Student-Professional Ornithologist Social
Meetings are an important time for students to meet and interact with professional ornithologists. However, professional conferences can sometimes be challenging environments for students to locate and approach professional ornithologists in their area of research interest.
The student-professional ornithologist social provides students with a unique opportunity to meet informally to discuss common research interests with professional ornithologists. Students are seated with professional ornithologists in their area of research interest over dinner, and the high ratio of professionals to students (typically 1:2) offers an unprecedented opportunity for interaction. The social is open to all students who are current members of the AOU.
The dinner is typically organized into these research areas:
- behavior
- breeding biology
- conservation
- migration/orientation
- physiology/morphology
- tropical/winter ecology
- systematics/evolution
- community/landscape ecology
Past Socials
2010
The 2010 Student Professional Social was a great success as it attracted 200 participants (both students and professionals)! This year the social was held as a dinner providing participants with an assortment of sandwiches along with chips, a cookie, and a soft drink. This event could not have been possible without the dedication of volunteers and our sponsors. Funds to hold this event were generously donated by the COS, AOU, SCO, and individual volunteer donations.
Many thanks to all who made this event possible (volunteers, students, and professionals)!!
2009
At the 2009 meeting, the Student-Professional Ornithologist Luncheon was a great success! The room was overflowing with bodies and students were very pleased with their interactions with professionals. Students were able to move between tables to chat with professionals in different research areas. For a complete list of professionals and more information visit the 2009 meeting website.
2008
Two social events were held at the AOU/COS/SCO PDX2008 meeting.
2006
The 3rd annual student-professional social was held as a joint event with other NAOC member societies and featured a record crowd in attendance: over 300 registered students and 80 professionals! Unlike past years, students could move among tables to maximize the number of professionals with whom they interacted. Funding for this event was provided by the American Ornithologists' Union, Cooper Ornithological Society, Wilson Ornithological Society, Society of Canadian Ornithologists, Association of Field Ornithologists, The Waterbird Society, and the North American Ornithological Conference.