The Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society at Virginia Tech is proud to host the 2015 Southeastern Regional Wildlife Conclave. Conclave will take place from March 12-15, 2015 at the W.E. Skelton 4-H Education Center at Smith Mountain Lake in Wirtz, VA.

This year, we anticipate approximately 400 participants, which equates to about 20 student chapters of the The Wildlife Society.

During this three-day event, students primarily from the southeast region of the U.S. gather to participate in mental and physical challenges based in wildlife science, management, and conservation curricula. Activities include art and photography contests, a quiz bowl tournament, game-calling competitions, a team competition, individual competitions, guest speakers, entertainment, and field trips. Conclave also offers opportunities for students to network with other students, faculty members, and wildlife professionals, which allows them to expand on their professional development.

Past participating chapters in the Southeastern Regional Wildlife Conclave include: Auburn University, Arkansas State University, University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of Florida, Haywood Community College, Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Tennessee Tech University, University of Tennessee – Martin, and Cleveland State Community College.

To donate to the 2015 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave, please fill out and send this form to The Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society at Virginia Tech. The Wildlife Society has already committed to a lead donation of $1,000 to support this important event.

Learn more about the Conclave at our website.

Any questions or concerns are welcome and can be sent to Dr. Marcella Kelly, advisor, (makelly2@vt.edu) or Emily Ronis, Conclave Chair (emily6@vt.edu).

Winnipeg, Manitoba | October 17-21, 2015

Call for Proposals: Workshops, Symposia, Panel Discussions, and Special Poster Sessions

Deadline: February 6, 2015

Proposals for workshops, symposia, panel discussions, and special poster sessions are invited for the 22^nd Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society. The Wildlife Society invites proposals related to all aspects of wildlife ecology, management and conservation.

Session Descriptions

Symposia are comprised of a series of presentations that address aspects of a single topic. Symposia usually are a half day; however, requests for a full day may be considered. Speakers are scheduled for 20- or 40-minute time slots, and organizers may include only one 20-minute discussion period in the agenda. Symposia are scheduled to run concurrently with other conference sessions. Attendance is open to all conference registrants on a walk-in basis

Panel Discussions are a forum for interactive discussion of a topic among a panel of experts and an interested audience. Typically, a panel of four to eight speakers makes introductory remarks. The audience is then invited to make comments and question the panel of speakers. Panel discussions are a quarter day in length (100 minutes) and are scheduled to run concurrently with other conference sessions. Attendance is open to all conference registrants on a walk-in basis.

Workshops provide training on a specific skill, technique, or process and may involve one or more instructors. Workshops are intended to emphasize learning through participation, discussion, and “hands-on” activities. For this reason, workshop organizers must specify an upper limit on attendance. Attendance at workshops is by advance registration only, and a minimum fee of $25 for professionals and $10 for student will be charged. Workshops may be a half or full day in length, and are scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2015.

Workshops are not intended to promote a commercial product, product line, or company. That type of activity belongs in the trade show. If the nature of the workshop requires demonstration of specific products, it is preferred that the instructor be a practitioner rather than a company representative. Alternatively, company representatives may serve as instructors if at least two competing companies are invited to participate. These companies also would be expected to participate in the trade show at regular booth fees.

Special poster sessions are similar to symposia, but presentations are by poster rather than oral. Special poster sessions provide an opportunity for one-on-one dialogue between presenters and attendees. Space for special poster sessions is limited. Special poster sessions are scheduled for a half or full day. Organizers should plan on approximately 20 posters. Attendance is open to all conference registrants on a walk-in basis and run concurrently with other conference sessions.

Responsibilities of Session Organizers

Organizers are responsible for coordinating with the Program Committee, planning their sessions, selecting instructors/presenters, moderating their sessions, and meeting all deadlines. A final session agenda and a complete presenter list will be due by April 24, 2015. Presenters in symposia and special poster sessions must submit abstracts by July 10, 2015. Presenters in symposia must submit PowerPoint files by October 7, 2015. Please mark these dates on your calendar!

The Wildlife Society does not pay registration fees, travel expenses, or honoraria for workshop, symposium, panel discussion, or special poster session organizers or presenters. All organizers and invited speakers must register for the conference. Organizers may seek outside sponsors for these expenses.

Proposal Submission and Requirements

All proposals must be submitted through the online submission site hosted by OASIS. The session submission site can be accessed by clicking the link below.

The submission process will prompt you for the following information:

1. Session Type – workshop, symposium, panel discussion, or special poster session
2. Preferred Session Length – Workshops and Symposia only– Full or Half Day
3. Session Title
4. Organizer(s) – names and complete contact information, the submitting organizer will be the contact person.
5. Supported by – institutions/groups that are financially or otherwise supporting the proposed session. Emails confirming the support of a special session should be emailed to Tricia Fry, tricia@wildlife.org prior to February 6, 2015. Organizations whose support has not been confirmed will not be published in conference materials.
6. Statement of Purpose
7. An abstract describing the session, this will be used to advertise your session (300 word limit).
8. Detailed description of the session including a list of proposed topics and speakers/presenters.

