Conference & Awards

2025 ACTWS Conference

DIGGING DEEPER TOGETHER: BIG DATA INSIGHTS

This year’s conference will explore the transformative power of big data in wildlife management and conservation. As we face increasingly complex ecological challenges, we will explore how large datasets—often referred to as “big data”—can be harnessed to improve decision-making and deepen our understanding of wildlife populations, habitat dynamics, and human impacts on the environment. Big data refers to vast amounts of information that, when analyzed, can reveal patterns that drive more effective conservation strategies.

However, managing and interpreting these massive datasets can pose significant challenges, including issues of data quality, integration, and the need for advanced analytics tools. Throughout the conference, we’ll uncover innovative ways to overcome these hurdles, from enhancing data collection methods to improving resource allocation and fostering collaboration.

Through engaging presentations, interactive workshops, and panel discussions, participants will have the chance to explore case studies, share best practices, and discuss how to integrate big data into policy-making processes. Together, let’s dig deeper into the insights that big data can provide, while addressing the challenges it presents, and pave the way for informed, evidence-based decisions that support sustainable wildlife conservation and management.

Conference Registration Rates

  • ACTWS Regular Member: $300
  • ACTWS Student Member: $180
  • Regular Non-Member: $350
  • Student Non-Member: $190

SPONSORS

 
 

ACCOMMODATIONS

    1. Quality Hotel Drumheller
      Address: 100 6th Ave SE, Drumheller, AB
      Phone: (403) 856-4444
    2. Canalta Jurassic Hotel & Cretaceous Conference Center
      Address: 1103 Highway 9 S, Box 3009, Drumheller, AB
      Phone: (403) 823-7700
    3. SureStay Plus by Best Western Drumheller 
      Address: 800 680 2nd St Southeast, Drumheller, AB 
      Phone: (403) 823-8887

We encourage you to book early to ensure availability and the best rates.

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, March 6th:
Wildlife, Wisdom & Wild Guesses with Dr. Jason Fisher! This will certainly be an event you won’t want to miss! 

Friday, March 7th:
Friday promises to be action-packed with a variety of hands-on events, featuring:

  • Field trip (10 am – 2 pm) at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
  • Workshops (2 – 6 pm):
    • Tooth Aging Workshop with the Wildlife Analytics Lab
    • Native Amphibian and Reptile Identification with the Alberta Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy
    • A Practical Introduction to Using Drones for Environmental Applications with Falcon & Swift Geomatics Ltd. 
    • Interactive Bird Study Skin Demonstration with Dr. Corey Scobie (Assistant Curator of Ornithology, Royal Alberta Museum).
    • Screening and Discussion of the Medzih Story: Restoring a Caribou Landscape. 
  • Evening events: AGM, career fair, and mixer.
 
Saturday, March 8th:

The day will begin with an opening prayer from an Elder of the Siksika Nation, followed by our keynote speaker, Elly Knight, who will set the stage for a day of presentations highlighting the latest advancements in wildlife research. In the evening, the banquet will offer a memorable experience featuring professional award and student scholarship recognitions, silent and live auctions, and live music to conclude the day on a high note.

Sunday, March 9th:

The final day of the conference will feature more presentations, followed by a panel discussion on BIG data. We’ll wrap up the event by recognizing outstanding student presentations with awards.
 

WILDLIFE, WISDOM & WILD GUESSES WITH DR. JASON FISHER

Thursday, March 6, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. at Yavis Restaurant (249 3rd Avenue West, Drumheller)

Join us for a fun and engaging night of wildlife stories and trivia! Dr. Jason Fisher, a leading researcher on boreal mammals and head of the Applied Conservation Macro Ecology lab at UVic, will share insights from his work and stories from the field. With over 80 published papers, his expertise is sure to spark great discussions! After the talk, put your wildlife knowledge to the test in a lively game of Wildlife Jeopardy. Come grab a drink with us, socialize, and learn something new!

