Scientific Program Highlights

Featured Speakers:

Keynote speaker:  Bert Hölldobler, Arizona State University, TBA

Fellows lectures:

Elizabeth Adkins-Regan, Cornell University, Hormonal activation and organization of mating
        and pairing: a tale of two birds

Randy Nelson, Ohio State University, Environmental Regulation of Trade-Offs Between Reproduction and Immune Function

Jan Komdeur, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, TBA

Symposia:

Evolutionary ecology of learning, memory and information use;
Organizers: Reuven Dukas, McMaster University, Canada
 John Ratcliffe, Cornell University

Conservation Behavior: From implications to applications;
Organizer: Colleen Cassady St. Clair, University of Alberta, Canada

Special Session:

Teaching Animal Behavior: Tips from the Top;
Organizers: Penny Bernstein, Kent State University
 Michael Noonan, Canisius College

Recipients of the Animal Behavior Society's Distinguished Teaching Award will demonstrate award-winning strategies for teaching animal behavior. 

Film Festival:

The XXIII Annual Animal Behavior Society Film Festival. Saturday, 21 July, and  Sunday, 22 July.

Special Events

• A Reception and BBQ/Picnic will be held on Saturday night, 21 July.
• Scientific posters will be available all day Monday and Tuesday in a spacious venue, below the meeting rooms, where two poster-session, evening social events (with snacks) will also take place.
• Acaoke (Academic Karaoke) has returned—see your colleagues’ attempt to give presentations with slides they have never seen before.
• A disco night with DJ and cash bar has been arranged.
• The closing banquet will be held Wednesday night, 25 July, with a choice of three menu items..
• The Silent Auction held in Snowbird in 2006 raised $1,191 for the ABS Student Research Grants program (making possible two additional awards) and $317 for the Latin American Affairs Committee.

Please bring items to Burlington to donate to the auction:
(1) books on animal behavior, biology, ecology, conservation, applied animal behavior, etc.; (2) autographed books from ABS authors; (3) items with animal themes (t-shirts, jewelry, calendars, greeting cards, posters, etc.); (4) software useful for members (statistics, data collection, etc.); (5) videotapes for teaching or entertainment with behavior themes; (6) memorabilia from past ABS meetings and members (vintage artifacts); (7) animal photography; (8) animal artwork; (9) statistical consulting; (10) behind-the-scenes tour of a zoo, etc. Donated items will be placed on tables next to bidding forms, or described, if the item is not present.
Contact James Ha (jcha@u.washington.edu) or Renee R. Ha (robinet@u.washington.edu) for further information concerning the auction.

Registration, Food, Lodging, Transportation

Participants must register by 8 May, 2007 and submit abstracts by 15 May, 2007.  Abstracts will only be accepted from registered participants. Members in good standing may sponsor one contributed submission, either a paper or poster presentation. Symposium talks are not included under this limit.

Be advised that there is a limit on the number of Contributed Talks that can be accepted. ABS bylaws require us to accept talk abstracts in the order received rather than the merits of the abstract or the presenter. You may still submit your most excellent abstract as a contributed poster, but not as a contributed talk, once this limit has been reached. The current limit is set at 200.

Registration: Fees for 2007, as approved by the Executive Committee, are listed below:
                                   
                                                Early                Late (After May 8)

Full member                            195                  260
Student Member                      95                   160
Full Non-Member                   260                  350
Student Non-Member             175                  240
Guest/Spouse                          64                   64   (Children under 12, free with parent registration)
Developing Country                64                   64

Other Fees:

Welcome reception/picnic = $26.00
Banquet
  Salmon = $35.00
  Roast Beef = $29.00
  Vegetarian = $27.00

T shirt = $15.00

Food: There is a restaurant (G's) in the hotel with a full but somewhat limited menu, along with a bar that serves lighter fare (Tuckaway's Pub). Some restaurants of varying prices are within walking distance with the closest, Friendly's,  on the other side of the highway, about 10 minutes. Downtown Burlington is an easy bike or bus-ride away. Restaurants offer an excellent array of dining choices ranging from to National fast food chains to many wonderful locally owned restaurants (http://hungryburlington.com/search/all.php)
We will be making a "cheat sheet" available with the locations of the best food deals, and the lunch break is long enough to allow time for conference participants to forage efficiently at midday.

Housing:  Housing will be primarily on site at the Sheraton Burlington. Reservations will be handled entirely by Sheraton staff.
Prices: $112/night ($94/night for a limited number of students for a standard room with 2 double beds), tax not included.  Regular rooms usually have a single king bed or two double beds. A limited number of rooms have two queen-size beds.
Alternative housing and camping are also convenient and inexpensive in and near Burlington, although reservations are recommended.

Transportation: Burlington International (BTV) is an international airport served by several major carriers (Delta, JetBlue, Continental, US Airways and United). Nonstop flights are available from some major hubs, but those wishing to fly to Burlington are advised to make reservations well in advance.
Ground transportation from BTV airport to the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center (10 min) is provided by the free hotel shuttle. Travelers can call for a pick up using the free hotel shuttle phones at the airport (baggage claim area.).

Things to Do: Located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, Burlington, is one of America's most livable cities. The hotel has two hot tubs, swimming pool, and fitness center with a bar on site. Hiking and biking are popular options in the area, and will be good options for conference participants. One hiking trail runs right by the hotel, and we will arrange to have bike rental on site.  Burlington is very bike friendly, and there is an excellent bike trail that runs along the shore of Lake Champlain. Downtown Burlington also has great shopping, especially along a pedestrian mall, and an active night life (the University of Vermont is next to the Sheraton Hotel).  Some special attractions to consider are: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory tour (speaks for itself), Lake Champlain Chocolates (fresh, delicious and fun for the whole family-includes a factory tour), Echo at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (aquarium and science center with 100 hands-on exhibits on Lake Champlain), and Shelburne Farms (575 ha working farm and National Historic Landmark). Northern Lights Cruises runs daily scenic, lunch, and dinner cruises (reservations required), or you can take the ferry across to New York state

Child Care: On-site child care is not provided by the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center and must be arranged by individuals. The hotel has a short referral list available at the Front Desk and the Vermont Nanny Connection: 802-660-0610 (<www.vermontnannyconnection.com>) has reasonable rates for a group of 4 children.

For Further Information: Please have a look at the Animal Behavior Society website or, if all else fails, contact the Designated Host: Ken Yasukawa by e-mail (yasukawa@beloit.edu) or by phone at (608) 363 2314.