2 PhD positions available: Utah State University (Will Pearse)

The Pearse Lab at Utah State University is recruiting for PhD students to start in the 2017 academic year. We are an inter-disciplinary lab, studying the interactions between community ecology and evolutionary biology using cutting-edge statistical techniques. We are looking for two students: one with experience in ecological and/or evolutionary modelling, and another with experience in plant ecology and fieldwork. These positions are fully-funded, and include money to travel to conferences and working groups. Click here to find out more information and apply.

Will Pearse
Assistant Professor of Biology, Utah State University

Call for Experts - IPBES

Our Ref: EM/2016/22

Dear IPBES Member States and Observers,

 Following the outcome of the fourth session of the Plenary (Decision IPBES-4/1, section III, para. 3, and section IV, para.5) and in line with the agreed procedures for the preparation of the Platform’s deliverables, Governments and other relevant stakeholders are invited to nominate experts to participate in:

1. the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (Deliverable 2c);
2. the workshop to further scope the thematic assessment of the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (Deliverable 3biii).

In addition, following decision IPBES-4/1, section I, para.1, Governments and relevant institutions and organizations are invited to nominate fellows to:

3. the IPBES Fellowship Pilot Programme, to participate in the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

The IPBES Fellowship Pilot Programme targets early career experts who wish to gain experience by participating in the work of IPBES. More information on the IPBES Fellowship Pilot Programme and nomination process can be found here.

Member States and Observers are invited to disseminate this call for nominations widely to relevant institutions and organisations. Nominations from a broad range of organizations/institutions are encouraged. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominators are expected to give their consent to the time commitment required from the candidate, as appropriate.

All nominated individuals (nominees) need to be available to attend the meeting to which they are applying to be experts.
Meeting dates:

• The First Author Meeting for the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services will be held in August 15-19, 2016 in Bonn, Germany (Experts and Fellows);
• The scoping meeting for the thematic assessment of Sustainable Use of Biodiversity will be held August 2-4, 2016, Bonn, Germany (Scoping Experts).

Importantly, nominated experts should have expertise in one or more disciplines within natural science, social science or humanities, represent or have expertise in indigenous and local knowledge systems, or be policy experts and practitioners. We strongly encourage nominations to reflect this broad range of expertise which is needed for both assessments.

In particular, for the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, we are seeking experts with an interdisciplinary, international and/or global background and experience. Governments and organisations nominating experts are therefore encouraged to promote this multidisciplinary approach, which is fundamental to the success of IPBES. For the scoping meeting for the thematic assessment of Sustainable Use of Biodiversity, we are seeking experts that have expertise in integrative approaches to human-nature relations, in ethics, trade, as well as in the relevant institutions and governance.

The nomination process of experts will follow these steps:

1. Nominees will be invited to fill out an application form and attach their curricula vitae through the dedicated web portal (http://www.ipbes.net/applicationform)
2. The application form will automatically be sent to the nominating Government or Organisation (Nominator) indicated by the Nominee with an email, which will provide a link to a nomination form inviting the Nominators to approve and submit their nominations.
3. Nominators and Nominees will  receive an acknowledgement message once the nomination form confirming the nomination has been submitted

Interested experts (nominees) are requested to fill out their application form no later than 05 May 2016. Nominators (governments or organisations) should submit approved applications by 15 May 2016 at the latest. Early nominations ahead of the deadline are encouraged. Experts interested in being nominated are encouraged to contact their IPBES National Focal Point (http://www.ipbes.net/about/members/nfps) or organisational contact point as they may be operating under their own timeline.

I look forward to your positive response to this letter and for your continued support towards the implementation of our work programme in 2016.

Yours sincerely,

This document has been signed electronically and contains no handwritten signature

Sir Robert T. Watson
Chair, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Our mailing address is:
IPBES Secretariat

UN Campus

Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1

Bonn 53113

Germany

Call for Nominations - International Biogeography Society - Student at Large (2017-2019 term)

Call for nominations (Student@Large)

One of the best ways for students to foster their academic development is to broaden their horizons in every possible aspect. Participating in scientific societies is certainly a way towards such horizon broadening. The International Biogeography Society (IBS) gave me this opportunity as board member representing students in all decision-making. Indeed, being able to speak out as part of my research field has convinced me on the importance of being actively involved within the larger apparatus of scientific development. This opportunity also made me more aware than ever about the relevance of networking with other scientists in order to contribute to the advancement of my research field. Such contribution should come from all members, new and old, early career and leading scientists. Students, the future of any research field, represent a fundamental part for that contribution to be valuable in the short and long term. 