Cost: Free! Be sure to arrive early to grab a good seat! 

FIELD TRIP

March 7, 2024, 10a.m. to 2p.m., meet at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Join us for an exciting field trip to the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum, home to one of the most impressive fossil collections in Canada! Explore the rich history of prehistoric life and marvel at the incredible displays of dinosaurs and ancient creatures.

As part of this visit, you’ll experience the Scary Specimen Program, a thrilling 45-minute presentation featuring some of the museum’s most intimidating fossils. You’ll come face-to-face with a crocodile skull the size of a Smart car, the largest dinosaur claw ever discovered, and a creature with teeth bigger than a T. rex! A museum science educator will guide you through these awe-inspiring specimens and answer your questions in an engaging Q&A session.

Lunch is included, giving you time to relax and discuss the fascinating discoveries of the day. Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into the prehistoric past and uncover the mysteries of Alberta’s ancient world!

Cost: $55 (price includes your museum admission, the scary specimens program, and lunch).

WORKSHOPS

Please click ‘Register’ to learn more. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Minimizing data waste for improved wildlife conservation

Presented by Elly Knight

The field of ecology is undergoing a shift towards new technologies like remote sensing that have the potential to help us tackle wicked problems. However, those new technologies produce new data types, which complicates their use and can lead to data waste. Careful attention to old and new methods not only ensures compatibility, but can also offer opportunities to make better use of traditional data types. I’ll present two of the major tools for minimizing data waste: 1) deep learning classification models to maximize the information that can be obtained from remote sensors like acoustic recording units, and 2) statistical tools that allow for the integration of traditional survey methods with new technologies. I’ll use existing examples from my research and others to summarize how these two tools can improve our understanding of ecology, particularly for acoustic species, and where future research is still needed. I’ll then put these tools together with multiple data types to look at what minimizing data waste might look like in an adaptive monitoring and management framework. I’ll end by highlighting the concurrent shift in ecology towards collaborative, cross-disciplinary research that makes minimizing data waste in the era of big data possible.

Presenter Bio: Elly Knight a Quantitative Ecologist with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute and Boreal Avian Modelling Project and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta. She is an applied ecologist interested in how environmental variation across temporal and spatial scales affects the ecology, distribution, and abundance of wide-ranging species. Her motivation in understanding that variation is to inform when and where wildlife conservation efforts will be most effective. Elly believes strongly in collaborative, integrative research because it facilitates knowledge transfer, standardizes datasets, and maximizes funding available for conservation.

BIG DATA PANELISTS

Please click on each panelist’s photo to read their abstract and bio. 

Join Us in Shaping Our Annual Conference: Call for Volunteers!

We’re excited to invite passionate individuals like you to join our team in planning our upcoming annual conference. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic group and make a significant impact on the success of our event.

We have a range of roles available, from planning captivating plenary sessions to coordinating memorable field trips and assisting in judging student presentations. Your unique skills and expertise can help shape an unforgettable conference experience for our members.

If you’re interested in getting involved and contributing to this event, please reach out to our Executive Director at execdirector@actws.ca, who will provide you with more details on available positions and how you can become an essential part of our conference planning team.

Notes:

A one-year regular Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society (ACTWS) membership is $20.76, and $5.42 for students. Please login or purchase a membership to obtain member registration rates.

If you are interested in becoming a Canadian Section of The Wildlife Society (CSTWS) member, a regular one-year membership is $20, and $10 for students. You can purchase your membership here

The primary cost associated with hosting our annual conference is catering. Your registration fee covers a package that includes five coffee/snack breaks over the weekend, as well as lunch, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner on Saturday.

Sponsorship Opportunities: Elevate Your Organization at Our Conference!

We are excited to invite your esteemed company to become a valued sponsor for our upcoming conference. Your support will not only help us deliver a successful event but also provide your organization with a unique platform for visibility and engagement with a diverse audience of industry professionals. We offer a variety of sponsorship packages to suit your needs and can tailor opportunities to align with your organization’s goals and values. 

