Courses & Workshops

The Continuing Education Committee has put together a diverse suite of courses for the 2011 Annual Meeting. The courses cover a variety of topics, ranging from the use of science in decision making, leading effective technical meetings, planning for stream habitat restoration, and use of hydroacoustics in fisheries. When you register for the meeting, please consider taking one or more of these courses or technology workshops.  All of them will help increase your professionalism, perspective, and skill set when you return to your job. Registration (and payment) for workshops is part of the Annual Meeting registration. It is possible to sign up for Continuing Education workshops without registering for the AFS Annual Meeting. You may also choose to download the printable version of the registration form if you prefer to not register on-line: [download id="7" format="1"] Questions?  Contact Kathryn Winkler, kwinkler@fisheries.org LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS IN AFS Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Dirk Miller, Wyoming Game and Fish Department; dirk.miller@wyo.gov FREE! This course will focus on helping AFS leaders understand how to work effectively within the AFS governance structure at all levels:  Chapter, Section, and Division. COURSE IS FULL: SURGICAL PROCEDURES FOR IMPLANTING TRANSMITTERS IN FISHES Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Cynthia LeDoux-Bloom, UC Davis; cledouxbloom@ucdavis.edu; California DWR; cledoux@water.ca.gov Theresa Liedtke, USGS, Western Fisheries Research Center Michelle Rub, DVM NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center Niels Jepsen, Ph.D Danish Institute for Fisheries Research, Vejlsøvej, Denmark Mary Moser, Ph.D NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center E. Scott Weber, DVM, Ph.D UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Student $100; Member $150; Non-Member $200 The goal of this introductory course is to provide knowledge of biotelemetry and implanting transmitters into fishes using principles of veterinary science.  This course will have a hands-on component and allow time for participants to seek answers to questions regarding their specific research activities. COURSE IS FULL: BASIC/INTERMEDIATE GIS FOR FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS Sat, 9/3 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Joanna Whittier, University of Missouri; whittierJ@missouri.edu Joe Gerken, Kansas State University Student $125; Member $220; Non-member $250 This course will provide an overview of basic/intermediate GIS skills for fisheries biologists using ArcGIS, including use of existing data, creating your own data, and review of fundamental concepts for GIS. ADVANCED GIS FOR FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Joanna Whittier, University of Missouri; whittierJ@missouri.edu; http://web.missouri.edu/~whittierj/ Joe Gerken, Kansas State University Student $150; Member $220; Non-member $270 Building on the ‘Basic/Intermediate GIS for Fisheries Biologists’ course, this course will focus on geoprocessing, interpolation, and spatial analysis methods to aid in fisheries monitoring and research. RIVER MORPHOLOGY AND RESTORATION Part 1:Sat, 9/3 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Part 2:Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Jim Gracie, Brightwater, Inc; jgracie@brightwaterinc.com Joe Merz, PhD, Principal Scientist, Cramer Fish Sciences Student $125; Member $175; Non-member $225 This course covers general principles of river morphology, classification systems, hydrology and hydraulics, stream stability, natural channel restoration approaches and a description of stabilization devices, habitat improvement devices and performance monitoring.  The material is presented with real life examples and includes extensive class participation and problem solving. CANCELLED: SIM-STREAM 8.0 - SOFTWARE FOR INSTREAM HABITAT SIMULATION AT THE MESOSCALE Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Piotr Parasiewicz, Rushing Rivers Institute; piotr@rushingrivers.org Joe Rogers, Rushing Rivers Institute; geojoerogers@yahoo.com Link(s): http://www.mesohabsim.org/ Student $100; Member $150; Non-Member $200 This course will introduce how to model functional relationships between the physical environment and river biota using the MesoHABSIM modeling approach and its associated software, Sim-Stream. MAPPING AQUATIC HABITAT OF INLAND FRESHWATER SYSTEMS USING SIDE-SCAN SONAR Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Adam J. Kaeser, Georgia Department of Natural Resources; adam_kaeser@fws.gov Student $100; Member $150; Non-member $200 This course is an introduction to using the inexpensive Humminbird® Side Imaging system to map and quantify benthic habitats at the landscape scale.  The course includes a practical session covering techniques for geoprocessing sonar imagery and map development within ArcGIS 9.x. COURSE IS FULL: INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING IN R FOR FISHERIES SCIENTISTS Sat, 9/3 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Matt Catalano, Michigan State University; mcatalano@msu.edu Link(s): http://qfc.fw.msu.edu/courses_r_workshop_AFS.asp Student $100; Member $150; Non-member $200 This course will introduce the basics of Program R using a command-line interface and examples from fisheries research. Program R is a powerful open-source mathematical and statistical software program gaining popularity in the fisheries and ecological sciences. EFFECTIVE SPEAKING WHEN THE HEAT IS ON! Sat, 9/3 | 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Michael E. Fraidenburg, The Cooperation Company; MikeF@CooperationCompany.com. Melinda Posner, Melinda Posner Consulting; melinda@mposnerconsulting.com. Student $25; Member $40; Non-member $60 Participants learn how to deliver their message using six speaking models that are designed to persuade.  