Saturday, August 19
8 am – 5 pm
Bayesian I: Intro to Bayesian Inference Using Gibbs Sampling (BUGS) for Fish Biologists
Instructors: Benjamin Staton, Auburn University; Matthew Catalano, Auburn University
Student Member: $125
Student Non-Member or Young Professional Member: $150
Member: $175
Non-Member: $250
AFS members registering for both the Bayesian I and Bayesian II course will receive a discounted price that will cover the registration of both courses. Student Member: $225 Young Professional Member: $275 Member: $325
Instructors:

Matthew Catalano

Benjamin Staton
Beginning/Intermediate GIS for Fisheries Scientists
Instructors: Michael Moore, University of Missouri; Kayla Key, University of Missouri; Jodi Whittier, University of Missouri
Course description
This course will serve as an introduction to using spatial data in a geographic information system platform with specific examples using the ArcGIS platform. Participants will learn fundamental concepts of using geographic information and gain experience applying those concepts to accomplish tasks that might be conducted by a fisheries biologist. The course will be a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises using examples that might be encountered by a freshwater or marine fisheries biologist.
Learning Objectives
This course will introduce participants to concepts and tools to manipulate spatial data to calculate simple statistics, conduct simple geostatistical analyses, interpolate between data points, build spatial networks such as for streams, and conduct aerial image classifications to identify gravel bars and road crossings in river systems using ArcGIS. Participants will be able to conduct basic spatial assessments by the end of the course and will have a working knowledge of the concepts and potential uses of the tools to conduct more advanced assessments on their own.
Lectures will focus on some basic principles of geoprocessing, geostatistical analyses, several approaches to interpolation, understanding the structure of spatial networks, and understanding image classification methods.
Participants will conduct self-paced exercises using provided data sets which will walk them through the learning objectives using examples that might be encountered by a freshwater or marine fisheries biologist. They will learn how to combine and otherwise manipulate spatial data layers to extract and summarize environmental metrics; create continuous spatial data layers based on empirical point data; use an elevation surface to create a stream network which could be used for watershed management, research, and understanding pathways of surface waters; conduct image classifications to identify structure that could influence river systems such as gravel bar locations, road crossings, and mill dams.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to apply to their own work the techniques discussed in brief lectures and practiced in exercises.
Student Member: $125
Student Non-Member or Young Professional Member: $150
Member: $175
Non-Member: $250
AFS members registering for both the Beginning/Intermediate GIS and Advanced GIS courses will receive a discounted price that will cover the registration of both courses.
Student Member: $225
Young Professional Member: $275
Member: $325
Instructors:

Kayla Key

Michael Moore

Jodi Whittier
NEW! Facilitation Training: Tips and Tools for Effective Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration – DAY 1
Instructors: Chelsea Crandall, Ph.D., University of Florida; Jynessa Dutka-Gianelli, Ph.D., University of Florida; Joy Hazell, University of Florida
FOR BOTH DAYS:
Student Member: $225
Student Non-Member: $300
Young Professional Member: $275
Member: $325
Non-Member: $500
Instructors:

Chelsea Crandall

Jynessa Dutka-Gianelli

Joy Hazell
NEW! Fish Ageing
Instructor: Jessica Carroll, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Student Member: $125
Student Non-Member or Young Professional Member: $150
Member: $175
Non-Member: $250
Sunday, August 20
8 am – 5 pm
Advanced GIS for Fisheries Scientists
Instructors: Michael Moore, University of Missouri; Kayla Key, University of Missouri, Jodi Whittier, University of Missouri
Course description
This course will introduce participants to advanced concepts and tools for manipulating and summarizing spatial datasets using the ArcGIS platform. The concepts and basis of the tools will be applicable to other GIS platforms. Topics covered include: geoprocessing, interpolation, simple geostatistics, building spatial networks, and conducting aerial image classifications. The course will be a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises using examples that might be encountered by a freshwater or marine fisheries biologist.
Learning Objectives
This course will introduce participants to concepts and tools to manipulate spatial data to calculate simple statistics, conduct simple geostatistical analyses, interpolate between data points, build spatial networks such as for streams, and conduct aerial image classifications to identify gravel bars and road crossings in river systems using ArcGIS. Participants will be able to conduct basic spatial assessments by the end of the course and will have a working knowledge of the concepts and potential uses of the tools to conduct more advanced assessments on their own.
Lectures will focus on some basic principles of geoprocessing, geostatistical analyses, several approaches to interpolation, understanding the structure of spatial networks, and understanding image classification methods.
Participants will conduct self-paced exercises using provided data sets which will walk them through the learning objectives using examples that might be encountered by a freshwater or marine fisheries biologist. They will learn how to combine and otherwise manipulate spatial data layers to extract and summarize environmental metrics; create continuous spatial data layers based on empirical point data; use an elevation surface to create a stream network which could be used for watershed management, research, and understanding pathways of surface waters; conduct image classifications to identify structure that could influence river systems such as gravel bar locations, road crossings, and mill dams.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to apply to their own work the techniques discussed in brief lectures and practiced in exercises.
Student Member: $125
Student Non-Member or Young Professional Member: $150
Member: $175
Non-Member: $250
AFS members registering for both the Beginning/Intermediate GIS and Advanced GIS courses will receive a discounted price that will cover the registration of both courses.
Student Member: $225
Young Professional Member: $275
Member: $325
Instructors:

Kayla Key

Michael Moore

Jodi Whittier
Age and Growth Analysis with R
Instructor: Travis Brenden, Michigan State University
Student Member: $125
Student Non-Member or Young Professional Member: $150
Member: $175
Non-Member: $250
Instructor:

Travis Brenden
Bayesian II: Intermediate Bayesian Inference Using Gibbs Sampling (BUGS) for Fish Biologists
Instructors: Benjamin Staton, Auburn University; Matthew Catalano, Auburn University
Student Member: $125
Student Non-Member or Young Professional Member: $150
Member: $175
Non-Member: $250
AFS members registering for both the Bayesian I and Bayesian II course will receive a discounted price that will cover the registration of both courses. Student Member: $200 Young Professional Member: $250 Member: $300

Matthew Catalano
Instructors:

Benjamin Staton
NEW! Facilitation Training: Tips and Tools for Effective Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration – DAY 2
Instructors: Chelsea Crandall, Ph.D., University of Florida; Jynessa Dutka-Gianelli, Ph.D., University of Florida; Joy Hazell, University of Florida
FOR BOTH DAYS:
Student Member: $225
Student Non-Member: $300
Young Professional Member: $275
Member: $325
Non-Member: $500
8 am – 12 pm
NEW! Human Dimensions Training: Survey Design and Implementation
Instructors: Nia Morales, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Jessica Feltz, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Student Member: $50
Student Non-Member or Young Professional Member: $75
Member: $100
Non-Member: $175

Nia Morales
Leadership at All Levels in AFS (FREE)
Lead Instructor/Moderator: Steve McMullin, McMullin Training and Consulting, LLC
Instructors: Doug Austen, American Fisheries Society; Scott Bonar, University of Arizona; John Boreman, North Carolina State University; Joseph Margraf, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Jesse Trushenski, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Lead Instructor:

Steve McMullin
1 pm – 5 pm
NEW! Uncomfortable Conversations: Addressing Unintentional Bias in the Fisheries Profession – FREE!