Here are some key highlights of our conference sponsorship opportunities:

Complimentary Memberships and Registrations: Sponsors will receive complimentary memberships to our organizations, free conference registrations, and various other benefits tailored to meet your organizational goals.

Prominent Recognition: Sponsors will receive prominent recognition on our conference marketing materials, on our official conference website (www.actws.ca/conference), and during the conference, to ensure that your organization’s commitment to wildlife conservation reaches a broad and engaged audience.

Engagement Opportunities: You will have the opportunity to host live exhibitor booths, providing direct engagement with conference attendees, including wildlife professionals, students, and researchers from across Canada.

Student Scholarships: High-level sponsors will have the honor of personally rewarding well-deserving students with scholarships during the conference banquet, fostering the next generation of wildlife leaders.

Workshop Presentation: High-level sponsors may also have the opportunity to present a workshop to showcase your products or work, further enhancing your visibility and connections with participants.

To explore sponsorship options and discuss the benefits, please contact us at sponsorship@actws.ca. We look forward to the opportunity to work together and make this conference an outstanding success.

SPONSORS

Awards & Scholarships

The ACTWS annually administers four professional awards, four student scholarships, and several student travel awards.

The call for professional nominations, photo contest submissions, student awards, and student travel awards is now open for our 2025 ACTWS Conference.
 
Professional Awards Submission Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2025 

Larry Norman Comin Photo Contest Deadline: Friday, January 24, 2025 
 
Student Scholarship & Travel Grant Submission Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025 

Call for Poster Abstracts Extended!

The call for oral presentations for the 2025 ACTWS Conference has officially closed, but there’s still an opportunity to showcase your work! We have extended the deadline for poster abstract submissions. The submission portal will remain open until February 1st, 2025, or until all spaces are filled.

Submit your poster abstract as soon as possible to secure your spot. Presentations on all aspects of wildlife are welcome including ecology, management, research, monitoring, species biology, genetics, and new techniques.

Poster Session Details
The poster session will take place on Saturday afternoon and evening and is open to all conference participants.

Abstract Requirements
Please ensure your submission includes the following:

  • Lead author name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number(s), and e-mail address
  • Names and affiliations of additional authors
  • Title of abstract
  • A concise summary of the purpose, methods, results, and conclusions (250 words max)

The abstract you submit will be the final version printed in the program booklet, so please review it carefully before submission.

The conference agenda, including scheduled talks, will be released on February 7th, 2025.

Student Opportunities
Monetary awards are available for all presentation types, including posters and travel to the conference. Don’t miss this chance to gain recognition for your work! For more details, visit our Awards page.

We look forward to seeing your research at the conference!

Deadline: January 8, 2025

You are invited to submit titles and abstracts for oral presentations and posters at the 2025 conference of the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Presentations on all aspects of wildlife are welcome including ecology, management, research, monitoring, species biology, genetics, and new techniques.

The three types of presentations offered are:

  1. Traditional oral presentations – 12 minutes in length + 3 minutes for questions. Abstracts will be grouped into common themes and placed into concurrent sessions.
  2. Speed talks – 4 minutes in length.
  3. Poster – A poster session will be hosted on one day in the afternoon/evening for all conference participants.
 

The abstract submission form will ask you to specify your preferred talk format (e.g., traditional oral presentation, speed talk, or poster). While we endeavor to honor everyone’s requests, the Conference Planning Committee may ask you to deliver your presentation in a different format based on other abstracts submitted and conference organization. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated.

If you do not have results for your research, please consider submitting for a poster presentation, rather than oral.

Abstracts must include:

  1. Lead author name, affiliation, mailing address, phone number(s), and e-mail address
  2. Names and affiliations of additional authors
  3. Title of abstract
  4. Distillation of the purpose, methods, results and conclusions, 250 words max.
 

The abstract you submit will be the final version that is printed in the program booklet.

