ABS Annual Meeting
54TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY
University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus, Canada
JUNE 12-16, 2017
http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/2017/
A message from 2017 meeting hosts:
Maydianne Andrade and Andrew Mason, University of Toronto Scarborough
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Dear ABS members and friends,
We are pleased to invite you to join us in Toronto, Canada in June 2017 for the 54th annual meeting of the Animal Behavior Society. We look forward to hosting you on our campus at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) for a full academic program. You will find it easy to get here—Toronto is a major travel hub with two airports and frequent flights arriving from all over the world. It is also a (relatively) easy drive from a number of cities in the USA and Canada. (It is important to remember, however, that you will be crossing a border if you’re coming from the US, so get your passport now!)
UTSC is nestled in a green belt, close to a national urban park, giving lots of opportunities for connecting with nature while you are here. The campus has many rooms available at great prices in town-house style dorms and an excellent local hotel, as well as a variety of local rooms for rent. We recommend that you stay on or near campus to best enjoy the conference program and reconnect with colleagues. Of course we know the city is a huge draw, as Toronto is an exciting place, and one of the most multicultural cities in the world. The schedule will include opportunities to get to know the city in the evening, while enjoying the rich academic program on campus each day. The area surrounding the campus also hosts an interesting and diverse culinary culture, with lots of opportunities for adventurous eating nearby, and if you are looking for a more relaxed evening, our campus pub will be an easy default for conference socializing.
The academic program is still to be finalized, but the line-up of plenary speakers and symposia is outstanding so far. Plenary speakers will include Anita Aisenberg (Uruguay), Rebecca Kilner (Cambridge), Elizabeth Tibbetts (Michigan) and James Dale (New Zealand), and the fellows lecture will be given by Molly Morris (Ohio). The ABS president’s plenary will be given by William Searcy (Miami). Conference symposia include ‘Cognitive Ecology III’ and ’50 years of Zoo research’. Of course, another highlight is your own contributed talk or poster! We anticipate strong attendance and a diverse array of interesting and exciting new work to think about.
Other highlights include the annual graduate student Allee Award session, the Charles H. Turner workshop for undergraduates (by invitation), a pre-conference Public Day, and teaching and conservation workshops before the 5 day meeting.
In addition, for the first time in many years, a conference in Canada means:
Pictures with Mounties (Well, only if you go downtown. Or to Ottawa). Colourful money with cute nick-names (Loonie! Toonie!). Poutine (Google it). Maple everything. Lots of apologies (sorry). Trudeau – the next generation (need we say more?).
Please check this site regularly for updates and more details about the program, travel, accommodation, and recommended pre- or post-conference sights-to-see. Registration will be opening in December; be sure to register early to take advantage of the great rates.
We look forward to seeing you at what promises to be a memorable conference!
Registration fees (after April 15th)
ABS Members $400
ABS Student members $175
ABS Emeritus members2 $250
ABS Developing nation member3 $150
ABS Developing nation student3 $100
Indigenous Peoples $150
Non-members $600
1Additional Event Fees
- The Closing Conference BBQ will be held Friday, June 16 $30 for students and $50 for non-students
- ABS 2017 Conference T-shirt - $15 (pre-order) $25 (onsite)
- ABS Film Festival, June 13 | 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm | no charge, but please RSVP.
- Conservation Behavior Workshop- Monday, June 12 | 10:30am-5:00pm | $25 for regular ABS registrants, $15 for student registrants, and free for Developing Nations registrants.
- The Teaching Workshop: Re-Invigorating Your Classroom with Module-Based Teaching- Monday, June 12
- Conference meal plan- $85
- Daily University Parking pass- $6/daily
2ABS Emeritus members who can afford to pay full fees are kindly asked to pay the ABS Members fee. This category should be reserved for only those Emeritus members who would be otherwise unable to join us at the meeting.
3Developing country attendees are those currently enrolled or working at an institution in the developing world. This does NOT include persons currently working or enrolled in institutions in the USA, Canada or other developed countries, regardless of country of origin.
Travel Advisory
Please be aware of the NEW Canadian travel requirements including the need for USA re-entry permits. Please read more about these new requirements here.
Airports
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Major hub
Distance from UTSC: 38.8 km/24.1 mi
Driving: ~35 min to UTSC
Taxi: $70-80
Transit: ~1.5 to 2 hours to UTSC
Union Pearson Express to Downtown- fast, reliable, and the trip only takes 25 minutes, with trains leaving every 15 minutes. There are also stops at Bloor and Weston stations. Trains run between 5:30 am and 1:00 am. A single adult ticket costs ~$12 CAD.
Billy Bishop Airport
Limited service
Distance from UTSC: 33.7 km/20.9 mi
Driving: ~45 min to UTSC
Taxi: ~$60
Transit: ~1.25 to 1.5 hours to UTSC
Airport Shuttle to Downtown- just outside the airport's mainland ferry terminal building or across the street from Union Station. Regular shuttle service (approximately every 15 minutes) to and from the airport is available on weekdays, weekends and holidays, with enhanced non-stop shuttle service during peak hours. The shuttle is complimentary.
Ground Transportation
Various ground transportation services are available to and from campus, with special rates for groups. These include Via Rail Service, Go Transit Bus and Rail, and Grey Hound Bus.
To get to UTSC from Downtown Toronto, public transit is available (TTC subway to Kennedy station, and bus).
Accommodations
The dorms are currently sold out. Please see the hotel section below for a
Hotels:
A special conference rate is available at the Delta Toronto East hotel in Scarborough (9.5 km from UTSC). There are limited number of rooms, so please book in advance.
Delta Hotels Toronto East
2035 Kennedy Rd.
Toronto, Ontario M1T6G2 Canada
Phone: +1-416-299-1500
ABS Conference rate: $133 CAD + tax, per night
Special rates are available until May 15, 2017. Subject to availability.
For more information and to make reservations on-line, please click here.
Travel options to campus from the Delta East:
Conference Shuttle: A shuttle bus will be available from the Delta Hotel to UTSC (in the morning) and back (in the evening) during the conference dates. A shuttle pass must be purchased in advance to ride this shuttle. The pass is $40 and can be purchased at the time of registration.
Uber: The cost for a one way trip from the University to Delta Toronto East is approximately $16/CAD.
Beck Taxi: The cost for a one way trip from the University to Delta Toronto East is approximately $30/CAD.
Toronto Transit (TTC): The cost for a cash fare is $3.25/adult. The route from the University to Delta Toronto East takes about 40-45 minutes and there is a pick up nearby. Go to the TTC webite to plan your trip.
Note: There are no hotels or motels within walking distance of the University. Please see the map below for alternative options in the area. You must contact each option individually for rates, reservations and transportation services that they might offer guests.
Please note, those with a vehicle (not staying on campus) will need a daily parking pass to park at the University. Passes can be pre-purchased at the time of registration. $6 USD per daily pass.
Childcare:The Animal Behavior Society offers grants to enable families with children to bring a care-giver to the meeting or to pay a care-giver to remain at home with the children. Society grants may be available to assist with the cost of local childcare. Please check here for information.
Caregivers and children accompanying ABS registrants will receive free registration and are welcome to attend all conference events. A nursing room and toddler care area near the main plenary lecture theatre will be provided to facilitate childcare by parents or accompanying caregivers during the meeting.