TITLE: AMNH training workshop: Species Distribution Modeling, October
13-17 2008
Applications are now being accepted for the training workshop Species
Distribution Modeling, to be held at the American Museum of Natural
History’s Southwestern Research Station, Arizona, 13-17 October 2008.
Models that predict species’ potential distributions by combining
observed occurrence records with digital data layers of environmental
variables have great potential for application across a range of
biogeographical analyses. Applications include guiding field surveys to
detect unknown populations, projecting potential impacts of climate
change, predicting species’ invasions, supporting reserve planning, and
investigating niche evolution. The course focuses on the theoretical and
practical aspects of this approach (sometimes termed ‘ecological niche’
or ‘bioclimate envelope’ modeling) and is designed for students,
researchers and practitioners of conservation biology. Using a mixture
of lectures, hands-on computer lab applications, discussions, and case
studies, course participants will learn to:
• Obtain and process data necessary for species distribution modeling;
• Run distribution models using a variety of approaches;
• Validate and interpret model results;
• Apply these techniques to a range of applications.
Each participant is encouraged to develop an idea for a project they
would like to work on during the week, so techniques learned during the
course can immediately be applied to an example of interest. These
projects can be discussed with the course organizers in advance to
ensure they are appropriate.
Places on the course are limited to 15 and each participant is assigned
a desktop computer for the week.
The course will be taught by Drs. Richard Pearson (AMNH) and Steven
Phillips (AT&T).
There is a course fee of $1,000 for each participant, which includes
accommodation and meals for the week. Participants need to provide their
own transportation to and from the Research Station. Unfortunately,
scholarship funds to defray course expenses are not available.
APPLICATION: Places on the course are limited to 15 and previous courses
have been significantly oversubscribed. Those interested in
participating in the course should send an application with the
following information: name, contact details, current position (student,
academia, government, etc.), and a brief statement (maximum one side of
paper) on why you want to take the course, what prior modeling or GIS
experience you have (if any), and what project you would like to work on
during the week.
Please email your application to Richard Pearson (pearson ‘at‘
amnh.org). The application deadline is July 24th 2008. Applications will
be acknowledged on receipt, and you will be notified if a place is
available by July 31st 2008. Payment of the course fee for those
accepted will be required by August 31st *.
For further information, including programs from previous workshops, see
the course website at:
http://biodiversityinformatics.amnh.org/index.php?section_id=82&content_id=140
* Cancellation policy: no refunds will be available unless we are able
to fill the cancelled place at late notice. If a replacement is found,
then $750 will be returned.
