It’s been an exciting week at The Wildlife Society’s 2020 Virtual Conference. More than 2,500 participants — a record number — took part in a week of informative symposia and talks, thought-provoking panels and chances to connect with fellow wildlifers from afar.
“Despite the virtual nature of the event, I was really pleased by how much this still felt like a conference,” said TWS CEO Ed Thompson. “There were plenty of live events and engagement opportunities that made it essential to attend each day to get the full value out of the experience.”
Much of the content — including contributed papers and posters, symposia and panel discussions — will continue to be available to attendees for six months. Watch your inbox for details about how to access it.
“Pivoting this conference online was such an incredible feat,” said TWS Business Relations and Conferences Manager Nick Wesdock. “We’re all adapting to this new virtual world together. Lots of learning happened this week, but I’m most excited that we’ve learned new ways to come together. Thanks to everyone, especially our attendees.”
Thompson said he was pleased so many more were able to attend the event, including more than 1,200 career professionals. “The education and training they are receiving plus the new connections they’ve made during the conference will benefit future wildlife conservation efforts,” he said.
Keep scrolling for some highlights from this week’s activities.
[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/WOW-Deer-139.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”The documentary ‘Deer 139’ follows a group of women wildlifers as they trek across Wyoming to understand why mule deer are declining in the region. Incoming TWS President Carol Chambers and Kathy Granillo led a discussion with Morgan Heim and Sam Dwinnell about their film as part of a Women of Wildlife discussion on women in the field.” captionposition=”left” overlay_content=”
‘It’s a story about science and what it means to be connected to the land. And it’s also a story about our desire for a crazy adventure with a crew of bad ass women.’
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[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Plenary-panel.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”TWS Director of Operations Cameron Kovach, top center, appears with 2019 Aldo Leopold Award recipient Alan Wentz, outgoing TWS President Gary White and plenary speakers John Bohannon and Gabriela Chavarria in a question and answer session after the opening plenary session.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
[aesop_quote type=”pull” background=”#fcfcfc” text=”#666060″ align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”"My plea to the membership: TWS must become a more welcoming environment to underrepresented groups. We have to change."” cite=”- Outgoing TWS President Gary White, in his plenary speech” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow”]
[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/John-Organ.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”wp_media_caption” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
[aesop_quote type=”block” background=”#ffffff” text=”#4a4a4a” align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”“We share a passion and that’s what makes this profession special.”” cite=”- John Organ, recipient of the 2020 Aldo Leopold Award” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow”]
[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Mentorship-1.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”Bayan Ahmed, chair of the TWS diversity committee, discusses the importance of diversity in wildlife mentors. ” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Bruskotter-2.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”Jeremy Bruskotter discusses changing attitudes toward wildlife and sustainable use.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”inplaceslow”]
[aesop_quote type=”block” background=”#fcfcfc” text=”#525252″ align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”“Conservationists must become advocates and activists. For many people, this seems anathema to the scientists and data gatherers we’ve been trained to be.”” cite=”- Drew Lanham, speaking on the need to make the wildlife profession more inclusive” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow”]
[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Dismantling-racism.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”Panelists discuss the lack of diversity in the wildlife profession and the need to dismantle systemic racism in the field.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Pub-trivia-night.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”Players put their science knowledge to the test at Pub Trivia Night.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
[aesop_image img=”https://wildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/gavel.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” caption=”After a virtual passing of the gavel, outgoing TWS President Gary White and incoming TWS President Carol Chambers close the members meeting on Thursday evening.” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
Article by The Wildlife Society
