The Conservation Paleobiology Network is sponsoring the 2nd Conservation Paleobiology Symposium, which will be held at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL from Thursday, February 16 to Sunday, February 19, 2023. Thursday will be an evening-only icebreaker event. Presentations will occur all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Optional field trips will occur on Monday. The meeting will be held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, adjacent to campus. This meeting will be an in-person meeting. You should only register if you are planning to attend in-person as there will not be an option to present remotely.
On twitter, please use: #conspaleo2023
IMPORTANT DATES & FEES
Early Registration Deadline: December 16 (Early Registration Fee: FREE for Students/Postdocs, $150 for Professionals)
Regular Registration (Fee: FREE for Students/Postdocs, $250 Professionals)
Abstract Submission Deadline: December 16 (No abstract submission fee) EXTENDED to December 30
If you need special accommodations please indicate this in the comments when you register and/or email us. Please also contact us if you need form 899b (federal employees): conservationpaleo@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
REFUNDS: For all paid attendees, we can process 100% refunds until February 2, 2023. Please email us if you will be needing a refund on your registration.
To view information about the people who helped to plan and organize this conference, please see the Annual Symposium Panel and Symposium Organizing Committee webpage here.
The workshop is scheduled for Saturday (Feb 18) from 1:30-4:00pm. Workshop space is limited and is available preferentially to students and postdocs. Spots may also be available to early-career individuals. Workshop attendance is FREE but pre-registration is required, please use the button above.
Poster Presentation Guidelines: The poster session will take place on Saturday, February 18th from 5:00PM – 6:00PM. Poster presenters must stand at their posters for the duration of the poster session. All poster presenters are responsible for printing and bringing their own posters. Posters must fit within a 70 inch wide × 58 inch tall (177.8 cm x 147.3 cm) display board. The boards will be numbered and we will provide push pins to hang your poster up. Presenters will need to make sure to hang up their posters prior to the session starting and taking down their posters after the session ends. Any posters that are left hanging on the boards after the session ends will be taken down by a conference team member.
Oral Presentation Guidelines: Regular oral presentations are 15 minutes long (12 minute-talk and 3 minutes for questions). Lightning presentations are 5 minutes (5 minute talk with opportunity for questions at the end of the lightning session). Oral presentations are preferred in Microsoft PowerPoint in a 16:9 standard format. PC computers running on the most up to date Microsoft 365 programs will be provided. Please load your presentation before the start of the session by using a USB flash drive. If you are presenting in the morning, you must load your talk prior to the start of the next morning’s presentations or during the morning breaks. If you are presenting in the afternoon, you must load your talk before the end of the lunch break. You are advised to bring your own laser pointer if desired.
Conference Field Trips and Workshops: To participate in a field trip, you must sign up when you register. All field trips will occur on Monday, February 20th. You can only participate in one field trip.
Field Trip 1: Research Cruise Experience in Tampa Bay – This day trip sponsored by the Florida Institute of Oceanography will visit localities in and around Tampa Bay in a 118-foot Regional Class Research Vessel. This trip will be a hands-on educational experience of Florida’s marine ecosystems in which participants can experience deployment of a dredge, CTD, and sediment grab to collect samples and data commonly used in conservation paleobiology and related disciplines. FIO highly encourages student participation, especially undergraduates. FIO also welcomes faculty researchers, and shiptime is available to externally funded faculty researchers. For additional information about FIO and the vessel R.V. Weatherbird, see here: https://www.fio.usf.edu/research-vessels/r-v-weatherbird-ii/
This full day trip will leave early in the morning from the conference venue in Gainesville to drive to the dock in St. Petersburg (2.5 hour drive each way). We will return in the evening after dinner. Breakfast food (fruit, bagels, etc.) will be provided on the morning drive, lunch will be provided on the vessel, and dinner will be available for purchase on the return drive. Trip will be led by Dr. Gregory Herbert of University of South Florida. Trip capacity: 20 people; Date: Monday, 20 February 2023; Fee: $45.
Field Trip 2: Silver Springs Glass-bottom Boat Field Trip – This trip will visit historic Silver Spring State Park, one of America’s largest springs, and take a tour on one of the park’s famous glass bottom boats. Participants will have a unique opportunity to see the river’s wildlife, vegetation, and historical and cultural artifacts from below the surface of the water. In addition, the trip will visit one of Florida’s freshwater lakes. This trip will feature the geology/ecology of Florida’s springs and freshwater ecosystems, and highlight recent conservation paleobiological research in these locations. See more about Silver Springs on the State Park’s webpage here: https://www.floridastateparks.org/silversprings.
This trip will leave mid-morning from the conference venue in Gainesville and return in the late afternoon (~50 min drive each way). Lunch will be provided. Trip will be led by Roger Portell of the Florida Museum, Dr. Mark Brenner of the University of Florida, and Dr. Kris Kusnerik of Hamilton College. Trip capacity: 20 people; Date: Monday, 20 February 2023; Fee: $45
Field Trip 3: Shell Mound Field Trip – This day trip will visit a shell mound archaeological site on the Gulf Coast of Florida. This trip will feature the archaeology, biology, and geology of Florida’s Gulf Coast, and highlight recent conservation paleobiological research in the region. This trip will leave mid-morning from the conference venue in Gainesville and return in the late afternoon. Lunch will be provided. This trip is still being planned, and more information will be coming soon.