Use the techniques professional speakers use to get your audience to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN, even if they don’t want to. COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATIONS Sat, 9/3 | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Michael E. Fraidenburg, The Cooperation Company; MikeF@CooperationCompany.com Melinda Posner, Melinda Posner Consulting; melinda@mposnerconsulting.com. Student $25; Member $40; Non-member $60 Learn to solve your toughest bargaining challenges and preserve relationships you will need in the future.  Get direct, ‘hands-on’ experience building negotiations that will work for you in the present and set the stage for healthier collaborations in the future. INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURED DECISION MAKING FOR NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm James Peterson, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; jt.peterson@oregonstate.edu Krishna Pacifici, University of Georgia, Athens; pacificik@warnell.uga.edu Course Details: http://people.oregonstate.edu/~peterjam/SDM_AFS_2011/ Student $75; Member $100; Non-Member $125 This course will introduce the structured approaches of decision science as applied to aquatic resource issues, including how to incorporate multiple objectives, stakeholder values, various sources of uncertainty, and additional data. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AQUATIC SCIENTISTS Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Jeremy Monroe, Freshwaters Illustrated; jeremy@freshwatersillustrated.org Rich Grost, RTG Fishery Research & Photography; Richard.Grost@pacificorp.com Student $100; Member $150; Non-member $200 Participants in this course will learn how to use photography as part of their communication portfolio.  The course will cover the importance of photography in aquatic education, science, and outreach; digital equipment, techniques, and workflow; techniques for underwater natural-history photography; and photographic sampling and documentation for science. STATISTICAL CONCEPTS AND TOOLS FOR FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Ken Gerow, University of Wyoming; gerow@uwyo.edu Student $100; Member $150; Non-Member $200 Many working fisheries professionals only periodically engage in the use of statistical concepts and tools.  This course will help participants refresh their knowledge of traditional statistics while also learning about contemporary statistical concepts and tools. INTRODUCTION TO SCIENTIFIC ACOUSTICS FOR FISHERIES Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Jim Dawson, BioSonics, Inc.; JDawson@BioSonicsInc.com Bob McClure, BioSonics, Inc.; bmcclure@biosonicsinc.com Student $100; Member $150; Non-Member $200 This course will provide a background in hydroacoustic theory and introduce participants to current acoustics applications for fisheries habitat and population assessment. CANCELLED: RiverRAT - SCIENCE AND TOOLS FOR EVALUATING AND DEVELOPING STREAM ENGINEERING, MANAGEMENT, AND RESTORATION PROPOSALS Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Peter Skidmore, Skidmore Restoration Consulting; restoringrivers@yahoo.com Brian Cluer, NOAA; brian.cluer@noaa.gov Links: www.restorationreview.com Student $100; Member $150; Non-Member $200 This course will teach you how to incorporate physical processes into planning and implementing stream habitat management and restoration projects through the use of RiverRAT.  RiverRAT is a document and tool to support robust development and review of stream habitat management and restoration proposals. CANCELLED: SPORTS FISHING EVENTS 101 Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Richard Abrams, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Rich.Abrams@myfwc.com Tom Lang, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Aquatic Resources Education Association President; tom.lang@ksoutdoors.com Steve A. Marshall; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Steve.Marshall@myfwc.com Student $50; Member $75; Non-member $100 This course will provide participants with important skills, resources and hands-on experiences to successfully develop and run youth sport fishing programs at their facilities. This training provides a professional, hands-on complement to the symposium, “Fisheries Education & Outreach: Collaborations That Inspire and Empower Students, Teachers and the Public to Be Responsible Advocates for Aquatic Resources.” HOW TO LEAD AN EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL MEETING Sun, 9/4 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Jim Berkson, National Marine Fisheries Service; Jim.Berkson@NOAA.gov Student $50; Member $75; Non-Member $100 This course will teach you how to be an effective technical meeting leader and is intended for all career stages.  Topics include: handling difficult personalities, time budgeting, and reaching meeting objectives.

AFS Technology Workshops

VEMCO ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP Sun, 9/4 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Nancy Edwards, VEMCO Division and AMIRIX Systems Inc.; afsagm.seattle@vemco.com Richard Vallee, VP Sales, VEMCO; richard.vallee@vemco.com FREE! VEMCO staff will discuss passive and active acoustic technology and how to use the equipment effectively.  Potential topics include: Understanding Single Frequency Telemetry, Equipment Overview and Representative Deployments, Detection Performance and Range Limits, VEMCO User Environment (VUE) Software, VR2W Positioning System (VPS,) and Future Product Directions.  Participants will help explore problems regarding deployment methods, experimental design, identifying unknown codes, data management, handling and analysis. SOUND METRICS ARIS TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP Sun, 9/4 | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Bill Hanot, Sound Metrics Corp.; bill@soundmetrics.com FREE! Advances in imaging sonar and software now allow more accurate assessment of fish behavior and population enumeration.  This workshop will introduce participants to DIDSON and Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar and their applications to fisheries management.