ALBERTA BIOLOGISTS' BIWEEKLY
APRIL 1, 2023
LAST CHANCE FOR RENEWALS
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BY FRIDAY MARCH 31 AT 11:45 PM

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Enhancing the ASPB
Mentorship Program
The Society has established a mentorship program for our registrants to share valuable knowledge and experience for their personal and professional development. Program objectives have included creating opportunities for lifelong learning and professional development, providing a means for networking and sharing information about best practices, and facilitating capacity-building to assist new residents of Alberta and internationally trained individuals.

The ASPB administration has announced it will be further redeveloping our mentorship program this year, and to launch this process they want to hear from you if you are interested in becoming either a mentor or mentee. Please email info@aspb.ab.ca and share your expectations for participation in the new program.
Awards funding from ASPB benefits
Alberta student-science programs
On Saturday March 11, 2023, the Edmonton Regional Science Fair (ERSF) was held in person for the first time since 2019. ERSF VP and Awards Chair Michele Moscicki informed the ASPB BIWEEKLY that the following students have been recognized through ASPB sponsorship of the Professional Biologists’ Award: Winner: Sherdha Sharma of the Aurora Academic Charter School for her project “De-extinction”. Also, an honourable mention was awarded to Jenna Harb of the Edmonton Islamic Academy for her project “Honey: The Medical Miracle”.
(See an article contributed by the chair of the ASPB Awards Committee, David Ealey, in the BIOS BRIEF section of this newsletter.)
TRANSITION:
Embracing & Leading Change as Biologists

The ASPB AGM and CONFERENCE
on November 22, 23, and 24, 2023

THE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
IS NOW OPEN
Deadline: April 30
We are looking for abstracts focused on wetlands, wildlife, aquatics, rec/rem, sustainability, renewables, and advancements in the field of biology.
Details:
Abstracts ~250-500 words should be sent to
Jessica Koehli at regulatory@aspb.ab.ca
Attention Student Members!
We have launched our new page for Student Members on the ASPB webpage at https://www.aspb.ab.ca/students. It is just in the early stages, but it already lists some events for students where the ASPB will be in attendance this spring.
ASPB Executive Director Attends
Summit on Fairness for Newcomers
Alberta Society of Professional Biologists’ Executive Director and Registrar Dean Falkenberg attended a provincial government summit on fairness for newcomers, on Friday March 24. The summit was hosted by Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions Kaycee Madu and was attended by a number of provincial ministers including Rajan Sawhney (Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism) and Premier Danielle Smith. Falkenberg focused his discussions with Ministers Madu and the Honourable Jason Copping on the importance of ensuring the continuing competence of registrants in Alberta’s regulated professions.
Changes in effect for Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety Code
Changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code come into effect March 31, 2023. Field Law’s Workwise Newsletter points out in some detail that employers need to be mindful of how these changes affect their organization and assess whether practices need to be changed or implemented to ensure compliance. You can read the full Field Law newsletter HERE.
BUILDING YOUR
CAREER?
See what's new on the
BIOLOGISTS'
JOB BOARD
 
