Scientific Program Highlights

Featured Speakers:

Keynote speaker: John Mitani, University of Michigan, The behavior of wild chimpanzees. Monday 8:45 -- 9:45 am

Distinguished Animal Behaviorist address: Jerram Brown, Emeritus of SUNY Albany, Studies on Behavior and Ecology of the Mexican Jay, 1969-2004. Wednesday 8:45 -- 9:45 am

Fellows lecture: Mary Jane West-Eberhard, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Alternative developmental pathways and why they are so important in behavior and evolution. Sunday 8:45 -- 9:45 am

Fellows lecture: R. Haven Wiley, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, A Signal-Detection Equilibrium in the Evolution of Communication. Tuesday 8:45 -- 9:45 am

Symposium: Pathways to Novelty and Diversity: The Causes and Consequences of Polyphenism. Organizers: David W. Pfennig, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Armin Moczek, Indiana University. Sunday

Writing workshop: WRITING IN THE SCIENCES SESSION
Organizer: Becky Talyn, California State University San Bernardino

The slate of speakers is organized by target audience. These experts have bee encouraged to talk about what they think are important issues for their audience. They also will discuss about inspiration for their writing, writing about animal behavior, working with publishers, and writing as an integrated component of or the major part of a career. There will then be a panel-style question/answer session afterwards.

Writing for children – Stanley Coren, recipient of 2007 ABS Outstanding Children’s Book of the Year Award for Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses?

Science writing for high school students – Steve Nowicki, author of McDougal Littell BIOLOGY 2008

Science writing for college students – John Alcock, recipient of 2007 ABS Distinguished Teaching Award, author of Animal Behavior

Science writing for popular science magazines – Susan Milius, science journalist for Science News

- Ann Downer-Hazell (Book Editor for the life sciences at Harvard University Press)

Career workshop: Where do I go with a PhD in Animal Behaviour?
Organizer: Jennifer Mather, University of Lethbridge

This workshop is cosponsored by the ABS Education Committee and the ABS Applied Animal Behavior Committee. We will first have a session were general topics in balancing careers and life are discussed by the practitioners in both applied and academic careers. We will then have two simultaneous breakout sessions.

• Breakout session: Academic Careers in Animal Behavior
• Jennifer Mather - power-point assisted presentation - Tips for Getting that Academic Job, that will emphasize:
  • research strategies,
  • teaching education,
  • management techniques
• Undergraduate Institutions (TBA)
• Research-emphasis Institutions (TBA)
• Balancing family and career (TBA)
• Post-doctoral years (TBA)
• Breakout session: Applied Careers in Animal Behavior
• Penny Bernstein – Introduction, and Finding Educational Options and Planning a Career
• John Wright – ABS Certification: How, why and the researcher/practitioner model
• Pam Reid – Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare of Pets
• Jill Villarreal – Working in Industry: Contributions to Science and the Bottom Line
• Sue Margulis – Zoos: Enrichment for Animals, Students and Visitors
• Stephen Zawistowski – Conclusion, and comments and thoughts from someone who hires, fires, pays and promotes.