Evening Socials -Included in Annual Meeting Registration Fee

Tuesday Events

Speed Networking Mixer For ALL, 4:00pm – 5:30pm 

Come make connections with fellow Western Section conference participants.  We’ve been running a version of this mixer at past conferences just for students, and this year we’re adding a second speed networking event for EVERYONE! Come ready to chat it up casually and make new connections with western wildlifers.  Be Part of Something Wilder! Led by Axel Hunnicutt, Wendy Loeffler and Thea Wang.

Welcome Reception, 6:00 – 8:00pm 

Join us to kick-off the Annual Meeting and make connections with friends, colleagues and fellow participants.  We’ll gather in our exhibit hall – the social hub for the week.  This year the fabulous and annual wildlife photo slideshow will be displayed on a large digital wall (consider submitting some of your photos).  Be ready for fun games designed to help new attendees get to know the Western Section of TWS.

    • A lite bites taco buffet will be served, along with a no-host bar. 
    • Wear a Wildlife T-Shirt! Amaze your colleagues – wear your favorite wildlife tee and participate in our annual t-shirt parade.
    • Submit your photos for our annual wildlife slideshow, and enter to win one of several $100 REI Gift Cards!  Link to instructions

Student Team Trivia – Round 1, 8:00pm to 9:30pm

Watch the Western Section students battle it out for champion status at the Student Team Trivia event, led by Rhys Evans. This new event is a fast and FUN competition for wildlife undergraduate students, featuring questions on population ecology, wildlife management techniques, zoology, and statistics. Notable prizes will be awarded to the TWO teams moving on to the Thursday evening finals. We’re forming teams – more info here. 

After Hours Karaoke, 8:00pm to 11:45pm 

Back by popular demand!  We’ll be singing and having fun into the night!  Come participate, or just come to watch.  It will be a hoot!  Led by Laura Coatney.  

 WEDNESDAY EVENTS

Poster Session and Reception, 6:00-8:00pm

An in-person poster session and reception will be held on Wednesday evening.  Authors will be available at their poster to answer your questions about their research. Lite bites will be provided to all meeting registrants along with a no-host bar.  Posters will be available for viewing starting Wednesday morning through Thursday end of day.  For more information on poster presenter guidelines, click here. 

Chapter Meetings, 8:00pm to 9:30pm

Join your local TWS Chapter and get to know local wildlifers in your area.  Find ways to get involved locally!  Students, please attend your local geographical chapter group.

Thursday EVENTS

Member Awards Celebration & Seated Reception, 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Enjoy a casual, relaxing evening reconnecting with your colleagues and friends while making new connections at the annual meeting Members Awards Ceremony & Raffle Reception.  This years event will be a casual format seated event with lite bites and banquet tables. It is included in the meeting registration fee, no extra fee. Please RSVP to save your seat. First come, first serve – limited seats available.  Come help us celebrate the best of our profession at our annual Awards Ceremony.  The raffle drawings will take place immediately after the awards presentations.
  • Lite bites will be served, along with a no-host bar.  
  • This is a seated event so come ready to relax and enjoy the last night of the conference

Awards Reception Special Guest Speaker:

Dr. Fidel Hernández

Where will our future wildlife biologists come from? 

Approximately 80% of the human population lives in urban areas, and a majority of children have weak to no ties with the natural world.  In his brief address, Fidel will discuss ideas for how The Wildlife Society can adapt to this new landscape and help recruit our future wildlife biologists. Dr. Fidel Hernández is a Professor in the Department of Range and Wildlife Management at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and holds the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Chair in Wildlife, Livestock, and Habitat Interactions with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute.  Fidel is a Fulbright Scholar who taught range and wildlife classes at the Universidad de Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile and conducted research with the Instituto de Patagonia on a guanaco-livestock conflict in the Patagonian Steppe.  He is Past President of the Texas Chapter of TWS and the Southwest Section of TWS.  He presently serves as President of the society.

Student team trivia finals, 8:30pm to 9:00pm

Watch the top two teams battle it out for champion status as Western Section students participate in the final round of the Student Team Trivia event, led by Rhys Evans.  The final two teams will compete in a “mostly” traditional Quiz Bowl championship match, complete with buzzers, specimens and a mixture of toss-up and bonus questions. Notable prizes will be awarded to both of the teams competing in the finals. We’re forming teams – more info here.   

After Hours Wildlife Trivia, 9:00pm to 11:00pm

Join us for some fun (and fierce!) competition led by Rhys Evans and friends. It will all be wildlife biology and management…or at least “wildlife adjacent.”  Teams of 4, ok to self-organize that night!  With prizes! AND beverages available nearly.  Please be on time if you want to compete and join a team.    You will have the option of forming a “traditional” team (up to four members, any assortment — but all must be registered meeting participants.  Hint: it’s generally not a great idea for all four of your team members to be herpetologists…or all specialists regarding any other faunal group). Alternatively, in our quixotic zeal to encourage mentorship and camaraderie between Wildlife Professionals, Early Career Professionals and current students, we will award a bonus of five points to any team that includes members from at least two of those three categories. For example, one Pro, one ECP and two current students (and other similar variations). For this purpose, we will not differentiate between undergraduate and graduate students.