Hot Off the Wire: Conference News ‘n Notes

Here’s the latest TWS Annual Conference news:

Don’t Wait! There is only ONE WEEK left to pre-register with the September 30 deadline looming. If you haven’t registered yet, visit our registration page today! 

Enter your best photos to win prizes!
Enter the great photos you’ve accumulated throughout the year in our Photo Contest. Your photos will be displayed all week long in the Photo Contest Gallery and judged by selected professional photographers. There will be prizes for the best photo in each of the 11 categories along with awards for Best-in-Show and People’s Choice. Pre-register your photos here. The deadline is September 30^th so don’t wait! 

Special Events
This year’s conference will feature nearly 30 special events ranging from receptions and breakfasts to networking events and resume review sessions. Students might benefit greatly from events like Careers with Wildlife Services and U.S. Forest Service, where employees from the two agencies will talk about their experiences and explore career opportunities. Professionals already working in the wildlife field may prefer to attend one of the various plenary sessions or The Latest in Wildlife Research where they will hear about methods, development and research from the National Wildlife Research Center. Check out the complete list to start planning your conference special events experience.

Four on the Final Frontier
Tuesday’s plenary — Balancing Conservation and Development in the Final Frontier – Canada’s Boreal Forest — will feature four of the leading experts on conservation and management of Canada’s boreal forests. Dr. David Schindler, an internationally celebrated scientist for his groundbreaking research on freshwater resources, particularly in the changing lakes of Canada, will offer his views on the pollutants effecting climate change in the environment. Ducks Unlimited Canada CEO Gregory Siekaniec will discuss the future of the billion-plus-acre forest resource as well. Before serving as CEO for DUC, Siekaniec had a 28-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, finishing his tenure as Deputy Director. Guests will also have the opportunity to hear speakers Bob Fleet and Chief Ron Evans, Vice President of Forestry and Environment at Tolko Industries Ltd. and Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, respectively.

Students! Great chance to make connections at our Student-Professional Networking Event
The Student-Professional Networking Event is a great opportunity for students to mingle with mentors and potential future employers, make acquaintances, and get unparalleled career advice. The event will take place at the conference from 7:30-10 p.m. on Monday in the Members Activity Center and will include the presentation of the Rusch Memorial Gamebird Scholarship, Student Chapter of the Year Award, Excellence in Wildlife Education Award, and Conservation Education Award. Exhibitors will also be manning their booths during the event.

Lots of big news, awards, discussion and fun at the Annual Members Meeting
The Annual Members Meeting will be held at the conference on Tuesday morning, October 20^th from 9-10:30 a.m. We encourage you to come and hear updates on your Society, including announcements of some exciting new initiatives to be launched in 2016. We will also be recognizing the 2015 TWS Fellows, Distinguished Service Award winners and outgoing members of Council. Two lucky conference attendees will win trips to The Lodge at Little Duck and Sasaginnigak Lodge in the prize drawing at the meeting. Registered conference attendees are automatically entered into the drawing.

Panel discussion for Women of Wildlife
This panel discussion will provide insight on past, present, and future challenges and opportunities experienced by women in wildlife professions from a diverse group of panelists. Don’t miss out on this forum of past perceptions, current values and specific approaches that employers, employees and TWS can undertake to improve diversity and opportunities for women. The discussion is from 3:40-5:20 p.m. on Tuesday in room MR 13 and will be followed by a reception from 6-8 p.m. in the same location. Learn more about the panel here.

Wildlife Film Showcase includes a world premier
There will be three films showcased at the conference, including the world premiere of “The Private Lives of Wild Creatures”. It’s part biography, part documentary and takes us through the Canadian arctic, boreal forests and prairie regions, following the archives of world-renowned wildlife photographer Robert Taylor. It will be shown for the first time ever on the big screen in the Presentation Theatre on Sunday from 12:30-1:15 p.m. There will also be showings of “Emptying the Skies,” based on the widely republished New Yorker essay by best-selling novelist Jonathan Franzen, and of “America’s Darling: The Story of Jay N. ‘Ding’ Darling” which follows the life and times of the celebrated cartoonist and conservationist. “Emptying the Skies” will be shown in the Presentation Theatre on Monday from 6-7:30 p.m. and “America’s Darling” will be shown on Wednesday from 12:25-1:25 p.m. in the Pan Am room.

Quiz Bowl
The Quiz Bowl is pure fun and offers undergraduate students the chance to see how they stack up against their peers and also a team of wildlife professionals. This popular event saw more than 20 teams compete last year. Who will be this year’s champion?

To enter your team, email co-chairs C-Jae Breiter and Agnès Pelletier at twsqb2015@gmail.com, with your school name, email addresses and cell phone numbers of four participants and one alternate. Click here for rules and additional information.

Still available!
There are still spots available for the tours of Manitoba Hydro Place, one of the most advanced and energy efficient buildings in North America. Experience the 21-story marvel for yourself and find out how it saves over a million dollars each year in energy costs. There are also three workshops still available:

• Conserving the Prairie Ecosystem in the Urbanizing Winnipeg Landscape
• Basics of the R Programming Language
• Behind the Scenes of Scientific Publication and Critical Review 4.0

Contact Nick Wesdock at nwesdock@wildlife.org for details about the Manitoba Hydro Place tours.

Learn more about our 22nd Annual Conference here and register today!