ABS 2017 Preliminary Program
The ABS 2017 Preliminary program is now available! Click the link below for details on Symposia and Plenary talks as well as poster sessions and special events.
http://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/2017/program-preview.php
Please contact Mark E. Hauber ([email protected]) for any requests/inaccuracies.
ABS 2017: Pre-Conference Events and Workshops
ABS Outreach Fair: Adventures in Animal Behavior- Call for Participating Scientists!
Monday, June 12th, 9 am - 1 pm, Toronto Zoo
Organizers: Emilie Snell-Rood and Ellen J. 
Mahurin
Is your lab interested in communicating the importance of animal behavior research to the general public? Then please join us for the 7th annual ABS outreach fair, this year to be held at the Toronto Zoo. Participants present hands-on activities for kids of all ages, from behavior-tracking games and listening to sounds through the ears of different animals to searching for radio-collared stuffed mice and inspecting brains under the microscope. This year, stations will be spread throughout the zoo adjacent to animals that researchers study. Transportation to and from the zoo and campus will be provided.
If you are interested in participating, please contact Emilie Snell-Rood ([email protected]).
Teaching Workshop: Re-Invigorating Your Classroom with Module-Based Teaching
Monday, June 12th, 12:30pm-5:00pm
No registration fee, Lunch and snacks included
Organizers: Laura Sirot and Heather Zimbler-DeLorenzo
The goals of this half-day workshop are to demonstrate a module-based approach for Animal Behavior courses and to develop the resources for new modules with the assistance of the attendees. A module-based approach to teaching Animal Behavior involves organizing courses or sections of courses around fundamental conceptual issues taught through a series of units focused on fascinating topics or case studies in Animal Behavior. Each module includes short “Just-In-Time” lectures, deep reading of primary literature using the C.R.E.A.T.E. method (teachcreate.org), opportunities for student-developed research projects, and multiple forms of assessment. As examples, topics used by practitioners of this method include: How do animals with the same genotype manifest different phenotypes? and The controversial evolution of monogamy. The workshop will begin with a brief demonstration of the module-based approach followed by a three-hour boot-camp style work session in which small groups complete a series of exercises leading to a final product--a module with all of the resources needed to teach it. Modules will then be made publicly available. The modules can be adapted to be appropriate for courses taught at the level of 10th grade (age of students: 15-16 years) and above. Questions can be addressed to Laura Sirot ([email protected]) or Heather Zimbler-DeLorenzo ([email protected]).
Conservation Behavior Workshop: Merging Science and Application
June 12th, 2017, 10:30am-5:00pm
Organizers: Preston Foerder and Cassandra Nuñez
There is often a lack of communication between the fields of conservation and animal behavior. To bridge this gap, we will be conducting a one‐day workshop aimed at applying behavioral theory and research to solving real‐world conservation problems. The workshop will provide a unique and valuable opportunity for the practitioners to learn about the challenges and rewards of applying behavioral biology in the field. Ideally this two‐way interaction will inspire future research and networking to aid in solving the increasingly complex problems of real‐world conservation. Three conservation problems for which a behavioral approach is likely to facilitate solutions will be presented by wildlife managers at the beginning of the day. We will then break out into focus groups and discuss potential solutions. At the end of the day we will regroup, report on the potential solutions and identify commonalities that may be applicable more broadly to other systems. New collaborations between wildlife managers and animal behaviorists are expected to emerge from this workshop.
Pre-registration required for this workshop. $25 for regular ABS registrants, $15 for student registrants, and free for Developing Nations registrants. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
Public Affairs Committee Workshop: Writing Compelling Grant Proposals: Science Education and Broader Impacts
June 15th, 4:00pm-5:30pmScientific research, in addition to expanding our understanding of the natural world, is increasingly expected to achieve broader societal outcomes. In addition, there are funding streams specifically targeted to improving science literacy and cultivating future generations of scientists. Workshop participants will discuss the criteria used to evaluate scientific research and science education grant proposals. They will begin to develop broader impacts strategies by identifying natural extensions of their own research and likely campus, community, and national outreach partners.
Presented by Dr. Kaci (Katerina) Thompson, Director, Undergraduate Research and Internship Programs, Associate Director, BioFIRE, College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland
Diversity & Latin American Affairs Committee Workshop: Broadening our Impacts; establishing and nurturing research partnerships with U.S. minority-serving and Latin American institutions
June 14, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Public Affairs Committee: Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition
June 15th,
2:30pm-3:30pm
How sharp are your science communication skills? Put them to the test in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition!3MT was originally developed by the University of Queensland for cultivate PhD students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. PhD students must effectively present their research in under three minutes, with minimal visual aids, in a manner accessible to a non-specialist audience. The only prop allowed is a single PowerPoint slide, with no animation, sound, or video. Competitors must have achieved candidacy in a doctoral program but not have received their PhD as of June 12, 2017. They will be judged on their content, clarity, accessibility, and presentation skills. Participation will be limited to 12 students. First come, first serve. The top 3 winners will receive prizes! For more information about 3MT, including examples from past competitions, check out their website at http://threeminutethesis.org/. To apply please email [email protected] with the Subject line: 3M thesis application.
ABS 2017 Silent Auction Reminder:
Bring Items to Toronto to Donate!!
Bring items from home, pick up items in your travels or from your field sites, or obtain donations from supportive colleagues and organizations. The more items we have, the more likely the auction will be as successful as it was last year!
What kind of items or services seem to be desirable?
- Books on Animal Behavior, Biology, Ecology, Conservation, Applied Animal Behavior, etc
- Autographed books from ABS authors
- Items with animal themes (t-shirts, jewelry, calendars, decor, greeting cards, posters, etc.)
- Software useful for members (statistics, data collection, etc.)
- Videotapes for teaching or entertainment with behavior themes
- Donations from zoo gift shops
- Memorabilia from past ABS meetings and members (vintage artifacts)
- Animal Photography
- Animal Artwork
- Statistical consulting, behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo, etc.
- Items from past meetings
- Time in privately owned vacation homes
- Anything legal that appeals to ABS Members!!
- Items that you donate for the auction will be placed at the meeting on tables next to bidding forms, or described if the item is not present.
During the meeting, members will visit the tables and bid on items by entering their bid on the bidding form. The auction will continue for several days while members bid against one another. The member with the highest bid at the deadline wins the item and takes it home with them.
Drop your items at the Registration Desk! Or if you can't make it to the meeting and you would still like to participate, you can mail it ahead to the campus. Just let Saethra know and she will give you the mailing address.
Funds raised will support Graduate Student Research and Latin American Affairs!
Contact Saethra Fritscher About Your Donations: [email protected]