Please note: Authors will be advised of the final decision on their abstract by January 22, 2025. The agenda, including scheduled talks, will be released on February 7th, 2025.

Students: Monetary awards are available for all presentation types, posters, and travel to the conference. See details at Awards.

Conference Program

The complete conference program is available above, but here are the concurrent sessions we’ve got planned for March 18:

  • Landscape disturbance
  • The birds and the bears
  • Methods in wildlife research and monitoring
  • Ungulates
  • Creatures of the night
  • Grasslands
  • Wildlife Disease

 

We’ve also got two panel discussions with pre-recorded presentations available for conference participants:

  • Human-wildlife conflict
  • Social science research and considerations in wildlife management
 
The whole day will be bookended by engaging opening and closing ceremonies that you won’t want to miss!
 
 
 

Conference Week Agenda

Although the main conference is on March 18, we’ve got events all week leading up to the big day. All of the below events are free to attend, even if you’re not attending the main conference on the 18th.

Committee Meetings

Full information and links to register.
Monday March 14 – Education and Outreach Committee (12-1pm)
Tuesday March 15 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (1145am – 115pm)
Wednesday March 16 – Conservation Affairs Committee (1145a – 115pm)

Networking Events

Tuesday March 15 – Student and Pros Happy Hour (4-5pm). This is a great time to pick the brains of your fellow wildlifers for career advice and perspective. Whether you’re a pro or a student, we can all learn from each other. Sign up by emailing our student director, Phil, at student@actws.ca.

Wednesday March 16 – Wildlife Jeopardy (7-8pm). Show off your mad wildlife skills and have a little fun. Grab a glass of your favourite beverage and your wildlife friends for an hour of wildlife trivia designed to pick your brain, make you laugh, and help you meet new people. Register here.

Annual General Meeting and Awards Ceremony

March 17, 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is open to everyone with an interest in hearing what we’ve been up to in 2021 and what we have planned for 2022. This year, we’ll complete our AGM with our professional and student awards ceremony.  Details here.

Public talk and live auction

March 17, 7:30pm – 9:00 pm

Each year, we host a public talk that shares cutting edge research about Alberta wildlife. This year, we are so happy to have Dr. Jason Fisher sharing decades worth of work about wolverines from around the world. We know so little about wolverines and what we need to do to conserve them – or do we? Join us to find out!

This year, we’re also featuring Matt Besko in a live auction to kick start the evening. Matt will be auctioning off a trip exploring an Alberta trapline, two day passes for the Canmore folk festival, and a surprise item that will get you gleefully opening your wallets! All funds raised from the auction go towards student awards, supporting the next generation of wildlifers in Alberta.
Details and registration link here.

NERD NITE JASPER

March 7, 7:00-9:00 PM (doors open at 6:15), Jasper Legion, 400 Geikie St. 

Join us at Jasper’s first Nerd Nite, for an evening of wildlife talks from wildlife nerds. Guest speakers include: 

  1. Dr. Glynnis Hood – Beavers, more than just a great set of teeth. 
  2. Dr. John Wilmshurst – Humboldt’s Legacy and our disappearing grassland wilderness. 
  3. Eve Smeltzer – Primate politics: A story of dominance, coalitions, and coups

Secure your spot by registering HERE

Cost: $7

WORKSHOPS

Please click on the workshop poster to learn more.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Panelists

Please click on each panelist’s photo to read their bio.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

ACTWS Annual General Meeting

When: Friday, March 8th, 6:00 – 7:00 pm; Where: Sawridge Ballroom A

CSTWS Annual General Meeting

When: Sunday, March 10th, 1:30 – 2:30 pm; Where: Sawridge Ballroom

Join us for an engaging discussion on the ACTWS & CSTWS activities over the past year and discover exciting plans for the upcoming year. We encourage all members to attend and actively participate in shaping the future of our organizations. Your insights and contributions are essential as we reflect on our achievements and set the course for the year ahead.

