[5] These groups and chapters cover a smaller geographic area, such as the Finger Lakes Region or the Great Plains.
[6][7][8] Chapter exhibitions often focus on topical scientific issues, such as local wildlife or the connection between biodiversity loss and food insecurity.
[10] Typical JNSI articles include professional advice, technique tutorials, book reviews in the field, member work, and historical insights.
Conference activities include plenary talks from professionals in science or scientific illustration, concurrent talks, a live technique demonstration, workshops, field trips to local science or nature activities, and a reception for a juried members exhibition at an exhibit space local to the conference area.
Several locations, such as University of California, Santa Cruz, Arcadia University, Rhode Island School of Design, and Savannah College of Art and Design were selected because the institutions have majors or significant coursework for scientific illustration at an undergraduate or certificate level.