Here is an announcement for a species distribution modeling course that will be offered at the Southwestern Research Station in Arizona April 21-25 2008. -- TITLE: AMNH training workshop: Species Distribution Modeling Methods for Conservation Biologists, April 21-25 2008
Applications are now being accepted for the training workshop Species Distribution Modeling Methods for Conservation Biologists, to be held at the American Museum of Natural History's Southwestern Research Station, Arizona, April 21-25 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, and supporting reserve planning. 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. The April course will be taught by Drs. Richard Pearson (AMNH), Steven Phillips (AT&T) and Alison Cameron (Berkeley and Princeton). RS/GIS specialist Kevin Koy (AMNH) will provide GIS support. Places on the course are limited to 15 (each participant is assigned a desktop computer for the week). There is a course fee of $1,000 for each participant. The course fee 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. 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 (max two paragraphs) including why you want to take the course, overview of prior modeling or GIS experience (if any), and a brief description of a project you would like to work on if you have one in mind. Please email your application to Richard Pearson (pearson 'at' amnh.org). The application deadline is February 8th. Applications will be acknowledged on receipt, and you will be notified if a place is available by February 15th. Payment of the course fee for those accepted will be required by March 14th. For further information, including programs from previous courses, see http://biodiversityinformatics.amnh.org/index.php?section_id=82&content_id=140 The course, Practical Remote Sensing Methods for Conservation Biologists also takes place at the same location. The next course will be held April 13-18, 2008.
