Join Us in Manhattan, Kansas in 2025
The Active Living Conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders focused on creating active and healthy places for all. Taking place March 16-20 at KSU campus in Manhattan, Kansas, the theme for 2025 is Bridging the Research to Practice Gap.
This year's Active Living Conference will aim to learn from diverse organizations (e.g., universities, extension offices, parks and recreation, hospital systems), not only about the cutting-edge research being done but also how the research is impacting the communities in which they live. In addition to bridging the research-to-practice gap, it is critical to learn from other organizations about how they develop successful partnerships with each other (e.g., between community and universities) to address community needs to improve health and overall quality of life. By prioritizing the cultivation of sound partnerships and streaming research into practice, we can tailor health-related programming that addresses the unique needs of the spaces in which we live, work, and play.
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The conference will feature:
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Presentations from leading practitioners and researchers in the field of active living
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Interactive workshops and sessions focused on translating research into practice
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Opportunities to network and collaborate with colleagues from across the globe
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A focus on building capacity to create active and healthy communities
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The 2025 Active Living Conference, hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Kansas State University, and cities/counties in Kansas will highlight research, evidence-based practices, community partnerships, policies and strategies through panel discussions, workshops, presentations, physical activity opportunities, and idea sharing. The information presented and exchanged at the conference will help researchers and practitioners understand how to build effective community partnerships, learn innovative strategies for translating research to practice, and provide a platform to build upon and develop new partnerships to promote active living.
Call for Poster Presentation Proposals​
The call for oral presentations is closed but we're accepting late-breaking poster presentation proposals through February 24th, 2025.​ Posters are a great way to showcase research, projects or preliminary findings. Selected poster presenters will display during a poster viewing session and accompanying reception. The poster session will provide an effective mechanism for dissemination and networking.
Joining us
To make the most of your experience, we encourage you to arrive on Sunday, March 16th as there will be a networking social that evening, and the conference will kick off on Monday morning. The local airport to fly into is Manhattan, Kansas (MHK). We're thrilled to have coordinated some great discounts on hotels in Manhattan, KS for Active Living Conference attendees.
1212 Bluemont Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502
Event discount rate: $106 per night
(plus 7.5% occupancy tax and 9.51% sales tax)​​​
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Rate cutoff date: February 16, 2025 ​​
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Book by phone: (785) 473-7091
Option 0, ask for reservation group b915199​
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Book online: bluemonthotel.com​
At checkout, use group code b915199​
1641 Anderson Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502
Event discount rate: $129.95 per night
(plus 7.5% occupancy tax and 9.51% sales tax)​​​
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Rate cutoff date: February 20, 2025 ​​​​​​
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Book by phone: (785) 539-7531 direct
Group code: ALC
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Book by phone: (888) HOLIDAY
Group code: ALC
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Book online: ihg.com/holidayinn
Group code: ALC
715 N 12th Street, Manhattan KS 66502
Event discount rate: $129 per night
(plus 7.5% occupancy tax and 9.51% sales tax)​​​
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Rate cutoff date: March 1, 2025 ​​
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Book online: marriot.com​
About Kansas State University and Manhattan, KS
It is fitting that the 2025 Active Living Conference be held at Kansas State University, the nation’s first operational land grant college and the first to admit women. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension Service, a vital part of Kansas State University’s three-part mission – education, research, and extension. A central focus of the work being done at Kansas State is to collaborate with community stakeholders to advance both research and practice efforts. For over 100 years, Kansas State University and K-State Research and Extension has focused on improving the lives of Kansans through education, research, engagement, and leadership. Through these efforts and partnerships, there has been a strong emphasis on translating science into practice and making it accessible and relevant to every household.
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Additionally, the KSU Kinesiology department places a strong emphasis on translation through behavioral research, high-quality student field-based experiences, and leading campus health-related initiatives such as Exercise is Medicine on Campus (Gold Level). On November 28th, 2023, Kansas State University took another stride forward by becoming a Health Promoting University, signing the Okanagan Charter - an international charter that calls on post-secondary schools to embed health into all aspects of campus culture, and to lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally. This step cemented K-State’s commitment to prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional health of not only our campuses, but the broader communities in which we serve.
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Thank You to our 2025 Active Living Conference Committee:
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Gina Besenyi, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Physical Activity Research in Community Settings (PARCS) Lab, Kansas State University
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Peter Stoepker, PhD, Assistant Professor and Director of the Active Schools Lab, Kansas State University
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Jessica Stroope, PhD, MPH, Research Associate & Physical Activity Specialist, LSU AgCenter​
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Getting Involved
Reach out to our Event Coordinator, Amanda Walker, for opportunities to be involved!
Background on The Active Living Conference
Background on the The Active Living Conference (ALC): ALC began in 2004 and is a venue for both cutting-edge research and for making findings usable by non-scientists. The conference brings together a diverse audience and provides networking and engagement opportunities for active living researchers and practitioners from many fields. Presentations and discussions focus on the importance of creating healthier communities for all people.
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The 2024 ALC was held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, March 25-28, 2024. A diverse group of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers attended to advance knowledge and action on how to evaluate, create, and sustain active living environments. See more here about the 2024 ALC Conference.