Understanding biodiversity dynamics using diverse data sources

22–24 April 2014

In the face of rapid, global environmental change it is essential that we understand how biodiversity is distributed and how it responds to the forces of environmental change.

This challenge will be met by integrating conventional approaches to biodiversity analyses, spanning environmental, genomic, phylogenetic and trait data in space and time, with cutting-edge informatics, including visualisation, statistical modelling and simulation. 

To address this, the CBA and CSIRO (OCE Cutting Edge Science Symposia) have invited world-class researchers to participate in a symposium and series of workshops titled Understanding biodiversity dynamics using diverse data sources.

The symposium will be structured around two interacting themes:
  1. Visualisation and biodiversity informatics
  2. Inferring evolutionary and ecological dynamics

Four teaching workshops will be offered:

  1. An introduction to the GenGIS software for analysis of biodiversity data
  2. An introduction to SAM (Spatial Analysis in Macroecology) software
  3. An introduction to PhyloJIVE and OneZoom
  4. Visualising and combining trait and evolutionary distances for community analysis

 

Lightning talks and posters

The symposium will be structured around two interacting themes:
  1. Visualisation and biodiversity informatics
  2. Inferring evolutionary and ecological dynamics

We would like to invite delegates to present a 'lightning talk' and/or a poster. We especially welcome talks and posters from early career researchers and have financial support available.

Lightning talks will be five minute (maximum) presentations accompanied by up to five slides. Please bring your presentation on memory stick or CD/DVD.

Posters will be on display during the symposium at CSIRO Discovery. A poster session will be held during lunch on the first day of the symposium.

Poster display boards where posters will be hung are 1200mm wide x 1800mm tall. Attachment to display boards will be via “Velcro” / hook and hook-and-loop fastener – please bring the “hook” part stuck to your poster so that it can be attached to the poster display boards.

Useful sites on how to use a poster to effectively communicate your science include:

Submission details

Submission dates

7 Feb -  11 Apr 2014

Please submit your abstracts to claire.stephens@anu.edu.au by 11 April 2014

Include title, author’s name, affiliation, address, email and website (if applicable). Abstract text 300 words maximum. Please remember to indicate if your abstract is for a lightning talk and/or poster.

Partners & sponsors

Register

Registration dates

7 - 11Feb 2014

Symposium

  • Full - AUD 150.00
  • Student - AUD 50.00 

Symposium registration includes morning talks, morning teas and lunches and refreshments for the evening science talk and social evening (22-24 April).

Workshops

  • Full - AUD 50.00 (per workshop)
  • Student - AUD 25.00 (per workshop)
  • Max. 20 participants per workshop
  1. An introduction to the GenGIS software for analysis of biodiversity data (1.30pm Tues 22 April) - Rob Beiko (Dalhousie)
  2. An introduction to SAM (Spatial Analysis in Macroecology) software (1.30pm Wed 23 April) - Thiago Rangel (Federal do Goias)
  3. An introduction to PhyloJIVE and OneZoom (4pm Wed 23 April) - Joe Miller (National Science Foundation) and James Rosindell (Imperial College)
  4. Visualising and combining trait and evolutionary distances for community analysis (1.30pm Thurs 24 April) - Marc Cadotte (Toronto)

You will need to bring your own laptop with the required software to the workshops. Details on the the software downloads you will need to install prior to attending the workshops are available under the relevant workshop sessions in the Program.

There will be WIFI in the workshop room.  ANU staff/students can use their own Uni ID number to log in or we can provide a guest log in on the ANU network. But it is highly recommended that you come to the workshops with all the required downloads on your computer as there will be limited time available.

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Working groups

  1. Visualisation and biodiversity informatics
  2. Inferring evolutionary and ecological dynamics

These are invitation-only and as such, not open for registration (22-24 April).

