The objective of the Christmas Mountains Research Symposium is to increase public and scientific understanding of the ecology, geology, culture and history of the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem in the Big Bend region of West Texas and Mexico and to promote interactions among university researchers, agency personnel, and interested private landowners.
Our 12th annual two-day symposium will feature presentations by students and faculty from universities in the Texas State University System but welcomes contributions from researchers and interested individuals at other universities, federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and residents of the area who have investigated aspects of the region’s ecology, geology, culture, and history. Presenters should plan to give a 12-minute talk followed by three minutes of questions and discussion. PowerPoint presentations will be supported but are not required.
Schedule and Registration
The symposium will begin with an evening social and dinner on Sunday, May 17th. Each of the two following days will have field trips scheduled in the morning and presentations in the afternoon. The symposium will close with a dinner Tuesday evening, May 19th. We will again have multiple registration options: three-day registration ($110), which includes the social, field trips, attendance at paper sessions, and dinner Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings; two-day registration ($80), which includes the social, field trips, attendance at paper sessions, and dinner Monday and Tuesday evenings; and a limited registration ($20), which includes the social, field trips, and attendance at the paper sessions. Other meals can be purchased on site. Registration for the symposium is limited to 80 participants due to space constraints. Register online via the portal below by May 01, 2026. Payment can be made by most major credit cards or by electronic check.
Abstract Submission
Those wishing to make a presentation should submit an abstract by May 1, 2026 through the link provided below. Each abstract submission should include the title of the talk, authors’ names and institutional affiliations, and a description of the main points of the talk not to exceed 350 words. Please plan your presentation for a general audience of scientists and students from a variety of disciplines, as well as interested individuals from the community.
Lodging
Accommodations at Terlingua Ranch include 32 motel-style cabin rooms (two double beds), RV hookups, and campsites. A block of discounted rooms has been reserved for the symposium and reservations must be made by contacting the Terlingua Ranch Office (432.371.3146). If your stay will be tax-exempt, you can email a completed tax exemption form to frontdesk@terlinguaranch.com and your rate will be adjusted pre-check in. There are also other motel options, bed-and-breakfast accommodations and house and cabin rentals in the area. The Bad Rabbit Café, a full-service restaurant, is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
For more information, feel free to contact the symposium organizer, David Lemke by phone (512.245.3364) or email (david.lemke@txstate.edu).
Programs from past meetings