More workshops at the TWS Annual Conference

The Wildlife Society’s 24^th Annual Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico is closer than you think, so it’s time to start getting excited about some workshop opportunities in store. In a recent article, we looked at a few hands-on experiences offered at Valles Caldera National Preserve, learning about genetics, disease surveillance and more. The following workshops include even more opportunities to learn from experts about wildlife topics that might interest you.

Ready Set Go Federal Employment Workshop 

Are you a student that wants to learn more about federal wildlife job options once you graduate? At this workshop, sponsored by the Forest Service, you will get the chance to learn about federal organizations that hire wildlife biologists including the Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Students will have the chance to learn about requirements for natural resource-related positions. Human Resources and field staff personnel will also be there, providing advice regarding hiring practices, the importance of summer internships and more. Staff will also help participants develop a competitive profile for the usajobs.gov online application. Students, recent graduates and their advisers are encouraged to attend.

Communicating Conservation Using Social Media

In the age of social media, there are many different avenues for wildlife biologists to get their work out. In this workshop led by Dr. Sonja Jo Serna, the Senior Multimedia Specialist with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University, you’ll get the chance to learn more about how to use social media to your benefit. The workshop will begin with an in-depth explanation of several popular social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram,  and Twitter. Then, you’ll learn how to choose the appropriate platform for the type of information, timeline and the demographics you’re looking to reach. The second session of the workshop will delve deeper into the media platforms and will provide basic tasks and tricks designed to boost outreach performance such as pushing media through several platforms with one post. Make sure to bring your cell phone or tablet to the workshop, so you can apply these new skills.

Bosque del Apache NWR: Fire and wildlife management in a shortgrass wetland landscape

In an all-day interactive workshop, participants will get the chance to view native and exotic wildlife at the 57,000-acre Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. This unique landscape, with uplands and water features including a stretch of the Rio Grande River, provides an important wintering ground for cranes and geese. Participants in the workshop will learn about management tools used on the refuge including prescribed burning, exotic plant control, moist soil management, farming and water level manipulation. Participants will get the chance to view some of these management activities and outreach programs first-hand during the workshop

“Change your perspective”; Urban-wildland management in the southwest

Take a tour through Albuquerque, who’s city motto is “change your perspective,” to learn about the varied natural areas, beautiful landscapes and cultural heritage in an area with both urban and natural areas. Spots on the tour will include a visit to the Rio Grande Nature Center, an urban park located on the Rio Grande flyway, and Petroglyph National Monument, one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, which is surrounded by urban development. Part of the workshop will include taking part in a small restoration project with Albuquerque Open Space while learning about the acquisition of lands by the city and future plans for open space and community involvement. Finally, you’ll have the unique opportunity to visit Pueblo Santa Ana to learn about the Pueblo’s restoration projects, landscape scale wildlife corridor program, reintroduction work and other wildlife projects.

Visit the conference website for the complete preliminary detailed schedule of all conference events.