The Bison Cultural Study, From Reintroduction to Reconciliation

Presented by William (Bill) Snow

The Bison Cultural Study is about returning a culturally important species to a culturally important landscape. The Plains Bison, or Tatanga, is a part of our origin stories, our ceremonies, our understanding of the world; including its past, present and future. The Bison Cultural study utilizes an Indigenous methodology, “Biculturalism” and an Indigenous process, “Cultural Monitoring” to combine Western Science and Traditional Knowledge, to bring forward knowledge that will add to our current understanding Bison history, cultural significance, and management. In this time of climate change, we hope to reconnect a keystone species to its landscape, while restoring a fractured relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, in a process that may lead to meaningful reconciliation.

Presenter Bio: William (Bill) Snow is a member of the Goodstoney First Nation of the Stoney Nakoda Nations, and is the Acting Director of Consultation at Stoney Tribal Administration. This work involves the assessment of industrial resource projects within Stoney Nakoda Traditional Territory, of Southern Alberta, that involve consultations with government and industry.

Bill is a graduate of the University of Lethbridge – Business Administration, and since 2012, Bill has been an advisor & presenter for the University of Alberta “Thinking Mountains” Conference, the “Mountains 101” online program, and Canadian Mountain Network initiative. In 2018, Bill became a “Director at Large” with Canadian Wildlife Federation, and is currently the Chair of the Indigenous Relations Committee. In 2022, Bill helped to complete the “Bison Cultural Study” that offers Traditional Knowledge regarding the Bison Reintroduction to Banff National Park, as well as the Bison Cultural Study video that was completed in 2023.

WILDFIRE PANELISTS

Please click on each panelist’s photo to read their bio.

Dr. Erin Bayne

Human-Computer Interactions in Processing Wildlife Data: When Will Biologists Become Redundant?

Abstract: The increasing prevalence of automated monitoring devices, such as acoustic recorders, has revolutionized ecological research by enabling the collection of vast amounts of soundscape data. In Alberta, sharing that data has been facilitated by platforms like WildTrax. Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant strides in automating the processing of this data, particularly in identifying species occurrences. However, AI still struggles with computing metrics like song rate and/or density. These metrics require substantial human intervention to validate AI observations. Best practices for doing so will be discussed. The large datasets generated by these technologies, coupled with advanced computational methods, also offer exciting possibilities for the creation of new metrics. For example, subtle variations in vocalizations captured by acoustic recorders, when analyzed with AI, are being used to identify dialects within species or even movement of individual animals. Noise from cars, OHV, and guns can be monitored to understand human behavior. Connecting such data to daily remote sensing products will soon give us the ability to predict and document change in species habitat nearly real time. While it will be some time before AI is able to process all of the digital data we are collecting, full automation will occur sooner than we think. The directions ecological monitoring might go when full automation is realized as well as the ethics of AI in the generation of new knowledge will be discussed.

Bio: Dr. Erin Bayne –Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, CCIS 1-275, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. T6G 2E9, Telephone: (780) 492-4165, Fax: (780) 492-9234, E-mail address: bayne@ualberta.ca

Education: B.Sc. (Hons.) – University of Regina; M.Sc. and Ph.D. (University of Saskatchewan). M.Sc. and Ph.D. done in collaboration with Environment Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service. Post-doc: University of Alberta

Overview: My research centers on understanding the cumulative ecological impacts of human activities on biodiversity. This is done using a combination of behavioral, population, and community ecology via ARU and camera technology, advanced survey design, big data, geographic information systems, automated data processing, and habitat modeling. Our goal is to provide recommendations on how biodiversity reacts to various types of human and natural disturbance and achieving better conservation outcomes.