Environmental Planner - Team Lead,
 
Intermediate Environmental Specialist
 
Environmental Inspector Consultant,
 
Seasonal Botany Field Assistant,
 
Intermediate Wetland and Vegetation Biologist,
 
Senior Environmental Professional, Planning,

NRTG Operations Manager,
 
Vegetation Ecologist,
 
Environmental Technologist,
 
Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project Lead,
 
Intermediate Vegetation Ecologist,
 
Summer Student – Biology
 
Intermediate Environmental Specialist,
 
Intermediate/Senior Environmental Specialist,
 
Biologist / Environmental Professional
 
Intermediate Biologist,
 
Environmental Monitor/Inspector (Pipeline),
 
Intermediate Reclamation Specialist,
 
Intermediate/Senior Aquatic Specialist,
 
Junior Environmental Scientist - Vegetation,
 
Wetland Specialist,
 
Project Manager, Regulatory Specialist,
 
Intermediate Fisheries Biologist/Technician,
 
Senior Fish Biologist,
 
Intermediate Environmental Scientist / Biologist,
 
Aquatic Biologist - Intermediate / Senior,
 
Senior Wildlife Biologist,
 
Junior Fisheries Biologist/Technician,
 
Environmental Technologist,
 
Intermediate Environmental Scientist - Vegetation,
 
Intermediate Wildlife Biologist,
 

Environmental Monitor

Environmental Scientist - Biologist,
 
Junior Aquatic Biologist
 
Intermediate Wildlife Biologist
 
First Nations and Stakeholder Engagement Biologist,

FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THESE POSITIONS
AND OVER 35 MORE
Call for Additional Workshops
The conference committee at the ASPB is considering hosting biology-focused workshops after the annual conference is complete on the afternoon of Friday, November 24. If you are interested in hosting a workshop or have a suggestion about a course you would like to see delivered, please send an email to Jessica Koehli at regulatory@aspb.ab.ca.
SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
APRIL
Soil Mapping (SOIL420 Wi23)
April 5 and 6, 2023 (online) Two-day course on soil mapping and survey procedures provided online:
Back to Botany Basics
The Alberta Native Plant Council will host the fourth webinar in the Back to Botany Basics series on April 11, 2023 at 12:00 MST. Forbs are one of the most diverse groups of flowering plants and as such their classification can be challenging. Presenter Steven Tannas will discuss key features needed to successfully classify forbs, as well as approaches to identification and keying. You can register HERE.
ESAA to host Inaugural Summit
at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
The inaugural ESAA Summit will take place from April 12-14, 2023, at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. The agenda feature will feature a number of panel discussions as well as including an Indigenous Awareness and Inclusion Workshop, a PTAC Alberta Upstream Petroleum Research Fund (AUPRF) Update Session, the ESAA Annual General Meeting, two receptions and two keynote addresses. ASPB registrants have been invited to register for the Summit at the ESAA membership price. For full conference information and to register, please go HERE.
Costs Orders in Professional Regulation:
Navigating the Latest Developments
On March 30, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada denied application for leave to appeal of two decisions of the Alberta Court of Appeal where the Court addressed a regulator’s authority to order costs. Now that the Supreme Court of Canada has denied the application for leave to appeal, professional regulatory organizations are considering how to navigate issues concerning costs. 
Join Field Law for a webinar to address other key court decisions addressing costs, applicability to professions not governed under the Health Professions Act, and factors to consider in determining whether to seek or order costs, including determining whether conduct is “serious” and what it means to be a “serial offender”. This complimentary webinar will take place between 12:00 noon and 13:15 on Tuesday April 11, 2023. You can register here: 
School of Fish Workshop:
Fishes of Alberta - Field Identification
This fish ID course will be instructed by Shona Derlukewich, B.Sc., P. Biol., at MacEwan University in Edmonton April 17, 2023, from 1700h to 2030h. The cost per student is $125; pre-payment by etransfer to hold seat. Field guides are included in the workshop cost and will be provided to participants upon arrival. Additional details (map for parking and room number) will be supplied to registered participants. To register, email Shona Derlukewich and for more fishy details check out the WEBSITE.
Spring SST Training Course
Equilibrium Environmental has scheduled a full 4-day SST Version 3.0 certification course (online) for April 18 to April 21, 2023. It is not mandatory for practitioners who are already certified in a previous version of the tool to retake the full certification course / exam, though it is highly recommended to have taken at least a 2-day update course or to audit the full course as a refresher (but with no exam) if certified prior to Version 3.0. For further information, please email SSTInfo@eqm.ca or contact Equilibrium Environmental at 403-286-9374 or visit www.eqm.ca for a copy of the registration form.
ANPC Hybrid Worskhop:
How Plants Inspire Us
The Alberta Native Plant Council is hosting the “How Plants Inspire Us” Hybrid Workshop on Saturday April 22, 2023. The workshop will be held at the Cattail Crossing Golf and Winter Club north of Edmonton, with online attendance available via Zoom. The event features more than 10 speakers, artists and native plant enthusiasts to present their knowledge, culture, traditional medicines, practices and art at this event. More details and registration are available HERE.
SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
MAY
School of Fish Workshop:
Fishes of Alberta - Field Identification
This fish ID course will be instructed by Shona Derlukewich, B.Sc., P. Biol., at Mount Royal University in Calgary on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 1300h to 1630h. The cost per student is $100; pre-payment by etransfer to hold seat, non refundable after April 22, 2023. Field guides are included in the workshop cost and will be provided to participants upon arrival. Additional details (map for parking and room number) will be supplied to registered participants. To register, email Shona Derlukewich and for more fishy details check out the WEBSITE.
Responsible Recreation:
Pathways, Practices and Possibilities 
Recreation and adventure tourism opportunities and activities are expanding globally. However, empirical measures of impacts are often difficult to obtain. This two-day conference hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute will be an excellent opportunity to network and learn about current thinking on increasing outdoor recreation activities and the effect on wildlife and ecosystems. This event on May 9 and 10, 2023 will be a hybrid event, with both in-person and online participation. Please go HERE for more information.
An Introduction to Mosses of Alberta
Designed for environmental consultants, land reclamation and restoration specialists, biologists, ecologists, and foresters, the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta is offering a 3-day workshop in moss identification from Wednesday, May 17, 2023 through Friday, May 19, 2023. For more information and to register please go HERE.
Pedology Field School (SOIL230 Sp23)
May 29 to 31, 2023 (in-person in the Edmonton area) This 24-h introductory soil science course is fully field-based. The 3-day field school led by Dr. Konstantin Dlusskiy focuses on hands-on experience with application to industry standards.
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
CONTINUING EDUCATION

