Graduate/Professional Training - Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA September 2017-February 2018 schedule: our intensive residential courses offer continuing education credits (CEUs), and, in some cases, graduate credit. Visit course links (below), see our website (http://SMConservation.gmu.edu) or email us at scbitrain...@si.edu<mailto:scbitrain...@si.edu> for more details about each course, course costs, application deadlines, and credits earned. Apply now-some application deadlines are approaching quickly!
Stakeholder-Driven Scenario Models for Strategic Conservation Planning<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/professional-training-courses/stakeholder-driven-scenario-models-for-strategic-conservation-planning/> NEW COURSE!! September 11-16, 2017 The scenario planning approach allows us to imagine how land use decisions we make today could influence the landscape of tomorrow. Scenarios are storylines developed by stakeholders, describing different potential futures. When linked to land use, socio-economic, and environmental data, these scenarios can help us identify trade-offs or synergies between environmental health and human well-being. This project-based course provides practitioners and advanced students a conceptual and practical understanding of the intersection of scenario planning and land use modeling in the context of natural resource and environmental planning. This intensive 6-day fulltime residential session incorporates lectures, discussions, and extensive computer exercises. Ecology and Conservation of Migratory Birds<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/professional-training-courses/species-monitoring-and-conservation-bird-migration/> September 18-29, 2017 Led by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, this course teaches the most current methods in the research of migratory birds including theoretical concepts, field and laboratory methods (e.g. mist-netting, banding, tissue sampling, stable isotope geochemistry, geolocators and radio telemetry), data analysis (including distance sampling and mark-recapture statistics) and applied conservation strategies. Participants will be mist-netting and handling birds nearly every morning of the course, and will also learn to prepare museum voucher study skins. Spatial Ecology, Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing for Conservation<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/professional-training-courses/mccs-0500-spatial-ecology-geospatial-analysis-and-remote-sensing-for-conservation/> October 16-27, 2017 Learn to use GIS tools to address conservation research problems, quantifying effects of human-induced global changes on wildlife and biodiversity. This two-week course is taught by the research scientists of Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's renowned Conservation GIS lab. 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. Camera Trapping Tools for Landowners Workshop<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/community-and-public/workshops-and-conferences/ctlandowners/> November 4-5, 2017 This new (non-credit) weekend workshop is designed for local landowners looking to have all their camera trapping questions answered. Participants spend two days with Smithsonian Wildlife Ecologist Joe Kolowski who has spent years using trail cameras to study wildlife around the globe. The workshop is a mix of field activities, demonstrations, and interactive lectures and includes: 1) a review of current camera models, providing guidance for purchase decisions; 2) practice in use and setup of a range of trail cameras in the field, including tips for optimal placement for a wide range of species and scenarios, 3) highlights from local and international camera trapping research; 4) local options for getting involved in camera trapping research; and get advice specific to their own properties and interests. Statistics for Ecology and Conservation Biology<http://smconservation.gmu.edu/programs/graduate-and-professional/professional-training-courses/mccs-0501-statistics-for-ecology-and-conservation-biology/> February 12-23, 2018 Gain in-depth knowledge of analysis techniques for cutting-edge ecological research, employing R: classical regression models; mixed models; generalized linear models; how to deal with the limitations of real datasets; and conservation-specific approaches. Participants learn how to choose appropriate analyses for different research questions, and about the assumptions underlying each model. Through the lectures and hands-on exercises participants learn how to design their own studies, explore their data, perform a range of analyses, understand fitted models, and clearly explain their results. By the end of the course, participants will be able to conduct sophisticated statistical analyses, critically evaluate statistics-based material in current research literature, and deal with the limitations of real datasets in the context of conservation science. Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation participants engage in dynamic learning communities, build lifelong professional networks, and connect with valuable conservation resources