Publications: Author of 220+ referred publications and 60 government/ industry reports. Co-director of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute Science Centre, Director of WildTrax/ Sensr group, member of Integrated Landscape Management Group, and steering committee lead for the Boreal Avian Modeling Project at the University of Alberta

Awards: Elected member of the American Ornithological Union (2003) and Society of Canadian Ornithologists (2009). Fellow of American Ornithological Society (2016), Killam Annual Professor (2022)

Dr. Kristine Wray

Abstract: Indigenous involvement in wildlife management and research is often thought of in terms of how collaborative and community-based research can be leveraged to support big data science but not the other way around. My talk will suggest that as a scientific community we have not yet achieved effective collaborative research with Indigenous communities and knowledges. I will describe what we have been doing (shared data collection) and what we could be doing (from co-design to co-analysis and co-reporting). Challenges and opportunities to achieving this will be offered based on my doctoral research on the Great Slave Lake commercial fishery and previous work on the integration of Indigenous Knowledge and science in resource management contexts.  
 
Bio: Kristine Wray has a PhD in Environmental Sociology from the University of Alberta and is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Her graduate work focused on Indigenous and community-based approaches to resource management, specifically traditional and commercial fisheries on the Great Slave Lake, NWT (PhD), and Porcupine caribou co-management (MSc). She has a particular interest in the interface of Indigenous Knowledge and science and visual approaches to creating and sharing knowledge. Originally from the Northwest Territories, Kristine currently makes her home in Amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta).

Dr. Andrew Barnas

Will using Artificial Intelligence to review camera trap images reduce human connection to wildlife research?

Abstract: Camera traps are common for wildlife research and management, but manual review of massive image datasets (i.e., big data) is time-consuming and error prone. Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms for automated image processing is gaining popularity, as these tools can significantly reduce time required for reviewing images. Given the need for high-quality, rapidly accessible data for implementing conservation actions in a changing world, using AI holds great promise for conservation. Despite the potential of AI, we raise concerns regarding the loss of human element in wildlife data review. AI may miss unexpected discoveries in images and diminish personal connection to wildlife and conservation landscapes which is fostered through manual image review. As human values are pivotal in soliciting investment in conservation, AI poses a risk via loss of human connection to these systems. Further, outsourcing image review to AI represents a loss of training opportunities for the next generation of scientists. Manual image review also engages citizen scientists in scientific discoveries, fostering enthusiasm for conservation careers and community support for conservation actions. While acknowledging the benefits of AI in processing wildlife camera trap images, we call for meaningful conversation on how AI should be used in the advancement of wildlife research. Given recent challenges our field has faced with the advent of large language models (i.e., ChatGPT) in scientific training and research production, we should proactively have these difficult conversations. We should discuss alternative means of maintaining human connection to wildlife research, and alternative training opportunities for students and citizen scientists.

Bio: Dr. Andrew Barnas is a Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Victoria, in the Applied Conservation Macro Ecology (ACME) laboratory. He earned his PhD from the University of North Dakota in 2019. Andrew began using camera traps to research wildlife in 2013, and is interested in how progress in Artificial Intelligence will shape the future use of these tools. 

Dr. Shinichi Nakagawa

The Role of Meta-analysis in the Big Data era

Abstract: Big Data presents challenges due to its volume and heterogeneity, often requiring robust analytical approaches. While meta-analysis traditionally synthesizes Small Data from literature, its statistical and conceptual principles can be effectively applied to Big Data. Large datasets almost always contain strata, clusters, and repeated measurements—such as data from different locations, species, years, or observational periods. A practical approach is to first calculate effect sizes within clusters and then meta-analyze these effect sizes. This two-step method offers conceptual simplicity and computational advantages over complex models, such as large Bayesian hierarchical frameworks. By leveraging meta-analytic techniques, researchers can integrate diverse data sources, manage variability, and improve the interpretability of broad-scale ecological patterns. I will discuss how this approach can be applied to conservation and wildlife management.

