Beacon Street Garage — driving directions  ·  BC campus map  ·  BC visitor parking

Organizing Committee

Xingchen (Tony) Wang
Boston College
Jeremy Shakun
Boston College
Yi Ming
Boston College
Jesse Farmer
University of Massachusetts Boston
David McGee
MIT
Allie Balter-Kennedy
Tufts University
Sophie Coulson
University of New Hampshire
Chengfei He
Northeastern University

Early-career Committee

Celeste T. Pallone
MIT
Josh Anderson
University of Massachusetts Boston
Calen Rubin
Boston College
Vince Cooper
MIT
Nuri van Dommelen
University of Massachusetts Boston
Shalan McDonagh
University of Massachusetts Boston
Nicole Francis
Boston College
Bastian Muench
Boston College
Danielle LeBlanc
WHOI
Ruixiang Zhai
Boston College

Workshop Guidelines

NE-Paleo is committed to providing a welcoming experience for all participants, regardless of identity, background, or career stage. All attendees are expected to treat others with respect, engage constructively in scientific discussions, and create space for researchers at every level to participate fully.

The Day

NE-Paleo 2026 was held at Boston College on Friday, August 28, 2026. Sixteen talks ran across four sessions in the Hayden Hall auditorium, and twenty-six posters were presented over two sessions in the Higgins Hall atrium. Every oral session was moderated by two members of the early-career committee.

80 Participants
From 24 institutions, 20 of them in New England
42 Abstracts
16 talks in 4 sessions and 26 posters in 2 sessions
An oral session in progress in the Hayden Hall auditorium, seen from the back of the room, with a speaker at the front and two projection screens.
An oral session in the Hayden Hall auditorium. Sixteen talks were given across four sessions, each 10 minutes with 5 for discussion.
The Higgins Hall atrium during a poster session, with poster boards around the perimeter and participants talking in groups.
A poster session in the Higgins Hall atrium. Twenty-six posters were presented across two sessions on 13 boards.

Contact

For questions about the workshop, reach out to the organizing committee.