Workshop proposals will be asked to include the following additional information:

1. Room set up and AV requirements
2. Maximum Attendance
3. Registration fees – a minimum fee of $25 for professionals and $10 for students will be charged, if registration costs exceed these minimums please include a budget with your submission.

Proposal Evaluation and Notice of Decision

Proposals will be evaluated on timeliness of the subject, importance to the profession and/or contribution to science, and the overall quality of the written proposal. Submissions from TWS working groups are especially encouraged. Applicants will be notified whether their proposals have been accepted or deferred by March 14, 2015.

Please direct any questions related to proposal preparation or submission to Tricia Fry, Program Committee Coordinator, tricia@wildlife.org.

Click here to submit your proposal. – Closed

The Wildlife Society’s Annual Conference offers numerous opportunities for students to expand their knowledge and to network with professionals from across the world. One of the best ways for students to learn, and to teach, is by presenting their research in a professional atmosphere. Under the direction of the Student Development Working Group, TWS members are recruited to judge the student presentations and posters throughout the week. The winners for 2014 included 7 first place winners and 11 honorable mentions in the PhD, graduate and undergraduate student categories.

“As scientists, our research should tell a story,” said Andrea Long, a PhD candidate at the University of Florida. “The most important component of a presentation is confidence and enthusiasm in what you have done as a researcher. Express this confidence and excitement throughout your story and the audience will emulate the same.”

Andrea tied for first place for her presentation on “Population Level Effects of Invasive Fire Ants on Cotton Rats and Eastern Fence Lizards.”

As with any contest, it is important that the material captures the eyes of the judges. Paul Burr, a graduate student at the University of North Dakota, won first place for his presentation on “Impacts of Gas and Oil Development on Sharp-tailed Grouse Nest Success in Western North Dakota.” He was fortunate to be able to capture video footage of unique and interesting sharp-tailed grouse nesting moments.

“These video clips are always well received among the audience and gives people the chance to directly observe some amazing events,” said Paul.

Matt Dyson, a Masters student at Western University in Canada, won first place for his poster on the “Survival, habitat use, and movement patterns of female wood ducks and broods at Long Point, Ontario.”

“My research involved trapping, and tracking, ducks, which meant eye-catching photos,” Dyson said. I think my research is also fairly simple to explain, in terms of the value to management and conservation, so the message was [easy to convey].”

Toryn Schafer’s advice is to practice and, most importantly, practice in front of people in the wildlife field.

“I felt they gave me the best advice because they could understand the research and ask difficult questions,” she said.

Toryn presented on “Black Bear Den Characteristics and Site Selection Near Urban Aspen, Colorado”, which won first place in the undergraduate category. She is currently studying at Colorado State University.

This year’s winners had lots of great advice for future student research presenters.

“Effective communication is key to promoting your research. It is important for students to practice presenting their posters in a clear, succinct, and engaging manner,” said Abby Lawson, a PhD student at Clemson University.

Abby’s poster, “Optimizing alligator nightlight survey designs for complex habitat: evaluating seasonal variation in abundance and detectability in South Carolina”, won first place in the PhD category.

Remington Moll, a PhD student at Michigan State University, tied for first place for his presentation on the “Development and Evaluation of a Terrestrial Animal-borne Video System for Large Mammals”. He also feels that a presentation should emulate a narrative.

“Focus on storytelling – each presentation should have an interesting beginning, a relevant middle section, and a conclusion that is compelling and moves the field forward,” he said.

The Wildlife Society thanks all of the students who presented research during the conference and congratulates this year’s winners.

Presentation Winners:

• PhD Students:
  • Andrea Long, First Place (tie)
  • Remington Moll, First Place (tie)
  • James Garabedian, Honorable Mention
• Graduate Students:
  • Paul Burr, First Place
  • Sarah Sells, Honorable Mention
  • Jacob Berl, Honorable Mention
• Undergraduate Students:
  • Toryn Shafer, First Place
  • Kaya Klop-Toker, Honorable Mention
  • Brian Smith, Honorable Mention

Poster Winners:

• PhD Students:
  • Abby Lawson, First Place
  • Michael Cove, Honorable Mention
  • Maggi Sliwinski, Honorable Mention
• Graduate Students:
  • Matt Dyson, First Place
  • Andrew Olsen, Honorable Mention
  • Cory Goff, Honorable Mention
• Undergraduate students:
  • Leila Mohsenian, First Place
  • Hailey Boone, Honorable Mention
  • Austin Klais, Honorable Mention

The Policy Brief Series, TWS’ go-to resource for federal policies and programs, welcomes new additions. Members of The Wildlife Society can now readily access information regarding two Farm Bill programs; the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Download the policy briefs to learn more about ACEP and EQIP, both valuable programs that help landowners conserve natural resources through federal financial and technical assistance.

ACEP is a brand new program within the Farm Bill which combines several former easement programs – including the grassland reserve program and the popular wetland reserve program. EQIP, a program included in previous farm bills, underwent several changes in the 2014 version, and now encompasses funding for wildlife-focused conservation practices that were previously under the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). Each policy brief provides more details on each of these programs, including how they impact wildlife and wildlife professionals.

The Government Affairs team is currently working on additional policy briefs on both American and Canadian conservation policy. The complete Policy Brief Series, along with other policy resources, can be accessed at wildlife.org/policy.