I would like to invite all IBS student members to consider applying for the Student at Large position of the IBS governing board for the 2017-2019 period. This is a great opportunity for those interested and motivated students seeking to contribute to the advancement of biogeography and to get involved in organizing and promoting the IBS activities that can benefit all members, especially their fellow students. The IBS Student at Large not only represents student members at the IBS board but also serves as part of different committees within the board in order to promote student recognition, involvement and assistance. More details on the IBS-S@L position can be found below.

Fabricio Villalobos
Student at Large, International Biogeography Society
fabricio.villalobos@gmail.com

Objective
Represents the Student members of IBS in decision-making by the IBS Board

List of duties:
1. Chairs the Student Travel Award Ad Hoc Committee under the supervision of the Vice President for Development and Awards
2. Chairs the Early Career Biogeographers Committee under the supervision of the Vice President for Conferences and in that role organizes the poster competition and Student Discussion Groups
3 Serves as a member of the Advertising and Outreach Ad Hoc Committee Chaired by the Vice President of Public Affairs and Communication

Key Functional and relational responsibilities:
1. Represents Graduate Student Members in all decision-making
2. Works closely with the Vice President of Development and Awards to increase Graduate Student Membership in the IBS
3. Works closely with the Vice President of Public Affairs and Communication to promote IBS activities

HOW TO APPLY
Please send a short email to biogeography.ibs@gmail.com (subject:  Student @ Large position) by April 8th stating:

• your institution
• geographic location
• years into graduate program
• why you are interested in IBS and what you feel you can achieve as student at large (max 150 words)

Selection of Candidate for the Position:  Candidates will be evaluated by the IBS nominating committee based on their interest in IBS, and their role. Geographical location, gender and stage in graduate program will also be a consideration in deciding which candidates will be put forward for election.

A total of 4 candidates will be chosen to stand for election, votes being solicited from the entire membership of IBS during the general election in September 2016.

24th Biennial Meeting of the American Quaternary Association June 28-July 2, 2016

What: 24th Biennial Meeting of the American Quaternary Association  

When: June 28-July 2, 2016

Where: Santa Fe Convention Center, Santa Fe, NM

Info: http://biology.unm.edu/fasmith/2016AMQUA/

A pressing challenge for Quaternarists is the development of innovative and robust methodologies and approaches to discriminate how geological and ecological rates and processes in the Anthropocene deviate from the Holocene and other times past. The 24th AMQUA Biennial Meeting will  address the theme, “Retooling the Quaternary to Manage the Anthropocene,” and kickoff on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 with three exciting, all-day fieldtrips addressing ongoing research on Geology and Paleohydrology of the Jemez Mountains; Vegetation, Fire, and Alluvial Histories in the Jemez Mountains; and Paleoindian Geoarcheology in Middle Rio Grande Basin. 

Our meeting’s keynote speaker is the award-winning science writer Andrew Revkin, author of the New York Times blog DotEarth and himself a member of the Anthropocene Working Group of the Subcommittee on Quaternary Stratigraphy. Over two and a half days, our 25 invited plenary speakers (see program) will address different aspects of the “Retooling” challenges.  The remaining presentations will be contributed posters.  All posters will be featured in one-minute lightning talks (1-2 slides) at strategic times during the technical program and with 3-hour poster sessions each afternoon. After the meeting adjourns at noon on Friday, July 1, we are offering a guided tour to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science in Albuquerque and an all-day Neotoma/Tilia/Bacon workshop at the University of New Mexico on July 2. 

We recognize the educational value of the meeting and strongly encourage students to register and apply for AMQUA Student Travel Grants on our meeting registration page. The 24th Biennial AMQUA meeting is sponsored by the University of New Mexico, USGS and other organizations.

