Call for Proposals for Training Opportunities, Short Courses and Workshops - NAOC 2016

[Chris Merkord]

Call for Proposals for Training Opportunities, Short Courses and Workshops

The North American Ornithological Conference (NAOC) will be held in Washington, DC from August 16–20, 2016. We are inviting proposals for training opportunities, short courses, and workshops related to ornithological research and conservation, due by December 1. We hope to provide something of interest to a wide audience, from agency staff to young ornithologists from North and Latin America. 

DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS

Training Opportunities are geared towards the professional development of attendees, mainly in government and NGO sectors. Proposed events should be scheduled for a half or a whole day, and could include topics such as Remote monitoring systems, Overview of avian collision impacts, or an Introduction to full annual-cycle models and monitoring needs. Preference will be given to proposals that provide training opportunities to which the target audience does not have regular access.

Short Courses are multi-day, interactive experiences that offer training in relevant tools and skills for ornithological research and conservation. These courses are targeted towards students, academics and professionals, and will be held 2 days prior to the start of conference. Example topics include Advances in tracking of bird migration and movement, Urban avian ecology, or an Introduction to multi-species modeling.

Workshops provide overviews of concepts, topics, and initiatives across diverse fields of interest and audiences. Examples include Effective science communication, an Overview of the bird habitat Joint Ventures, Social science for the biologist, or Innovations in the teaching of ornithology.

All proposed events will take place during the days preceding the conference: Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16. Six conference rooms, accommodating a range of 50–200 people per room, will be provided at the Washington Hilton Hotel each day. Proposals that require off-site facilities will also be considered. Participation in all workshops is through advance registration only.

PROPOSALS 

Proposals should be 1–3 pages, and specify the following:

• Type of event (Training, short course, or workshop)
• Title of event
• Desired times and dates (up to 3 options)
• Name and affiliation of instructor(s)
• Number of participants (min, max) and target audience
• Proposed cost to participants (if applicable)
• Summary of course objectives
• Overview of topics or syllabus
• Prior experience teaching proposed topic
• Room set up, location and other requirements

The NAOC Training Opportunities and Workshops Committee must receive all proposals by December 1, with the subject line NAOC Proposal to workshops@naoc2016.com. Please do not hesitate to contact the Committee Chair (Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez) with any questions or concerns.