Fwd: 2016 Course Schedule for Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation
varda mehta
From: "NZP-SCBI Training" <scbitr...@si.edu>
Date: Jan 12, 2016 3:12 AM
Subject: 2016 Course Schedule for Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation
To:
Cc: "NZP-SCBI Training" <scbitr...@si.edu>
Greetings and Happy New Year!
The Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, a partnership between George Mason University and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), is proud to announce their upcoming training course schedule for 2016. We’re excited to be offering a number of new courses this year and it’s likely that a few more courses will be added to the year’s schedule soon. All courses are currently either 1- or 2-week intensive residential courses hosted in our sustainably-built Academic Center on the grounds of SCBI in Front Royal, Virginia, USA. All courses offer continuing education credits (CEUs) and some can be taken for graduate credit as well. Reduced pricing for our dining and lodging packages launched in 2015 so be sure to check out our website for more course details and pricing. Limited scholarships are available for eligible applicants.
Visit our website (http://SMConservation.gmu.edu) or email us at SCBItr...@si.edu for more details about each course, course costs, and credits earned.
Statistics for Ecology and Conservation Biology
February 29-March 11, 2016
Gain in-depth knowledge of analysis techniques for cutting-edge ecological research, employing R: classical regression models; mixed models; generalized linear models; generalized additive models; how to deal with the limitations of real datasets; and conservation-specific approaches.
Practical Zoo Nutrition Management
April 11-15, 2016
This course is designed to provide knowledge and hands-on experience within one of the oldest zoo nutrition programs in the US. Participants will become familiar with a wide variety of topics in the field of zoo and wildlife nutrition, as well as the details of managing a zoo commissary (food procurement and preparation) operation. Course topics include: commissary design and operation; nutrient and energy metabolism of zoo and wild animals; principles of feeding a wide variety animal taxa; diet formulation and evaluation, and basic commissary management. The course is taught by the Head of the Department of Nutrition Science at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park (NZP), Mike Maslanka, his staff, as well as other zoo nutritionists from AZA-accredited facilities. The course will be based at NZP’s satellite facility in Front Royal, Virginia where 21 species of endangered and threatened mammal and bird species are managed in a unique captive setting. At least one trip to NZP in Washington, DC is included, with behind-the-scenes tours of the commissary operation, elephants and big cats.
Species Monitoring & Conservation: Terrestrial Mammals
May 9-20, 2016
This course teaches current techniques in assessment and monitoring of wild mammal populations, including bats. Participants learn principles of study design; current field assessment methods; data analysis techniques including MARK and DISTANCE software; application of monitoring data to decision-making and population management; and collection and preparation of museum voucher specimens. Substantial time is spent in the field to practice distance sampling, camera trapping, small mammal trapping/marking, and mist-netting and call recording for bats. The course also includes a tour of the National Museum of Natural History’s mammal collection in Washington, DC.
May 23-27, 2016
GIS, GPS, satellite imagery, and mapping are essentials in the toolboxes of researchers, natural resource managers, and conservationists. However, the use of these technologies is often limited because of a lack of access to expensive and specialized software. This one-week course focuses on freely available open-source GIS software and tools that can be modified and freely redistributed. Combining lectures with computer tutorials, the course covers essential concepts, quickly and effectively getting practitioners started with open-source geospatial analysis tools, including QGIS and R.
Camera Trapping Study Design and Data Analysis for Occupancy and Density Estimation
June 20-29, 2016
This course provides a theoretical and analytical background in the use of camera traps to address ecological and conservation-oriented questions including the estimation of animal abundance, density and occupancy, and the monitoring of population trends over time. In addition to 3-day modules on both occupancy modeling and density estimation using spatial-explicit approaches, the course includes a module on data management, and time for focused work with instructors on participants’ own datasets. Andy Royle, Jim Hines and Jim Nichols will all be involved in instruction. Applications for this offering of the course will only be open to those working in Latin America on medium- or large-sized mammal species.
Estimating Animal Abundance and Occupancy
August 15-26, 2016
The course is designed to provide a strong theoretical and analytical background to both graduate students and professionals in distance sampling, mark-recapture, and occupancy modeling techniques, with a strong focus on the practical use of field data in the programs DISTANCE, MARK and PRESENCE. The course is taught by Gary White, Jim Nichols, Jim Hines and Joe Kolowski.
Spatial Ecology, Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing
September 26-October 7, 2016
Learn to use GIS tools to address conservation research problems, quantifying effects of human-induced global changes on wildlife and biodiversity. Hands-on lab exercises (e.g. land cover mapping; home range analysis; modeling habitat selection; mapping species distributions) use remote sensing data and SCBI field surveys to monitor global changes, assess impacts on wildlife, and develop mitigating strategies.
You are receiving this email because you have previously applied to or attended on of our programs. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please just send us an email at SCBItr...@si.edu and let us know.