Annual Meeting Workshops and Events – All included in the meeting registration fee!

Evening Birding: Del Monte Beach and Coastal Dunes

Join Monterey Audubon field trip leader Amanda for a short evening birding trip to the sandy shoreline of Monterey Bay! Likely species include shorebirds like Sanderling, Whimbrel, godwits and others, plus coastal scrub species like Bushtit, warblers, sparrows, and some raptors. There will be a spotting scope to share, giving us views of sea ducks, loons, and grebes out on the bay. Let Amanda know if you’d like to borrow binoculars or want to carpool. Get an overview of the area, engaged for a week of learning, and inspired by the beauty of the coastline!
 
We’ll meet at the recreational trail parking lot, walk up the staircase to the top of the coastal dunes, head down onto the beach, and back up and over to the recreational trail via another staircase a little bit south, completing a 0.7-mile loop. We’ll be walking along paved, hard-packed, and also sandy trails, so wear sturdy shoes or whatever you are most comfortable in. Weather is variable, so have layers to change into or out of.  Facilities: there are no restrooms along this route – sorry!

Wildlife Society Certification Application Workshop/Q&A

  • Tuesday,  1:00 -3:00pm
  • Free, included with Annual Meeting Registration
  • Led by Kelly Holland (GEI Consultants) AND Rhys Evans (Vandenberg Space Force Base) – TWS Certification Review Board

The Certification Workshop will begin with a 30-minute overview of certification, the application, and the process.  Following the presentation, we will answer questions you may have about your application. Bring a draft of your application (ideally including college transcripts), or just bring questions. Ask how, why and when to apply to become an Associate or Certified Wildlife Biologist.  One-on-one discussion is our intent, but that will depend upon how many people show up!   This is NOT intended as a formal session, it’s casual conversation; you do not need to be present for the full hour (but it is probably going to be ‘first come, first served.)

Publishing and Peer-Reviewing Scholarly Papers: Process, Pitfalls, and Responsibilities

  • Wednesday – 8:00am to 10:00am
  • Free, included with Annual Meeting Registration
  • Chair: R. J. Gutiérrez

I developed this workshop for the 2018 annual meeting because of Western Section of TWS members had requested a such a workshop to aid graduate students and young professionals in their quest to publish scholarly papers as well as review such papers for peer-reviewed journals. Based on excellent criticism of last year’s workshop, I have revised this workshop to steam line the presentation. Although it is intended for students and young professionals, experienced researchers may glean a few tidbits about this process as well as hear about some trends I see emerging in publishing research. Therefore, the purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of the process of publishing and reviewing papers. Researchers employ many strategies when publishing papers, so there is no magic strategy for success. In this workshop, I will simply provide my perspective on things to consider when one is trying to publish a paper including selection of journals, how to interact with editors, and respond to reviewers. These are observations synthesized from my own experiences over several decades as an author, reviewer, and editor. Therefore, I broad issues of “why publish, what to publish, when to publish, how to publish, and where to publish.”

A related activity in scientific publication is the professional responsibility to serve as a peer reviewer of scholarly papers written by others. The peer-review system exists only because of volunteer peer-reviewers, so, if you publish, you have a professional obligation to serve as a peer reviewer. Peer review is essential for maintaining the integrity of the scientific research. In addition to being a professional obligation, there are many moral and ethical responsibilities associated with peer review that I will discuss. I will also discuss such topics as the purpose of peer review, blind and double-blind review systems, the elements of a good review, how to comport yourself in developing your written review, how to detect scientifically or politically biased papers, and when you should recuse yourself from reviewing.

R. J. Gutiérrez is Professor and Gordon Gullion Chair Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul and Senior Scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has been involved with peer-review and scientific publishing for nearly 50 years. During that time, he has served on the editorial board for 3 international journals, as an independent editor for many compendia, and as a reviewer of more than 1,000 papers.

Yoga Stretch & Move with Kelly Holland

  • Wednesday and Thursday, 7:00-8:00am 
  • Free, included with Annual Meeting Registration

Join us for a morning movement class to stretch our muscles and wake our bodies up! Nia blends the expressiveness of dance arts, the power of martial arts, and the wisdom of healing arts. This guided class will embody gentle and playful movements and graceful self-awareness. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music, and are adaptable to every age and fitness level. Come experience the joy of movement, and discover how Nia is expressive, healing, balancing, and powerful. Yoga mat is optional.

Kelly Fitzgerald-Holland holds a black belt in The Nia Technique, and has been teaching classes for over 18 years. She incorporates her other movement training, such as tai chi, yoga, and tribal-trance, into her classes. She creates a non-judgmental atmosphere in which to encourage, inspire, and support each individual’s pursuit of integrative body-mind-spirit awakening, healing, and empowerment.

 

Photo by Mandy Culpepper