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ALBERTA BIOLOGISTS' BIWEEKLY
AUGUST 1, 2023
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Want to see the graphics in this issue?
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Generative AI:
A Workshop for Biologists
As we addressed in an article in the BIWEEKLY earlier in July, artificial intelligence (AI) has captured the attention of the literate world. Is there substance underlying the hype? And if so, how will that impact the practice (and the practitioners) of biology?
The ASPB has reached out to Chief AI Officer Mike Mason, with the global technology consultancy Thoughtworks, to guide a webinar-based exploration of AI, offering guidance on what AI could mean for biologists in particular, as well as for other regulated professionals. This complimentary two-hour workshop, facilitated by Mason and hosted by the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists on the Zoom platform, is scheduled for Tuesday September 12, 2023 beginning at 04:00, MDT.
The Zoom link for most Canadian attendees is: https://thoughtworks.zoom.us/j/97361884584?pwd=SmRYR3RzT3FGNWtLQjJhRUtJS2J1UT09
USA links are available on the ASPB website
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New Professional Governance Act
Included in Ministerial Priorities
On July 21, The Honourable Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education, received a mandate letter from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, outlining specific responsibilities and expectations for her ministry. The mandate letter specified the implementation of the Professional Governance Act (PGA) to “ensure the adoption of a uniform governance framework for all professional regulatory organizations.”
“We are pleased to see that implementing the PGA still remains a priority for this government,” said ASPB Executive Director Dean Falkenberg early last week. “The act was proposed by the previous government as Bill 23 in the spring of last year, and our Board has had a chance to examine the new legislation in depth. While this mandate letter emphasizes the PGA’s priority, however, as yet there has been no indication when the Act is expected to be passed by the legislature and become law.”
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BUILDING YOUR
CAREER?
See what's new on the
BIOLOGISTS'
JOB BOARD
Senior Aquatic Biologist
Senior Ecologist
Senior or Intermediate Wildlife Biologist
Regulatory Specialist
Project Biologist
Environment & Regulatory Specialist - Renewable Energy
Intermediate Environmental Scientist - Vegetation and Wetlands
Senior Aquatic and Fisheries Biologist
Environmental Project Manager (Remediation)
Senior Environmental Professional, Planning
Intermediate or Senior Hydrologist
Junior Biologist - Land Management
Senior Environmental Impact Assessment Lead
Senior Wetland Biologist
Instructor, Natural Resources Technology (Wildlife Specialty)
Researcher, Molecular Biologist / Environmental Genomics
FIND INFORMATION
ON THESE AND MANY OTHER POSITIONS
HERE
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ASPB Conference Registration
Will Open on August 15, 2023
Registration for the ASPB conference in November will open August 15, with Early Bird rates in place through September 15, 2023. Details will be posted on the ASPB website on Tuesday, August 15.
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Take your camera to work!
(or your smartphone if you prefer)
The ASPB is hosting a photo contest in 2023, and will announce the winners at the annual conference .
Photo submission guidelines are HERE.
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The ASPB Invites
Conference Sponsors
The ASPB Conference Committee is excited about the Annual Conference and AGM to be held at the Red Deer Resort and Casino, November 22-24, 2023.
Sponsorship Packages are available HERE.
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ASPB Board Nominations Open
The Board of Directors of the ASPB has appointed Past President Victoria Lukasic as Chair of the 2023 Nominating Committee. The positions of President Elect, Board Secretary and three Directors are open for election at the Annual General Meeting on November 24, 2023 at Red Deer, AB.
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
AUGUST
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America's Grassland Conference
The Sixth America’s Grasslands Conference will be held in Cheyenne, Wyoming on August 8-10, 2023. Registration for the conference is now open. For more information and to register please go HERE
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
SEPTEMBER
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Legislation and Conducting
Projects Near Water
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in Ontario, Prairie and Arctic regions are providing information sessions on DFO Legislation and Conducting Projects Near Water. To attend the September session, click here: September 19, 2023 @11:00 – 12:30 CST and allow the link to open in your web browser (please use Chrome or Edge). If you have the Teams application installed, click on “Open in Microsoft Teams” in the pop-up window or “Launch it Now”. If you do not have the Teams application installed, click “Join on the Web Instead”.
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
OCTOBER
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Whitebark Pine Science and
Management Conference in October
The annual Whitebark Pine Science and Management Conference will take place October 12 and 13, 2023 in Revelstoke, BC. There will also be two optional field trips: a pre-conference trip on October 11 to tour the Kalamalka Research Center in Vernon, and a post-conference trip on October 14 to visit 5-needle pine stands near Golden. Early Bird Registration is open until June 30, and here you can find: Conference details and Registration.