BMC252 - Environmental Issues in Indigenous Communities
Start Date: April 18, 2023

BMC265 - Environmental Impact Assessments
Start Date: June 30 2023
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
NATURAL RESOURCES
TRAINING GROUP

Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & North Vancouver, April 4, 2023
Amphibian and Reptile Salvage Methods (Online) April 11-12, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Courtenay, April 11, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Cochrane, April 12, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Kamloops, 12th April 2023
Technical Writing for Professionals – Resumes and Cover Letters – Online, April 12, 2023
Technical Writing for Professionals – Online, April 13-14, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Kelowna, 14th April 2023
Land Guardian Program – April 17 – May 19, 2023 – Fully Online
Species at Risk – Online, April 18-19, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Prince George, 19th April 2023
Snorkel Survey Techniques – April 24th (Online) & May 2nd (Courtenay)
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Terrace, 26th April 2023
Wildlife Survey Field Methods – Online, April 26-28, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Cranbrook, 28th April 2023
For the full calendar of upcoming courses the link is here:
SALMTEC
 COURSES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS
 
Winter 2023 Registration Now Open!, Blended Course: Alberta Wetland Rapid Evaluation Tool – Actual (ABWRET-A), Online Content + Live Streaming Class (April 28, 2023)
 
Winter 2023 Registration Now Open! Blended Course: Biophysical Foundations Online Content+Live Streaming Class.Field Course near Bragg Creek, AB

Winter 2023 Registration Now Open!, Blended Course: Grassland Vegetation Inventory (GVI): A User’s Guide , Online Content + Live Streaming Class (April 14, 2023)
 
Spring 2023 Registration Now Open! Biophysical Bootcamp Field Course, Bragg Creek, Alberta, May 30, 2023 https://www.salmtec.com/courses/biophysical-bootcamp
 
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)
Registration Link: https://salmtec.myshopify.com/
 
Wetland Water Cycle Video Short (free)
Registration Link: https://salmtec.myshopify.com/ 

THE SALMTEC 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 website HERE.
ANNUAL
ASPB CONFERENCE SPONSORS
ASPB Awards Chair Dave Ealey
Serves as Lead Biology Judge at ERSF
 
The ASPB’s Dave Ealey, P. Biol. acknowledges that he was, in fact, the only ASPB member attending the judging briefing for the Edmonton Regional Science Fair (ERSF), so he offered to serve as the lead judge for the Professional Biologists' Award (which was one of five special awards under the Biology category for the ERSF). He has offered to share that experience with our readers:
 
“Two other judges (Abby Basiuk and Angelle Britton) helped with the judging of about a dozen projects submitted for consideration for this specific award. It was a privilege to listen to the efforts of the elementary school students who chose to do a project and to see their enthusiasm for this annual event. It was great to be back for in-person presentations from the students; the Special Award process is less structured than the general judging activities because each award has its own criteria. The ASPB award guideline is somewhat general – ‘must relate to research in biology’– which allows us to review projects that can be quite diverse, and this year was no exception on the variety of projects.
 
“For winner, we chose De-extinction by Sherdha Sharma (Gr. 6), for its novel presentation of an array of techniques (cloning, back breeding, and genome editing) that scientists could use to revive extinct species, with a focus on the mammoth as a possible revival species. We were particularly impressed with Sherdha's presentation about her project and her confidence in responding to questions, as well as her understanding about the scientific method.
 
“For honourable mention, we selected Honey: The Medical Miracle by Jenna Harb (Gr. 4), for her experimental microbiology investigation into the antibacterial effects of a specific type of honey. Jenna's skill as a presenter was exceptional and all of her display elements were very well done. It's very encouraging to chat with these very young students and learn what motivates them to take on these extra projects. They truly are ‘Professional Biologists-in-waiting’!

As part of our judging tasks, we provided written comments back to all students whose projects we were able to review. All of the judges took this task quite seriously. I certainly hope the students are able to learn something from our input into their work and are encouraged to continue in their scientific studies.”
Below, photo of ERSF Council member Matthew Gunderson presenting to Sherdha Sharma
We regularly receive notifications from Google Scholar Alerts and other sources which we share below in the BIWEEKLY. Here is the latest batch (the links are HOT):
 








Special Forum - Changes and Challenges in Glacial Archaeology

 
Banner Image:
Brown Trout
Photo supplied by Alberta's School of Fish

The ASPB regulates the professional practice of biology in the disciplines of Botany, Zoology, Environmental Biology and Microbiology, and all sub-disciplines below them. The ASPB is the only organization for biologists in Alberta that is registered under Provincial Legislation with a mandate to protect the interests of the public of Alberta. 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 about professional development opportunities for our members and essential member-related society business; if you are a registered member of 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.