University Global Partnership Network (UGPN) 2025 Conference

Overview

The annual UGPN conference provides unique opportunities to develop collaborations in education and research among colleagues from NC State, the University of São Paulo and the University of Surrey. The 2025 conference theme is Global Collaborations in One Health and sub-themes will guide our schedule of collaborative workshops, networking discussions and featured research opportunities:

Food and water solutions: Addressing food and water challenges across the human, plant, and animal dimensions. Includes the nexus of food security, water scarcity, infectious diseases, and the environment, as well as related social structures, policies, and supply chains that impact global and local communities.
NC State Convener:
Dr. Siddhartha (Sid) Thakur, Executive Director, NC State Global One Health Academy and Professor of Molecular Epidemiology

Climate change and healthy communities: Protecting the health of human populations, animals, and the environment from the effects of climate change and avoiding widening health inequities among aging adults and other vulnerable populations. Includes the challenges of climate resilient built and natural environments; sustainable cities, communities and campuses; agricultural production; and nature-based health solutions.
NC State Conveners:
Dr. Kathie Dello, Director, State Climate Office of North Carolina; Co-Director, NOAA’s Carolinas Climate Adaptation Partnership; State Climatologist of North Carolina
Dr. Erin Seekamp, Executive Director, NC State Climate and Sustainability Academy and Goodnight Distinguished Professor of Coastal Resilience and Sustainability

Conference Registration

Conference registration is now closed

Hotel and Travel Information

• Last Day to Book Group Hotel Rate: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
• Conference Accommodation: Marriott Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown, 616 Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC, 27601
• UGPN Conference Rate: $189.00 USD/night + tax, standard room with breakfast included.
• Group Rate Start Date: Saturday, March 22nd
• Group Rate End Date: Friday, March 28th
• Overnight parking is $18.00 USD per car per night for registered hotel guests (for those who may be renting vehicles)

• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is approximately 13 miles from the conference hotel and travel time is approximately 20 minutes by car. Uber and Lyft services are readily available for transfer to and from RDU.
• NC State shuttle buses will be provided on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for travel between the conference hotel, campus and dinner venues.

Schedule at a Glance

Raleigh is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

NC State Conference Collaborators

An array of NC State colleges, academies and research institutes will offer programming to UGPN conference participants. NC State units engaged include:

• Climate and Sustainability Academy
• Data Science and AI Academy
• Genetics and Genomics Academy
• Global One Health Academy
• Plant Sciences Initiative
• Office of Global Engagement