Abstract deadline: April 10, 2016
Abstract notifications: May 1, 2016 (rolling notifications prior to deadline)
Early registration: October 1, 2015 to May 5, 2016
Fieldtrip & workshop registration deadline: June 1, 2016
Hotel registration deadline: May 10, 2016
Late registration deadline: June 1, 2016
Pre-meeting field trips: June 28, 2016
Post-meeting fieldtrip: July 1, 2016
Post-meeting Neotoma workshop (in Albuquerque): July 2, 2016

Call for nominations - MacArthur & Wilson Award

The International Biogeography Society 

Nominations Request 

MacArthur & Wilson Award

The MacArthur and Wilson Award was established by the International Biogeography Society to recognize an individual for a notable, innovative contribution to biogeography. This award targets comparatively early career investigators and has a guideline that recipients should have completed their PhD no more than 12 years before the deadline for nominations. The committee has some flexibility in regard to this criterion, to take account of differing life and career paths.  A pair of collaborators might be considered providing both are eligible by this criterion. The award is made once every two years. Previous recipients include Drs. Miguel Araújo and Daniel Rabosky.

The award will be presented at the IBS biennial meeting in Bahia, Brazil, 9-13 January, 2017.

Nominations are due no later than February 1, 2016. Nominations should consist of a supporting cover letter of no more than 800 words, co-signed by two members of the IBS, an abbreviated CV of the nominee, and pdfs of four key papers published by the nominee, at least two of which should have been published within the last three years. An individual can be nominated for a single paper or a ‘group of papers’ and it is anticipated that such a corpus of work will involve – in the spirit of MacArthur & Wilson’s famous monograph – scholarly collaborations with other co-workers. Nominations should be sent to biogeography.ibs@gmail.com

Call for Nominations - Alfred Russel Wallace Award

The International Biogeography Society 

Nominations Request

Alfred Russel Wallace Award

The Alfred Russel Wallace Award was established by the International Biogeography Society in 2004 to recognize a lifetime of outstanding contributions by an eminent scholar in any subdiscipline of biogeography. The award is made once every two years. Previous recipients include Drs. Jack Briggs, Jared Diamond, John Avise, Bob Ricklefs, Jim Brown and Dan Simberloff.

The award will be presented at the IBS biennial meeting in Bahia, Brazil, 9-13 January, 2017.

Nominations are due no later than February 1, 2016. Nominations should consist of a supporting cover letter of no more than 800 words, co-signed by two members of the IBS, plus an abbreviated CV of the nominee. Nominations should be sent to biogeography.ibs@gmail.com

24th Biennial Meeting - AMQUA - 2016

24th Biennial Meeting of the American Quaternary Association (AMQUA)

Retooling the Quaternary to Manage the Anthropocene
July 28-July 1, 2016, Santa Fe, New Mexico
www.amqua2016santafe.com

Early registration: October 1, 2015 to May 1, 2016; Abstract deadline: April 10, 2016

In 2016, the International Commission on Stratigraphy will decide on whether or not the Geologic Time Table will designate a new Anthropocene Epoch, and where in time to drive the Golden Spike. This decision is apt to shine the spotlight on the Quaternarist, who surely will be challenged and motivated to discriminate how geological and ecological rates and processes in the Anthropocene deviate from the Holocene and other times past. 

The 24th AMQUA Biennial Meeting will address the theme, “Retooling the Quaternary to Manage the Anthropocene,” and kickoff on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 with three exciting, all-day fieldtrips addressing ongoing research on Geology and Paleohydrology of the Jemez Mountains; Vegetation, Fire, and Alluvial Histories in the Jemez Mountains; and Paleoindian Geoarcheology in Middle Rio
Grande Basin. Our meeting’s keynote speaker is the award-winning science writer Andrew Revkin, author of the New York Times blog DotEarth and himself a member of the Anthropocene Working Group of the Subcommittee on Quaternary Stratigraphy. Over two and a half days, our 25 invited plenary speakers (see program) will address different aspects of the “Retooling” challenges. The remaining presentations will be contributed posters, which will remain up for the entirety of the meeting.  All posters will be featured in one-minute lightning talks (1-2 slides) at strategic times during the technical program. The posters will remain up in for the entirety of meeting, with 3-hour poster sessions each afternoon. After the meeting adjourns at noon on July 1, we are offering a guided tour to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science in Albuquerque and an all-day Neotoma/Tilia/Bacon workshop at the University of New Mexico on July 2. 

We recognize the educational value of the meeting and strongly encourage students to register and apply for AMQUA Student Travel Grants on our meeting registration page. 

The 24th Biennial AMQUA meeting is sponsored by the University of New Mexico, USGS and other organizations. 

For more information, please visit the website at www.amqua2016santafe.com.