Why Attend the Western Section Annual Conference?

Why Attend the Western Section Annual Conference?

On January 26-30, 2015, you will have the opportunity to be part of the Annual Conference of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society.  We’ll meet at the Vineyard Creek Hyatt in Santa Rosa, California.  The conference attracts a diverse blend of around 500 wildlife professionals, managers, students and academics who study and manage wildlife species, habitats and issues related to their conservation.  Attendees come from the Section (California, Nevada, and Hawaii) and all over the western United States.  Participants will attend concurrent technical sessions, learn about a wide variety of studies and projects during the poster session, enjoy a keynote address by Point Blue Conservation Science, engage in a plenary discussion about Advancing Wildlife Conservation through Integration and Alignment in Planning, and take advantage of the opportunity to network with peers and experts.

There will be a symposium exploring The Conundrum of Managing Barred and Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest discussing lethal control of barred owls to benefit the endangered northern spotted owl.  The Amargosa Vole:  Emergency Conservation in an Era of Shifting Environmental and Bio-political Climates will look at the complex challenges of managing a species with one of the most restricted range of all mammals in North America.  Marijuana Cultivation and Its Impacts on Wildlife, Habitats, and the Wildlife Profession will address this challenge that affects both wildlife and the biologists who study it.  The highly rated Scientific and Technical Writing Workshop – From Field Work to Final Draft will be repeated to help writers make technical reports more concise, understandable and effective.  Finally, we will also repeat the popular post-conference Wilderness First Aid course.

This conference is especially valuable for students and early career professionals.  There are several special workshops such as building resumes, making presentations and being effective in job interviews.  There is also a post-conference student weekend planned in Point Reyes.  The conference is a great place for students to meet peers and create a professional network.

A very important part of the annual conference is reconnecting with friends and colleagues at the Welcome Reception, and celebrating accomplishments at our Members’ Banquet and Award Ceremony.  It is also a great chance for Chapter meetings and for the Section to hold the annual members meeting.

I hope you are thinking that you cannot wait to attend this conference.   It is a valuable opportunity to learn and connect.  Find more details and register at: http://tws-west.org/santarosa2015/.  I look forward to seeing you in Santa Rosa in January!

Sincerely,

Don Yasuda

President-Elect, Western Section of The Wildlife Society 2014