Trip will be led by Ginessa Mahar. Trip capacity: 20 people; Date: Monday, 20 February 2023; Fee: $45.
The meeting will be held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, adjacent to the main UF campus. The icebreaker event on Thursday, Feb 16th will be held at Powell Hall, the Exhibits Hall of the Florida Museum (across the road from the Hilton conference venue). This meeting will be an in-person meeting, but presentations will be streamed to allow remote access. There will not be an option to present remotely.
You can use the following link to book a hotel room at the Hilton conference venue at the discounted conference rate: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=GVNCCHF&groupCode=CPN112&arrivaldate=2023-02-15&departuredate=2023-02-21&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT
Gainesville is a large university town and has many options for accommodations. You will need to make your own travel arrangements if not staying at the Hilton conference venue. Public transport within Gainesville is limited.
From Gainesville Regional Airport, it is a 25 minute drive to the Hilton conference venue (public transportation runs infrequently and typically takes over 1 hour).
All conference participants must agree to follow our Code of Conduct when they register. The Code of Conduct can be read below.
2nd Conservation Paleobiology Symposium – Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
Introduction: The Conservation Paleobiology Network strives to provide a safe and supportive environment for all participants of the 2nd Conservation Paleobiology Symposium and associated activities, to be held February 2023 in Gainesville, FL. By participating in the event and any associated activities, the event participants agree to adhere to this Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
Participant Expectations: Participants will treat others with dignity and respect, regardless of their own or another’s race, color, national or ethnic origin, immigration status, religion, age, marital status, parental status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic background, educational background, disability, or military service or veteran status. Participants will not practice, incite, encourage, or condone prohibited behavior.
Prohibited Behaviors: Prohibited behaviors that may result in disciplinary action include:
- Harassment, including sexual harassment, denigrating jokes, stereotyping, microaggressions, and physical abuse or intimidation;
- Verbal or written abuse or intimidation (in-person or remotely), including but not limited to: harmful or negative comments related to race, color, national or ethnic origin, immigration status, religion, age, marital status, parental status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic background, level of education, disability, or veteran status;
- Violating the previously communicated (verbally or nonverbally) physical, emotional, and sexual boundaries of others through the continuation of otherwise prohibited behaviors, or through verbal or written comments founded on any personal aspect of another individual;
- Intentional, unwelcomed physical behaviors (in-person or remotely), including but not limited to: stalking, physical contact, and aggressive or intimidating displays and/or body language;
- Threats (real or implied) of professional, physical, financial, or emotional harm
Reporting an Allegation of Conduct Violation: If one is subject to or witnesses prohibited behavior, they should notify in writing the network’s email address <conservationpaleo@floridamuseum.ufl.edu>. Anyone subject to or witnessing behavior that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public or individual safety or a criminal act should contact local law enforcement. Those witnessing a potential criminal act should also take actions necessary to maintain their own personal safety. All documents and information pertaining to such allegations should be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality by those involved in the investigation process insofar as said confidentiality would not reasonably interfere with law enforcement related to such an incident or result in physical, professional, or psychological harm to any party during the course of the investigation or outside of the scope of any sanctions, should they be applied. Individuals involved in a reported incident of alleged misconduct, including victims, witnesses, and those alleged to have engaged in prohibited behavior(s), will not engage in retaliatory behavior during or after the reporting process. Engaging in retaliatory behavior will be deemed a breach of these guidelines. If allegations pertain to criminal activity or pose a reasonable risk to public safety, the allegation(s) will be reported to the appropriate authorities. An allegation report must contain the following information:
- The name(s) and affiliation(s) of the individual(s) submitting the allegation, the victim(s), and the name of individual(s) alleged to have engaged in the prohibited behavior(s), if known. If not known, then any possible identifying information should be provided.
- A description of the allegation that includes the date (or range of dates) and circumstances of the alleged misconduct, and the name(s) and affiliation(s) of all parties involved, including any witnesses.
- Any documents or other relevant items (e.g., written or digital correspondence, physical evidence, etc.) with annotation detailing how the item relates to the allegation.
- An explanation of the type of prohibited behavior(s) as defined in this Code of Conduct that are being alleged.
- A statement explaining any real or reasonably perceived conflict(s) of interest related to any parties named in the allegation and/or the members of the Symposium Organizing Committee. This is to ensure a fair and unbiased process. A conflict of interest does not preclude the filing of an allegation.
Allegations may be returned if they do not contain the above information.
The Organizing Committee and Its Role in the Review of Allegations of Misconduct: The Symposium Organizing Committee is responsible for investigating reported allegations and will determine which allegations are substantial and thereby require investigation. The co-chairs of the committee will coordinate the investigations of misconduct. All investigations will be conducted under strict confidentiality when such confidentiality would not reasonably result in the physical, professional, or psychological harm to any party and when the allegations do not pertain to a crime. The person who reported the allegation and the subject(s) of the report will be notified in writing that the report has been received and that an investigation is being conducted, and they will be given an outline of the next steps that will be taken. A person who is the subject of the report also has the opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide information to the committee.
About this Document: The language and content of this document is modeled after the Codes of Conduct and Ethics Codes of societies within the disciplines of geology and paleontology, including the Geological Society of America, the Paleontological Society, and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. In some sections, the wording used is identical. This document was created on 3 November 2022.
