"The Practice of Fisheries: Celebrating all who work toward sustainable fisheries in Alaska"
Organizers announce a call for session proposals for the 40th annual meeting of the Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. The meeting will be convened 7-11 October 2013 at the Princess Fairbanks Lodge in Fairbanks, Alaska.
The theme of the meeting is "The Practice of Fisheries: Celebrating All Who Work Toward Sustainable Fisheries in Alaska." It was chosen in celebration of the many varied peoples who contribute to the health and sustainability of Alaska's fisheries and fishing communities, whether as biologists, fisheries managers, students, artists, and so on. This theme will be exemplified through a broad array of sessions including keynotes, contributed oral sessions, and a poster session; and a long list of social activities and tours. Sessions can focus on the practice of fisheries science or management, can be disciplinary or interdisciplinary, and should include 4-6 presentations at a length of 20 minutes each, including time for questions. Sessions often cover topics such as: Marine Fisheries, Freshwater Fisheries, Habitat, Recent Advances in Fish and Fisheries, Hatcheries, Human Dimensions, Modeling, Food Webs, Research Methods, etc.
Anyone interested in chairing (or co-chairing) a session is invited to send a short (250-word) abstract and a (tentative) list of speakers to Philip Loring (ploring [at] alaska.edu) for consideration no later than 15 June 2013.
The tentative schedule for the meeting includes continuing education workshops and organized tours that will be held on the first two days of the meeting (October 7 and 8), and a welcome reception scheduled for Tuesday evening (October 8). The keynote address and plenary session will be Wednesday morning, followed by concurrent oral sessions, with a poster session, social, and open mic (new event) Wednesday evening (October 9). Thursday and Friday (October 10 and 11) will be dedicated to concurrent sessions, with the banquet Thursday evening along with entertainment and an auction. The annual business meeting will be held Friday late morning, after which student awards will be presented before the meeting adjourns. In addition to the open mic night, new elements for this year's meeting will include a trivia challenge with prizes during the banquet, and 20-minute "learning studios" in which experts will offer mini-lessons on fisheries-related topics to small audiences.
If you have questions or recommendations, or are interested in helping with meeting planning, social activities, or local arrangements, please contact Chapter President-Elect and Program Committee Chair Philip Loring (907-474-7163; ploring [at] alaska.edu).
Session proposal deadline: Saturday, 15 June 2013.