Registration now open. See details!
Deadline for abstracts 26 July, but for planning purposes we’d like to hear from you well before then with your suggested topic (see below for our suggested sub themes).
All papers should fall within the theme of wildlife interpretation
We encourage discussion between people from varying backgrounds and perspectives, and would thus like to see a mix of papers from:
- academics (including students).
- tourism operators (including guides, ecotour staff and zoo/aquarium staff)
- conservation managers (including national park staff and others)
- destination managers (including local or state government and tourism organisations)
- NGOs (including natural history, environmental, educational and tourism)
Papers can be:
- Oral paper: Total of 15 minutes, speaking for 10-12 minutes (either in person or online) and allowing time for questions at the end
- Poster paper: up to A1 size (portrait)
- Research, review, case study, personal experience, innovative ideas r other acceptable type, as long as it fits within our theme.
If you would like to present a paper, please email our chair with the following:
- Your name
- Name of any co-author (whether or not attending the conference)
- Your affiliation
- Your country (or state if within Australia)
- Your email
- Title of presentation
- Subtheme (see below) you would like to present in
- Abstract (summary) of your presentation – up to 350 words
- Whether you would prefer an oral (spoken) or post presentation
- If you will only be able to attend one day, which day will that be? (5.6 or 7 November)
Subthemes
- Presenting to varied and mixed audiences. How do we best design interpretive experiences for a variety of visitors – different age groups, levels of interest or prior knowledge, different levels of understanding of the language spoken by the guide, different cultural backgrounds etc.?
- The “forgotten fauna”. How can we awaken interest in the reptiles, insects, rat-like mammals, small brown birds etc.,?
- Story-telling. What are the best ways to use story-telling to capture interest and also impart some important or fascinating information?
- Educating for treading lightly. How can we best guide our visitors’ behaviour for minimal-impact viewing?
- Styles of interpretation. Face-to-face guiding, self guided nature trails, interpretive signage in zoos or wilderness areas, apps, websites, virtual reality etc
- What information or opinions to avoid (e.g. don’t make things easy for poachers, clarify the difference between fact and opinion, examine your own possible biases).
- Anything else of relevance to interpreting wildlife and their habits to visitors.