Venues 

  • MAP
  • Symposium talks and posters: CSIRO Discovery (CSIRO Black Mountain - North Science Road, Acton)
  • Workshops and invitation-only working groups: Research School of Biology, ANU Gould Building - Meetings Room (Daley Road, Acton - Bldg 116, Rm 246)
  • Evening science talk, social evening and invitation-only working groups: University House, ANU (Cnr Balmain Cr & Liversidge St, Acton)

Workshops

You will need to bring your own laptop with the required software to the workshops. Details on the the software downloads you will need to install prior to attending the workshops are available under the relevant workshop sessions:

  1. An introduction to the GenGIS software for analysis of biodiversity data (1.30pm Tues 22 April) - Rob Beiko (Dalhousie)
  2. An introduction to SAM (Spatial Analysis in Macroecology) software (1.30pm Wed 23 April) - Thiago Rangel (Federal do Goias)
  3. An introduction to PhyloJIVE and OneZoom (4pm Wed 23 April) - Joe Miller (National Science Foundation) and James Rosindell (Imperial College)
  4. Visualising and combining trait and evolutionary distances for community analysis (1.30pm Thurs 24 April) - Marc Cadotte (Toronto)

There will be WIFI in the workshop room.  ANU staff/students can use their own Uni ID number to log in or we can provide a guest log in on the ANU network. But it is highly recommended that you come to the workshops with all the required downloads on your computer as there will be limited time available.

Parking

Australian visa 

All travellers to Australia (other than Australian and New Zealand citizens) are legally required to hold a valid visa. You can apply online for an eVisitor (subclass 651) visa.

Canberra and surrounding regions

Canberra is Australia’s capital city with a population of 358,000. It is 150 km from Australia's east coast with an elevation of approximately 580 m. The city's design incorporates significant areas of natural vegetation that has earned Canberra the title 'the Bush Capital'. A diverse range of ecosystems, such as eucalypt forests and woodland, temperate rainforest, native grassland and alpine, riverine and coastal habitats, all occur within a few hours of the city.

 

Financial support

Up to 10 travel grants of $1000 AUD each will be available for local and international Early Career Researchers (graduate students or post docs with three years or less experience).

Please email a short application to claire.stephens@anu.edu.au by 28 March 2014 that includes:

  • Your name, affiliation, address, email and website (if applicable).
  • Any available funds you have from other sources to attend this meeting.
  • A short paragraph describing your research and how attending this meeting would enhance it.
  • An abstract for a Lightning talk.
Successful applicants will be notified via email by 1 April 2014.

Understanding biodiversity dynamics using diverse data sources is jointly organised and funded by the CBA (Craig Moritz) and CSIRO (Owain Edwards, Alexie Papanicolaou and Russell Dinnage).

The symposium will be structured around two interacting themes:

  1. Visualisation and biodiversity informatics
  2. Inferring evolutionary and ecological dynamics

Conference details

Invited speakers include:

  • Karen Cranston (NESCent)
  • Rob Beiko (Dalhousie)
  • Ian Holmes (UC Berkeley)
  • David Kidd (Kingston)
  • Owen McMillan (STRI)
  • Thiago Rangel (Universidade Federal do Goias)
  • James Rosindell (Imperial College London)
  • Marc Cadotte (Toronto)
  • Giovanni Rapacciuolo (UC Berkeley) 
  • Joe Miller (National Science Foundation/CSIRO)
  • Greg McInerny (Oxford)
  • Megan Supple (STRI)
  • Simon Ferrier (CSIRO)
  • Marcel Cardillo (ANU)
  • Renee Catullo (CSIRO)
The participants at the conference represent an eclectic mix of theoreticians, modelers, computer scientists, biologists and geoscientists who share this common goal. The main aim of the meeting is to stimulate stronger integration across these disciplines and inform the development of the concepts and tools necessary to make sense of the data flood. To this end we have structured the meeting as follows:
  • Invited talks and contributed talks/posters to set the scene;
  • Workshops on new methods for data integration and visualization to build skills; and
  • Two complementary working groups (by invitation) focusing on (i) methods for data integration and visualization, and (ii) inferring eco-evolutionary processes. The latter “Processes” working group will develop the conceptual framework and use-cases with which to inform the activities and aspirations of the former “Bioinformatics” working group.

An evening science talk and discussion, a social evening gathering and lunch-time poster sessions will also be held.

Claire Stephens
claire.stephens@anu.edu.au