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fRI Research to Host Forum
In Edmonton, October 24-26
After a prolonged hiatus due to health restrictions, fRI Research is excited to provide an opportunity for resource practitioners, policy makers, scientists, and community leaders to review and discuss new research findings related to mountain pine beetle. Major concerns targeted by this research include climate change, anthropogenic intervention, forest composition, socio-economic values, watersheds and their impact on water flow, biota, species at risk, and public safety as it pertains to wildfire. You can learn more about the forum and register HERE
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
NOVEMBER
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NABC Banding Workshop
and Certification in Belize
Hosted by the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society at the TREES Research Center in the Maya Mountains of Belize, these sessions will be held November 11-15, 2023 and November 17-18, 2023. For full information visit www.ecorana.ca
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Legislation and Conducting
Projects Near Water
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in Ontario, Prairie and Arctic regions are providing information sessions on DFO Legislation and Conducting Projects Near Water. To attend the November session, click here: November 21, 2023 @ 11:00-12:30 CST and allow the link to open in your web browser (please use Chrome or Edge). If you have the Teams application installed, click on “Open in Microsoft Teams” in the pop-up window or “Launch it Now”. If you do not have the Teams application installed, click “Join on the Web Instead”.
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ASPB 2023 AGM and Conference
The ASPB 2023 Annual Conference will be on November 22, 23, and 24 at the Red Deer Resort and Casino in Red Deer, Alberta.
For More Information Go
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UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
CONTINUING EDUCATION
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COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE
Thanks to the generous support of the Columbia Basin Trust and KCP, we are able to offer this series free of charge. For full details and registration please go
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NATURAL RESOURCES
TRAINING GROUP
Electrofishing Certification - Online (self-paced) & Terrace, August 1, 2023
Electrofishing Certification - Online (self-paced) & North Vancouver, August 3, 2023
Electrofishing Certification - Online & Private Delivery, August 4, 2023
Electrofishing Certification - Online (self-paced) & Cochrane, August 18, 2023
Open House for Fish Habitat Restoration - Instream Techniques (FHRIT) August 30, 2023
For course details and the full calendar of upcoming courses the link is here:
https://nrtraininggroup.com/schedule/
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SALMTEC
COURSES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS
Understanding ACIMS Tools Online Course
Alberta Soil Information Viewer Online Course
Alberta Wetland Policy Basics Online Course
Navigating the Alberta Soil Information Viewer Video Short (free)
Wetland Water Cycle Video Short (free)
VISIT THE SALMTEC CONNECTOR
THE CONNECTOR is a compilation of applied science and land management event listings, across a variety of sectors and disciplines, published monthly.
You can find the SALMTEC CONNECTOR HERE.
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An Editorial Guideline for AI
The Guardian (a UK-based publisher) has developed the following guideline for dealing with artificial intelligence:
“Generative AI is a broad label describing any type of artificial intelligence that uses unsupervised learning algorithms to create new digital text, images, video, audio or code. Prominent examples include ChatGPT and Midjourney and the technology is rapidly becoming more sophisticated and accessible. Material created using generative AI raises significant issues around bias, ownership, plagiarism and intellectual property rights.
"Most importantly for journalism, it is not reliable or consistent, and tends to introduce errors and inaccuracies in unpredictable ways. AI systems should not be used to generate text or images intended to be directly inserted into published journalism outside of exceptional and specific circumstances. Any exceptional use must be explicitly approved by the relevant senior duty editor and must be clearly signalled to readers on the article itself.”
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Banner Image:
Thickwood Hills
Photo credit Phil Taylor
PROFESSIONAL BIOLOGISTS PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST
In Alberta, Professional Biologists are registrants of the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB), and are subject to a code of ethics, continuing competency requirements, and a disciplinary process. The ASPB is a self-regulated organization under legislation in the Province of Alberta, meaning its purpose is to protect the public of Alberta by ensuring biologists are qualified to practice biology in accordance with that legislation. The society is governed by a Board of Directors elected by its registrants.
You are probably receiving this newsletter because you are an ASPB Registrant. This newsletter provides relevant information and professional development opportunities for our members, as well as essential member-related society business; if you are registered with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, please DO NOT unsubscribe.
For more information about the Society or to contact the administration, please visit the website: https://www.aspb.ab.ca
Opinions and general news published in this e-newsletter
do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Society or its Board of Directors.
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