WORKSHOP: Securing, centralizing and activating data for Canadian bat conservation needs

When: Wednesday, October 8th, 2-5pm
Where: JW Marriot, 3rd floor

Cost: 5 USD

There is an urgent need to secure and centralize Canadian bat data in a way that enables timely and effective conservation action. This forum on “securing, centralizing, and activating data for Canadian bat conservation needs” invites those who hold or help orchestrate Canadian bat data deposition and those who have an invested interest in putting data to conservation action (e.g., academic, consultant, and government biologists) to participate in an open discussion. During this session, we will emphasize the acute urgency, and lay out potential routes forward. This interactive session will ask participants what data they want to have considered, what barriers there are for data centralization, and what other routes forward should be considered. 

Purchase tickets for the workshops here

WORKSHOP: Education and Outreach Committee

When: Thursday, October 9th, 12-1:30pm (Lunch Break)
Where: JW Marriot, 3rd floor

Cost: 35 USD

Join us for a round-table lunch during the lunch break on Thursday to learn and discuss how we can better communicate on behalf of bats with guest speaker Dan Riskin! Bats, for better or for worse, keep turning up in the headlines because of their associations with human disease. Whether it’s the zoonotic origins of COVID, the tragic death of a child from rabies, or the latest headline about looming threats, bat biologists are forced to walk a fine line. We need to inform with accuracy, so our audiences accurately understand the threats bats pose, but without the vilification that could exacerbate the challenges of bat conservation. Dan Riskin is a science journalist in Canada with almost two decades of experience walking that line. In this concise 30-minute talk, Dan will share some thoughts about how to respond to tough questions with strategies that are rooted in the psychology of fear, curiosity, and social learning.

Purchase tickets for the workshops here

Spallanzani Curling bonspiel/funspiel

When: Wednesday, October 8th, 1-4pm
Where: University of Alberta’s Saville Community Sport Center

Cost: Regular: 40 USD, Student: 20 USD, Observer: 15 USD

Join us for an afternoon of fun on the curling rink! We will be hosting the Spallanzani fundraiser at the University of Alberta’s Saville Community Sport Center which has a world class curling facility that is home to the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas Curling Team. This venue is a short LTR (subway) ride from the hotel and will be the perfect venue for you to come and learn the curling basics. There will be lessons ahead of the bonspiel/funspiel. In case you want watch but you don't feel like going out onto the rink, you can also join us and watch the action from the onsite pub overlooking the action. Please purchase tickets ahead of time for this fundraiser as we need to know numbers for planning for the instructors and the number of ice sheets. Purchase tickets at our optional items shop before September 15th.

If you have questions about curling in general or the funspiel, please contact Mark Brigham who is leading the event.

NASBR Fruit Bats LGBTQIA+ Mixer

When: Thursday, October 9th, 7:00 to 10:00 PM
Where: To be announced soon! 

Cost: FREE  

We are excited to host the fifth meeting of the NASBR Fruit Bats LGBTQ+ affinity space at the 53rd NASBR! The Fruit Bats events provide a safe and inclusive environment for individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community to network, socialize, and have fun. It's an opportunity to connect with others who share similar experiences and identities, build community and support networks, and enjoy some of the local nightlife that Edmonton has to offer with your professional community. 
This year's event will take place on the night of Thursday, October 9th from ~7-10PM. Exact details are still being decided, but the mixer will be separated into two consecutive events on the same night as we have done in the past. The first portion of the mixer will be open to all registered NASBR attendees who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community, while the second portion of the mixer will be open to all registered NASBR attendees (i.e., ally inclusive). 
We ask everyone who is planning to attend either portion of the Fruit Bats mixer to please RSVP here so we can get a rough count of attendees for space reservations and food orders. Any questions about this event should be directed to fruitbatsorg@gmail.com. For those interested in keeping up-to-date with future Fruit Bats events, please visit the Fruit Bats website where you can learn more about past events, join our mailing list, and much more.

Awards ceremony and Auction

When: Saturday, October 11th, 8pm
Where: JW Marriot

Cost: FREE

This year, we are doing things a little bit differently in terms of the banquet. Instead of a sit-down banquet, we are going to host a reception with a dessert buffet and a cash bar starting at 8pm in the hotel. There will be no charge for this reception and we hope that this will encourage everyone to attend our awards and auction. We invite all members to make their own arrangements for dinner and join us back at the hotel for the Auction and awards ceremony. Be advised that there is a hockey game that night downtown and all the restaurants are going to be busy, so book ahead for your favorite restaurant so that you are ready to join us back at the hotel by 8pm. We will also be able to watch the game (on monitors) from the hotel.