Bio: Shinichi Nakagawa is the Canadian Excellence Research Chair in Open Science and Synthesis in Ecology and Evolution and Professor of Evolutionary Ecology and Synthesis at the University of Alberta. His group’s research spans animal personality, environmental toxicology, and statistical and synthesis method development to meta-research, including Big Data synthesis and EDI issues in ecology, evolution, and beyond. His team aims to improve the reliability and inclusiveness of ecological and evolutionary research by facilitating global collaborations.

Dr. Greg McDermid

Abstract: Modern remote sensing platforms (drones), data sets (lidar, photogrammetry, and processing strategies (artificial intelligence) are transforming the scope of what can be reliably observed in the ecological domain. In this summary, I will describe the ability of remote sensing to perform digital censuses of environmental factors associated with vegetation and wildlife over large areas, including surprising targets like human and wildlife trails and tracks.

Bio: Greg is a remote sensing scientist who joined the Department of Geography, University of Calgary in January, 2005, after 10 years working in industry. Greg studied at the University of Calgary (B.Sc., 1991; M.Sc. 1993) and the University of Waterloo (Ph.D., 2005) in areas of physical geography, GIS, and remote sensing. He directs the Applied Geospatial Research Group, and work on the application of remote sensing and other geospatial tools for restoration assessment, wildlife habitat modelling, and other ecological issues. Greg is the Principal Investigator in the Boreal Ecosystem Recovery and Assessment (BERA) project and co-founder of Falcon & Swift Geomatics Ltd.

Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques

Embark on a journey of precision and insight with the Lethbridge College Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) at the ACTWS Conference in Jasper! Join our workshop, ‘Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques‘, to explore the secrets hidden within wildlife teeth. Explore both the field technique of ‘tooth eruption and wear’ and the laboratory marvel of ‘cementum analysis’ – both dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of ungulate ages. Delve into the heart of these techniques, comparing their accuracy and precision, with a revelation of the superior accuracy of cementum analysis. Learn the art of tooth extraction and witness the seamless process of submitting your own wildlife teeth to the WAL for aging through cementum analysis. Elevate your understanding of deer populations and contribute to the advancement of wildlife knowledge and bolster your resume with applied experience. Participants will gain hands-on familiarity with the field technique of jaw aging, and the lab process of tooth extraction, inspection, preparation, and cementum analysis. Join us in Jasper for a transformative experience at the intersection of field expertise and cutting-edge laboratory analysis!

Facilitated by the Wildlife Analytics Lab, Lethbridge College

Cost: $15.

Mastering Science Communications: Navigating Media Challenges and Amplifying Your Message

Are you ready to level-up your media chops? Even amid recent declines in public support for both science and science journalism, there are still many things we can do to make it more likely our science stories are told. In this 2.5 hour, interactive science communications workshop, we’ll discuss the current state of the media, and why talking to media matters. We’ll learn about current norms in the journalism process, and how to prepare so that your media interviews are accurate and memorable. We’ll practice personalizing our science stories to capture attention in a noisy, polarized media landscape.

Facilitated by Niki Wilson, a journalist, science communicator, and the winner of the 2023 ACTWS Outreach Award.

Cost: $25

Wildlife Acoustics Workshop: Turning Sound into Discovery

Sound analysis is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for biologists, environmental scientists, and land managers to survey and monitor wildlife populations. It is currently used for resource management, habitat health assessment, regulatory compliance goals, animal behavior studies, and documenting the effects of climate change worldwide.

Wildlife audio recorders provide a reliable, noninvasive, cost-effective, and unbiased means to meet these objectives.

At this one-hour hands-on workshop, learn how to set up and use a Song Meter Micro passive acoustic recorder to gain critical insights into your area of focus. By the end, you’ll see why biologists have deployed 150,000 Song Meter recorders in over 90 countries.

Facilitated by Wildlife Acoustics.

Cost: Free

Dr. Jen Beverly

Dr. Beverly is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta. Her research team currently focuses on various aspects of wildfire risk assessment – with the overarching goal of providing decision makers with tools to ensure social and ecological systems thrive in fire-prone environments. She is a fire behaviour specialist and former helitack crew leader with firefighting experience obtained in multiple Canadian provinces, as well as Montana and Oregon.

