4th Announcement IPC 11

Pre-congress Workshops (Updated)

Dear IPC XI delegates,

On Sunday 3rd September 2023, we will conduct five pre-congress workshops of specific research and conservation topics. These workshops will be held at the main building of Universidad Andrés Bello in Viña del Mar (Quillota street #980). If you want to join these workshops, please contact directly the organizers to obtain specific information:

Workshop 1. Abundance estimation in Spheniscus penguins: challenges and opportunities. Co-organizers: Andrea Raya Rey and Ulises Balza. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC-CONICET), Argentina. Contact: ulisesbalza@cadic-conicet.gob.ar, andrear@conicet.gov.ar
In this workshop we will tackle crucial topics regarding Spheniscus penguin density and abundance estimation, including current and potential techniques, the importance of data sharing and reproducibility, uncertainty estimation, and the best ways to improve study area stratification. We hope to foster collaborative discussions, exchange knowledge, and promote best practices for abundance estimation in Spheniscus penguins.

Workshop 2. Avian influenza in penguins. Organizer: Meagan Dewar. Institute of Innovation, Sci. and Sust., Federation University Australia, Australia. Contact: m.dewar@federation.edu.au
This workshop will provide an update on the current Avian Influenza situation and its impact on penguin species globally and to discuss the lessons we can learn from the current outbreaks in African, Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins and identify priorities for surveillance, monitoring and research gaps. We will also provide an update on the risk assessment conducted by the Antarctic Wildlfie Health Network and how this information can be used for other penguin colonies.

Workshop 3. IUCN-SSC Penguin Specialist Group. Organizer: Lauren Waller. Contact: laurenw@ewt.org.za
(to be held Tuesday, September 5th during congress)
This workshop will discuss various operational aspects of the IUCN SSC Penguin Specialist Group. This will include what Working Groups members view as priorities and how they could run. We’d also like to discuss how best to engage the membership on a regular basis throughout the year and provide a platform for members to give Specialist Group related updates.

Workshop 4. Microplastics and Penguins. Organizer: Brian Walker, Department of Biology, Fairfield University, USA. Contact: bwalker@fairfield.edu
This workshop will bring together researchers interested in examining microplastic exposure in penguins. We hope to discuss and facilitate best practices in sample collection and analysis, with a goal of uniform reporting and sharing of information across research groups.

Workshop 5. Use of pit-tags in penguins. Organizer: Katta Ludynia. SANCCOB, South Africa. katta@sanccob.co.za
This workshop is for everybody who wants to share their experience with using PIT in penguins and those who would like to learn more about this marking method. We will discuss pros and cons, applications and technology used as well as possible collaborations and joint databases and analyses.

Please be in touch with the workshop organizers as the program may suffer modifications in the following weeks. Visit our website at www.penguin-conference.com in order check the latest information on registration fees and dates, conference venue, accomodation and scientific program.

¡Saludos!

For all enquiries email: ipc.penguins@gmail.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IPCpenguins
Twitter https://twitter.com/IPC_penguins

 Local organising committee:
Alejandro Simeone (Universidad Andrés Bello)
Juliana Vianna (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)
Guillermo Luna-Jorquera (Universidad Católica del Norte)

International Scientific Committee:
Peter Barham (University of Bristol)
Dee Boersma (University of Washington)
Pablo Garcia Borboroglu (Global Penguin Society)
André Chiardia (Phillip Island Nature Parks)
Lloyd Davis (University of Otago)
Sue Murray (Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust)
Phil Trathan (British Antarctic Survey)
Lauren Waller (Leiden Conservation Fellow, SANCCOB)