Bob Mason

Bob Mason is a registered professional forester with more than 35 years of experience in sustainable forest management in Alberta, including senior roles in both forest management planning and woodlands operations.


Bob is Chief Forester for Canfor in Alberta where he oversees the Company’s corporate forestry activities in support of its Grande Prairie, Fox Creek and Whitecourt Divisions. He is responsible for ensuring long-term forest sustainability and maintenance of biological diversity across the company’s
forest tenures, as well as providing direction on the company’s engagement and relationship building with Indigenous communities, environmental certification programs and woodlands research initiatives. Bob also represents the company in joint industry-government work on legislation, policy, wildlife management and species at risk.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Alberta. His extensive contributions to industry advancement include his current service on the board of directors of fRI Research, on committees of the Forest Products Association of Canada, the Alberta Forest Products Association, the National Council for Stream and Air Improvement, and fRI Research, and as Canfor’s representative on research and programming initiatives conducted in partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Bob and his wife Carole reside in St. Albert and enjoy spending time outdoors, camping, backpacking, cycling and snowshoeing.

Ken Greenway

Ken Greenway, following his Ph.D., dedicated approximately eight years of his career to applied research silviculture at the then Alberta Research Council. During this period, his primary focus revolved around examining aspen tree regeneration post-forest harvesting and the growth of aspen-white spruce mixedwood.

In 2003, Ken transitioned to the provincial government, assuming the role of a research scientist with a specialized focus on reforestation and regeneration systems. He played a pivotal role in leading the redevelopment of provincial reforestation standards. This transformation involved shifting from a system merely assessing site occupancy by trees to one that connects growth assumptions in forest management plans to an assessment of tree species occupancy, density, and growth.

By 2007, Ken took on a management role in reforestation, subsequently navigating through various areas of forest management responsibility. His journey included management roles in cross-ministry initiatives, along with a brief stint within the rural development space.

In November 2021, Ken assumed the acting role of Executive Director of the Forest Stewardship and Trade branch, securing the position permanently in 2022. His branch shoulders a wide range of responsibilities, spanning trade files such as the softwood lumber dispute with the US, timber dues rate setting and collection, forest tenure issuance, timber production auditing, and compliance monitoring. This involves ensuring harvesting rates align with approved amounts. Ken is actively involved in addressing forest health and adaptation, covering aspects like mountain pine beetle management and tree genetics standards. His role extends to forest management planning, contributing to regional and sub-regional land planning initiatives, as well as forestry data management.

PO BOX 4990
Edmonton AB
T6E 5G8


Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques

Embark on a journey of precision and insight with the Lethbridge College Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) at the ACTWS Conference in Jasper! Join our workshop, ‘Rooted in Wisdom: Deer Aging Techniques‘, to explore the secrets hidden within wildlife teeth. Explore both the field technique of ‘tooth eruption and wear’ and the laboratory marvel of ‘cementum analysis’ – both dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of ungulate ages. Delve into the heart of these techniques, comparing their accuracy and precision, with a revelation of the superior accuracy of cementum analysis. Learn the art of tooth extraction and witness the seamless process of submitting your own wildlife teeth to the WAL for aging through cementum analysis. Elevate your understanding of deer populations and contribute to the advancement of wildlife knowledge and bolster your resume with applied experience. Participants will gain hands-on familiarity with the field technique of jaw aging, and the lab process of tooth extraction, inspection, preparation, and cementum analysis. Join us in Jasper for a transformative experience at the intersection of field expertise and cutting-edge laboratory analysis!

Facilitated by the Wildlife Analytics Lab, Lethbridge College

Cost: $15

Professional refers to someone who works with wildlife and/or their habitats in a professional setting.

In this context, it is not in reference to a legal professional designation.

LOGIN